Lower Lehman Creek Campground

We came with reservations for site 5, one of the better sites as it is bordered by a lovely stream and grove of aspens. It’s a pull-through with no level areas. We were able to get our camper van leveled with interlocking risers, but it was a challenge. Many of the sites have worse slopes. All sites are reserved, but interestingly, 3-4 out of 11 were unoccupied - the recreation.gov website showed they were 100% reserved. Hmmm.
Sites have a well worn picnic table and fire pit, but fires weren’t allowed due to danger. Lower Lehman is about 5 minutes from the Lehman caves visitor center, and maybe 20 minutes from the Wheeler Peak parking area. Most definitely do the Bristlecone trail from the Wheeler Peak parking area, these trees are amazing. Worth continuing to the lake loop as well. Bring lots of water and good footwear is helpful.

I travelled here with a 35’ 5th wheel, long bed pickup and parked in site #3, a dry PT site for $10/night with the NP Senior pass. There was a long uphill drive to get to the CG with an 8% grade in parts. The roads and sites were asphalt and like most NP campgrounds, the interior CG road was relatively narrow. Even though it was a pull through site it took some maneuvering to get into it due how narrow it was and the slope. My front jacks were extended pretty far and there was a need to add boards to level from side to side. Next time I might choose to back into it. There was just enough room for my slides to go out. The picnic table and fire pit were on the back side of the RV down a little slope. The sites were all pretty spacious. The site was clear overhead which was good for my solar panels. No wifi, didn’t check for OTA and had 2 bars LTE Verizon. Vault toilets, no showers. Sites on the south side or right of the road have a better layout. #4 has the stream right by the picnic area and is very charming. #8 is more open making it easier to get a large rig into the spot but has a big slope which would require careful positioning. #9 would be a very easy back in and would fit my rig. #10 is a bit shorter, but pretty level. It would be easy to back into right off the curve and the picnic table is back by the stream. Most sites were clear overhead for solar. The dump station was up by the visitor’s center which wasn’t convenient coming or going. There were no threaded water spigots in the campground proper to fill tanks. I would go back there, but would pick a different spot the next time. If you go, eat at Kerouac's in Baker - small plates and great selection of beer and wine.

We could only get one night reservations through rec.gov - one night in site 11, the next in site 4. Site 11 was nice - back-in that we could get fairly level. Site 4 was drive-through and we could not get level despite leveling blocks. This is a reservation only campground through 10/31. We wanted to stay another night so moved to Upper Lehman, which was first come first serve starting 10/1. So, 3 days in the park, 3 different sites! The frustrating part was that the Lower campground was not even half full. Site 11 had no other campers in it the 3 days we were there. Site 4 was empty the first night we were there and we did not drive in to see about the last night. It is sad that so many people who made reservations did not show up and did not bother to cancel (we checked at the visitor center and there were no cancellations).

The sites are large and well spread apart. A babbling brook runs behind some of them. Bathrooms are clean and fresh water available. Agree with other reviewers that some of the sites are really sloped.

Cell service was adequate (2 bars ATT).

We tried to camp here, but the campground, and every site in it, is sloped down the mountain. We left because there wasn’t a single site we could get our 25 foot motorhome anywhere close to level. We drove into several to check. We boondock a lot, and have plenty of blocks and experience leveling in crazy situations, but this was just too much.

Other than that, it was a lovely campground. Forested and plenty of space between sites.

We arrived on Thursday 10/1. Found one site open #3. It was very private, but super unlevel for a RV, but great for tent camping. We managed for 1 night, then got lucky with someone leaving site #10 on Friday. We stayed at that site until Tuesday. Big level site next to a nice flowing creek. Very quiet campground and plenty of space between neighbors. Best campground we have every stayed at!

This is a small campground and it fills up quickly. We arrived on a Thursday afternoon and first went to the Upper Lehman Creek campground. It was full and we started to worry a little. We then went to this campground and found most of the sites full until we arrived at site #7. While backing in, more people came by looking for a site! Lucky us!

We have a 27’ Airstream and had no problem fitting in the site or leveling the trailer. We can not see the campers on either side of us, which is unheard of in a National Park. The rate we paid reflects the Senior Pass.

The stars at night here are just incredible! It is known to have one of the darkest skies in the country.

The caves are closed due to COVID, but the hiking and weather are perfect!

Make sure you stock up on propane and food and drink before coming here as there is literally nothing here but the park.

What a gem!

First come first serve. We were worried we wouldn’t get a spot. If we had come after 12 we would have been out of luck. We grabbed site 7 and thought we scored big time. It was a back in site that is super long. Easily fit our truck and trailer combo (40’) with room to spare. Very private with lots of space between other sites. Small creek ran through the back of the site. If you have trailer I recommend this CG. We checked out all the other CG and agreed we had the best. Upper Lehman and Baker Creek are tight with brush leaning into the road(especially Baker Creek- very over grown- truck was scratched just driving thru). Very few sites would fit a trailer or MH at either of the other CG.

Talk about an “undiscovered” gem; well undiscovered by National Park standards. According to Fodor’s The National Parks of the West and the park’s brochure, Great Basin National Park is the least visited NP in the system; we don’t know why? It was downright gorgeous! No, it did not have the sights of Yosemite, the attractions of Yellowstone or the wildlife of the Grand Tetons (nor did it have the people!), but the vistas of the Great Basin and the quiet that is generally absent in the frequently visited NPs was “ deafening”. We visited here in late October and many of the park’s campgrounds were already closed for the season. Only two remained open, Upper and Lower Lehman Creek campgrounds. We settled into site 10 in the lower campground which backed up to a creek and paid- a whopping- $7.50 per night. We loved this place so much we extended our original plan from one to three nights- it was that wonderful. The tour of the Lehman Caves was worthwhile as was the drive-up up to Wheeler Peak and the subsequent 4- mile (round trip) hike to the Bristlecone Pine Grove. The sites were nicely spaced from each other with an asphalt pad and water spigots sprinkled throughout. Although there were no flush toilets or showers, the vault toilets were clean and attended to daily.