Natural Attraction
Teresa Lake
Crystal-clear alpine waters fill a glacier-carved cirque basin ringed by granite peaks. The bowl-shaped depression itself is the story—Pleistocene glaciers excavated this basin through grinding abrasion and rock plucking, leaving behind a geometrically perfect alpine lake. Interpretive signs at the site explain glacial formation mechanics and the ongoing geological legacy of ice-age sculpting. One of two significant lakes along the Alpine Lakes Loop trail, Teresa Lake represents a textbook cirque lake in the park's high country.
More details
- Attraction Type
- Glacial Lake
- Geological Formation Type
- Cirque
Location
More at Great Basin National Park
Astronomy Ampitheater
Thousands of stars and the Milky Way visible from this International Dark-Sky Park—ranger telescope tours offered summer nights.
Baker Creek Road
Unpaved 3.5-mile drive through pinyon-juniper forest to alpine lakes and campgrounds.
Baker Lake
Mountain cirque lake at 10,200 ft, rocky banks often snow-capped. Six miles uptrail from Baker Creek.
Bristlecone Grove
Ancient bristlecone pines cling to rocky talus. 4,000-year-old trees in extreme alpine terrain.
Dead Lake
Small alpine lake in glacial cirque, formed by Pleistocene ice sculpting of Great Basin granite.
Lehman Caves
Nevada's longest cave reveals crystalline shield formations and glittering speleothems on daily guided tours.
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Sources
- National Park Service
- YourNPGuide Editorial
Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.
Last updated July 2026. Report an issue.