Wheeler Peak (Nevada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wheeler Peak |
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Wheeler Peak, looking east-southeast in late afternoon light
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,065 ft (3,982 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 7,563 ft (2,305 m) |
| Listing |
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| Geography | |
 Wheeler Peak
Location in Nevada
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| Location | White Pine County, Nevada, U.S. |
| Parent range | Snake Range |
| Topo map | USGS Wheeler Peak |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Trail hike (class 1) |
Wheeler Peak is a very tall mountain in the Snake Range in Nevada, United States. It is the highest point in White Pine County. At 13,065 feet (3,982 m) high, it is the second-tallest peak in Nevada. Only Boundary Peak is taller.
Wheeler Peak is also very "prominent." This means it sticks up a lot from the land around it. It is the second most prominent peak in Nevada. The mountain is inside Great Basin National Park. It was named after George Wheeler. He led a survey team in the late 1800s.
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Exploring Wheeler Peak's Features
Wheeler Peak has some cool features shaped by ice. It has a large bowl-shaped area called a cirque. This cirque was carved by a glacier. There are also piles of rocks and dirt left behind by glaciers, called moraines. The very top of the mountain is covered in deep snow for most of the year.
You can drive partway up the mountain on a paved road. This road leads from the Great Basin National Park visitor center. There are also small camping areas along the way. The mountain's height comes from a special type of fault in the Earth. This fault pushed ancient rocks to the top.
Doso Doyabi: A Neighboring Peak
About one mile east of Wheeler Peak is another peak called Doso Doyabi. It is about 12,775 feet (3,894 m) tall. This peak has an interesting history with its name.
In the 1850s, an army officer named Edward Steptoe named what is now Wheeler Peak after Jefferson Davis. Davis was a government official at the time. Later, in 1869, people suggested naming the peak after George Wheeler. However, they found out that someone else had already suggested the name "Union" for the peak. Even so, the name Wheeler was later used for the main peak.
In 2019, the name of the peak formerly known as Jeff Davis Peak was changed to Doso Doyabi. This name means "White Mountain" in the Shoshone language. The change was approved by the United States Board on Geographic Names.
How to Reach the Summit
There is a good path called the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail. It starts near the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. This trail goes straight to the top of the mountain. It is a fairly easy hike.
If you plan to hike in the summer, be aware that afternoon storms are common. It's always a good idea to check the weather before you go.
Wheeler Peak Versus Boundary Peak
Wheeler Peak is the second-highest point in Nevada. The highest is Boundary Peak. Boundary Peak is named because it is very close to the Nevada-California border. It is at the northern end of the White Mountains.
However, Wheeler Peak is considered the tallest independent mountain in Nevada. This is because Boundary Peak is actually a smaller part of a taller mountain called Montgomery Peak. Montgomery Peak's summit is in California. Boundary Peak is also less than one mile from its taller neighbor. Wheeler Peak, on the other hand, is over 230 miles from any higher peak.
Wheeler Peak is also one of the most prominent peaks in the contiguous United States. It ranks twelfth in how much it stands out from the land around it. It is also the twelfth most isolated summit in the contiguous United States. This means it is very far from other taller peaks.
Nearby Natural Wonders
At the base of Wheeler Peak are the Lehman Caves. These limestone caves have many unique rock formations. The National Park Service offers tours of the caves all year.
Higher up on the mountain, you can find very old Great Basin Bristlecone Pine trees. Some of these trees are thousands of years old! One famous Bristlecone Pine, named Prometheus, was at least 4,862 years old. It was the oldest known non-clonal living thing before it was accidentally cut down in 1964. You can also find Limber Pine trees in the area. These trees can live for over 1,000 years.
