rbtglove
Beavercreek OH
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Joined: 10/08/2004
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We stayed in the park a couple years ago in one of the upper campgrounds and there were some big rigs. Right next to a creek, very nice and private. There are even some pull ins. I know we had at least elctric and I think we had water. great place few people but may want to make a reservation for the cave tour which is often booked full.
Bob /Beavercreek OH
Avalanche 1500/Trail Lite 8230
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B. BOOMER
lost somewhere in america
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Joined: 07/10/2004
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We were just there in early Sept. We stayed at Lower Lehman Creek (and although we do have a truck camper) there are 6 pull thru sites which had large MHs plus toads and 5th wheels - no problem. All the CGs in the park are first come first serve, and we got into Lower Lehman just before 2pm and the pull thrus were gone by 2:30pm and the CG FULL by 4:30/5pm.
Baker Creek also has 6 pull thru sites but didn't get a chance to check them out. We DID drive thru Upper Lehman and Wheeler Peak CGs and would definitely NOT recommend the majority of sites for LARGER RVs. NONE of the GBNP CGs have any hookups. But they do allow generators in designated hours (per the Park's Regulations: Generators can be used between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
http://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/camping.htm
http://www.great.basin.national-park.com/camping.htm#camps
http://www.greatbasinpark.com/
Whispering Elms is the RV Park/Motel across from the NEW Visitors Center and virtually the ONLY RV Park in Baker (we checked out Silver Jack's "RV Sites" and would NOT stay there even if we were desperate!! well maybe DESPERATE!!! the "sites" are strung out around the edge of a large gravel parking lot behind the self-serve Sinclair fuel pumps  ) And can't comment on the Border Inn RV as we left headng southeast to Zion on Hwy 21.
We did drive by Whispering Elms on the way to the entrance and WOULD stay there if we needed hookups and the NP Campgrounds were full. At least they had trees & grass and appeared to be a typical OLDER RV Park -nothing fancy (although haven't looked at reviews on rvpark latey?)
http://www.greatbasinpark.com/whisperingelms.htm
We came in from Jackpot WITHOUT RESERVATIONS OUTSIDE THE PARK and planned to stay at Whispering Elms as a fall back IF the Campgrounds inside the Park were full. The Ranger at the GBasin Baker Visitor Center indicated that we would pretty well have our pick of sites at ANY of the CGs -- BUT Lower Lehman only had TWO of the six pull thrus and about THREE of the five/or maybe six counting the handicapped spot LEFT of the backins - so LOWER LEHMAN CREEK CG is probably the first to fill up. (I would doubt that Upper Lehman & Wheeler Peak ever are completely full even in peak summer season!! for ref to anyone else out there.)
We also noted that there were several MHs minus toads and unhitched trailers/5ers in the huge parking lot at the Great Basin Baker Visitor Center for "day trippers" 
We did luck out on the same day we arrived and scored the last Lehman Caves Tour of the day at 3pm Fall/Winter schedule. IF you don't make reservations ahead of time - you have to go to the desk at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center INSIDE the Park. (You might call a FEW days ahead of time or at LEAST 1 DAY IN ADVANCE FOR RESERVATIONS BUT NO REFUNDS --Lehman Cave Tour Info) I'm not normally a fan of small dark places BUT I did throroughly enjoy the 1hr tour. It was well worth the price (even w/out a Golden Age Passport). DO take a light jacket AND a flashlight!!
The next day we spent touring the rest of the Park. AND the high altitude DOES affect those of us coming from nearly sea level. So go slow while hiking and take some high energy snacks along with the water. (Alas no benches to sit and take in the view while "taking a breather")
In early Sept. the weather was still pleasantly warm but not overly hot. We hiked as far as the Bristlecones - which we enjoyed - BUT didn't venture up further to the glacier. We made a side trip to one of the Alpine Lakes (I think it actually makes a loop). The trails have a lot of exposed tree roots & rocks and we wished we would have had walking sticks.
We also met several groups of hikers on the trail who had reservations for the Lehman Caves Tour and didn't know if they were going to make it back down in time!! So probably best to try to make RESERVATIONS for the earlier morning tours rather than afternoon.
Lastly the small independent Cafe/Gift Store in the Lehman Caves Visitor Center building has the BEST ice cream cones
NO ENTRANCE FEE ... but the Ranger noted that this year had been a pretty good year for the number of visitors Truly a gem.
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Thunder Mountain
Estes Park, Colorado
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Joined: 02/09/2005
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B.Boomer – Thanks for the detailed and on topic information. Lots of stuff to digest. Since we live at 8200 feet the altitude will not bother us. Sounds like we should dry camp in the NP. We usually only carry 2-3 days worth of clothes and rely on the washer/dryer in the MH. Guess we’ll have to carry some more or just turn the undies inside out for an extra day of use.
