Lakes and Ponds

Baker Lake from the ridgeline of Baker Peak.

NPS Photo

There are a total of six subalpine lakes found in Great Basin National Park. Stella and Teresa Lakes occupy glacial cirques near Wheeler Peak, while nearby Brown Lake is in a glacial moraine. Baker and Johnson Lakes are also in glacial cirques, with Baker Lake at the top of Baker Creek and Johnson Lake above Snake Creek. Dead Lake, found above Snake Creek, is found in a glacial terminal moraine.

These lakes are rather small, with an average surface area of 2 acres and depths reaching no more than 20 feet. The majority of the water in them comes from snowmelt, although Teresa and Johnson Lakes also have springs flowing into them. During the summer, a large amount of water evaporates off the water surface and the lakes decrease, leaving behind what appears to be bathtub-like rings around some of them. These rings give us a clue as to how high the water was at various times.

As of 2024, Baker Lake has been cleared of non-native fish species and the native Bonneville Cutthroat Trout has been reintroduced. All of the lakes contain phytoplankton, zooplankton, and aquatic insects.

Updated 1/30/2025