Great Basin National Park
I love camping in Great Basin National Park but never ever ever see any forum topics posted about it. People seem to think that Nevada is synonymous with Las Vegas. I guess maybe I shouldn't let the cat out of the bag, but Nevada has one of the west's most spectacular national parks. Let's get a thread going on this one.
My favorite thing to do in Great Basin is to go into Lehman Cave. And my favorite campground is the Wheeler Peak campground. Does anyone know if you can still legally collect pine nuts in the fall?
You asked whether you can still legally collect pine nuts in Great Basin National Park (NV) — good question. The short answer: yes — under certain conditions and limits.
Here are the rules (as of the latest park guidance) for collecting pine nuts in Great Basin National Park:
- You are allowed to gather nuts from Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) — i.e. pine nuts — for personal, non-commercial use.
- There is a per-household limit: up to 25 pounds of nuts OR up to 3 bags of cones (each bag no larger than ~2 ft × 3 ft when laid flat) per household per year.
- Other general limits apply: you may not cut, shake, pull or otherwise damage trees to collect — and you may not climb trees to get nuts. Only hand-gathering by persons on foot (or using freestanding ladders if needed) is allowed.
- Collection is allowed seasonally — pine nuts are typically ripe in the fall (often September through late October, depending on the yearly pine crop).
So: yes, you *can* legally collect pine nuts in Great Basin NP — as long as you follow the park’s rules. That means only pinyon pine nuts, limited quantity (25 lbs per household per year), no damaging trees, no commercial use, gather by hand or safe ladder only, and during pine-nut season (fall).
A few additional notes / tips when you go:
- Because the limit is per household (not per person), if you go with friends who are from different households — each household would get its own allocation.
- It’s best to check in with a ranger or the visitor center before harvesting to make sure pine nuts are ready, and to confirm there are no temporary restrictions (e.g. fire restrictions or harvest suspensions).
- Leave plenty of cones/nuts for wildlife like birds (Clark's Nutcracker, pinyon jays) and small mammals — the park’s allowance balances personal use with ecological needs.
Given your fondness of the park, especially for exploring Lehman Caves and camping at Wheeler Peak Campground — if you go in fall, pine-nut gathering is a great extra treat. Just remember to stay within the rules so others can enjoy it too and to preserve the natural ecosystem.
