Great Basin National Park and Star Train - SBC
Come enjoy a four day camping trip at the quietest national park and ride the Nevada Northern Railway Company Star Train! Great Basin National Park is home to a diverse landscape of mountain terrain, salt flats, high-altitude desert valleys and is recognized as a premier International Dark Sky Park. If the peace, quiet, and beautiful landscape isn’t enough the Great Basin is home to the fascinating limestone caves and the only glacier in Nevada. We will be sleeping in tents under the stars for three nights and exploring the National Park, taking a hike to Wheeler Peak where we will see the alpine lakes and the one and only glacier making its way down the peak. We’ll take the journey to view the most unique Lexington Arch that has formed of limestone, and if that isn’t enough limestone to see we will explore the wonderful limestone Lehman Caves. On our return drive to CSUSB we will stop at Cathedral Gorge State Park to explore the dramatic cave-like formations and cathedral-like spires.
Trip Cost
SRWC Member: $200
Faculty, Staff, Non-Enrolled CSUSB Student, and Alumni Association: $230
Affiliate: $245
Sponsored Guest: $260
Pre-Trip Meeting / Sign-Up Deadline
June 1, 2025 @ 6pm
Activity Level
3 – Adventurous
Trip Departs From
CSUSB Student Recreation and Wellness Center
Itinerary
Day 1: We meet at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center to load up our van and start our adventure. We will make a quick stop in Las Vegas for lunch before arriving at our campsite and setting up our tents. We then will prepare dinner and relax around the campfire before calling it a night.
Day 2: We will explore the park during the day before traveling to Ely, Nevada for dinner (not included) and to board the Nevada Norther Railway Star Train! The Dark Rangers of Great Basin National Park aboard the train will guide us to find interesting things up in the Heavens on this journey. The train will stop away from town for a special telescope viewing the night sky.
Day 3: We will tour Lehman Caves in the morning and hike a park trail in the afternoon.
Day 4: After breakfast we pack up camp and start our return trip to CSUSB. We will stop for lunch and a hike at Cathedral Gorge State Park.
Food
3 meals are included, starting with lunch on day 1 (1 breakfast, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner)
1 meal are not included (1 lunch)
1 lunch is included.
Dinner of the way home is not provided. Bring money.
Hygiene and Comfort
We will be carrying our all our food, shelter, clothing, water, and equipment in a pack weighing up to 40lbs. We will be staying on reserved campsites. The campsites are within proximity to vault toilets and there are NO showers. We will treat water from a nearby spring or bring enough water from CSUSB. You will have the option to share a tent with one or two people or sleep out under the cover of the stars. Light weight tents, warm synthetic sleeping bags, foam pads and ground tarps will be provided to ensure a comfortable night’s sleep. The ground consists of soft and hard soil.
Registration Opens 4/5/25 at 8:00am