- For other mountains by this name, see Wheeler Peak.
Wheeler Peak is the second highest
peak in
Nevada, and the highest entirely within the state. (The distinction of highest point of the state goes to the summit of
Boundary Peak, so named because it is very near the Nevada-
California border and thus partly in California). Wheeler Peak is located in the
Snake Range within
Great Basin National Park near the
Utah border. It is generally considered a more impressive peak than Boundary Peak since it is the highest in more than a 200 mile (320 km) radius, whereas Boundary Peak has a higher mountain less than 1 mile (600 m) away and is the northern terminus of the long north-south trending axis of the
White Mountains. In addition, Wheeler Peak has a very impressive
headwall above a large glacial
cirque, large and impressive glacial
moraines, and an active
rock glacier emanating from the huge cirque.
Under the base of the mountain are the limestone Lehman Caves, having many interesting formations, most notably a large collection of "shields". Tours of the caves are offered year round by the National Park Service. Higher up on the glacial moraine is a grove of ancient bristlecone pine trees of great age. Prometheus, the oldest known non-clonal organism, grew here before it was cut down in 1964 for research purposes.
External links
Mountains of Nevada
"Wheeler Peak (Nevada)"