Outside Great Basin National Park

An hour's drive west of the park, at the intersection of three U.S. highways, Ely (population 4,000) is the largest town for hours in every direction. It grew up in the second wave of the early Nevada mining boom, right at the optimistic turn of the 20th century. For 70 years copper kept the town in business, but when it ran out in the early 1980s, Ely declined fast. Then, in 1986, the National Park Service designated Great Basin National Park, and the town got a boost. Ely has since been rebuilt and revitalized, though it's kept a quirky, faded feel. If you want to stay much closer to the park, tiny Baker (population roughly 75) has far fewer amenities but is slowly reawakening. The cluster of homes and small businesses on Route 487 is about 5 miles from the Lehman Caves Visitor Center.