2007 HR Endeavor 40'PDQ
HMS Indebtedness + 2001 Wrangler
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sealevel ram
San Mateo, Florida
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Joined: 02/13/2005
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We stayed at Whispering Elms in June. OK place with full hookups in the little town of Baker, right outside the park entrance. We almost had the place to ourselves.
The campgrounds in the park are very nice (We looked at all), and were also not crowded in June. We loved the park.
Didn't try the ice cream, but got a good pizza at a place in Baker.
By the way, spent one night at Ramada Inn RV park in Ely. Wouldn't recommend, except you get a free Margarita in casino bar.
Before you criticize someone, always walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you DO criticize them, you will be a mile away, and have their shoes.
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B. BOOMER
lost somewhere in america
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Thunder Mountain
were I you  I would PLAN A = to stay at Lower Lehman Creek
try to get there early in the day midweek -- Check-out is NOON for those that linger (so if you get in earlier - you might check the tags)
then see if any available sites are suitable for YOUR rig (and since the CG is a one-way loop -- you may want to stick a chair or something in the 1ST site you like IF you are tempted to "do a drive thru to scope out the OTHER sites" ... it's not that far back a walk to retrieve the item BUT it does take what "seems like forever to drive all the way back around"!)
IF you find that there is nothing that fits your needs - and you have NOT made Advance Reservations for the Lehman Caves Tour (AND you've decided it's something you WOULD like to see) - drive over to the Lehman Visitors Center (about 2.5 miles from Lower Lehman I believe). should have mentioned that there is a large "day use ONLY area" by the Lehman Visitors Center where you can also park larger RVs to visit the Caves & Park. go to the desk and see if you can get reservations for THAT day (you can kill time in the National Park Visitor Center as well as the independent Cafe/Gift Shop AND there is a very SHORT trail to an old cabin right there).
as an alternative you could drive thru Baker Creek CG (AFTER Lower Lehman and BEFORE the Lehman Caves VCenter) IF you feel you'd be willing to try for a site there? (as I mentioned I don't know anything other than it has MORE back-in sites than Lower Lehman BUT still ONLY SIX pull thrus AND that the road it NOT paved - and branches off to the left from the main road to LCaves VCenter... others can perhaps give you more info on Baker Creek etc)
PLAN B = you can ALWAYS go back to either Whispering Elms or the Border Inn RV Park and stay (unless there's a Shriner's Convention in town I would seriousy doubt that you'd ever have to worry about either being FULL even in the dead of summer) doubly so since you're planning for next SEPTMBER ... barring a massive outpouring of sudden visitor interest generated by Open Roads Forums OR a "retired RV hiker's club jamboree?!" I would venture that the ONLY thing that is unpredictable is that you may not find a site open in Lower Lehman which works for you.
However go with the attitude NOTHING VENTURED NOTHING GAINED (and stock up on a good supply of extra underwear )
as an aside I'm admittedly always a nevous nellie when it pertains to First Come First Serve ... especially in "UNKNOWN" areas where there is NOT an overabundance of info out there to access
Great Basin seems to be one of those "not very well knowns" -- however once you've been there - you discover that it is truly well worth the visit.
Wishing You a GREAT TRIP Cheers, Boomer
* This post was
edited 11/07/09 09:05pm by B. BOOMER *
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revump
Las Vegas
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Joined: 07/02/2005
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Leman Caves are awesome. We loved staying in Baker. The stars are fantastic.
Bob
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4runnerguy
Glenwood Springs, CO
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Joined: 03/10/2003
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September weather is just fine (kind of like CO). I just mentioned May since that is the earliest one should generally plan to be able to drive all the way to the Wheeler Peak parking area.
I forgot to mention there is a dump station as you're leaving the park. Just take a few extra undies or go commando! 
Baker Creek CG is another option, although the road up there was really washboardy when we tried heading up there once.
Ken & Allison
2 Camping Cats (1 diabetic)
1996 4Runner, TRD Supercharger, Edelbrock headers
2007 Fleetwood Arcadia, Honda EU2000i
4 mountain bikes, 1 canoe, 4 tents, 8 sleeping bags, 2 backpacks
(You get the idea!)
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Thunder Mountain
Estes Park, Colorado
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Thanks folks for all your help. I saved B.Boomer's info and others and will sort everything out next September.
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elh0146
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 01/13/2002
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rbtglove wrote:I know we had at least elctric and I think we had water.
Really?
Lower Lehman Campground doesn't have any hookups, although there is water available. According to the NPS website on Great Basin NP, there are NO hookups at all in ANY of the campgrounds.
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two-niner
las vegas, nv
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Does anybody know for sure if the park can take 40' in dispersed camp sites? Has anybody actually done this?
I'm just asking..
Kerry
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