Hike the ADA Sky Island Forest Trail

Trail Overview Total Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 kilometers Starting elevation: 9,890 feet / 2,987 meters Elevation Gain: 20 feet / 6 meters Difficulty: Easy & Accessible Time: 15 minutes - 45 minutes Begin at: Bristlecone Trailhead/End of the Scenic Drive The ADA Accessible Sky Island Forest Trail is the best trail for visitors wanting to take a simple walk through the trees or for those visitors who use wheelchairs. The rubber matted surface makes for fairly even travel until a wooden boardwalk is reached. Interpretive signs along the trail talk about this unique ecosystem, the meaning of a "Sky Island," and the recovery from a wildfire in years past. Steal a view of Wheeler Peak through the trees, view wildflowers near the streams, and enjoy the lower temperatures of high elevation. Beginning at an elevation of just under 10,000 feet, these trails provide both a respite from the summer heat of the Snake Valley, but also added dangers in the form of altitude sickness and afternoon thunderstorms. Be prepared with plenty of water and salty snacks, or to return to your vehicle if you become symptomatic of altitude sickness or see thunderclouds rolling in. This hike starts at the Bristlecone Trailhead at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Parking outside of designated spaces or along the road is prohibited. No pets permitted on park trails. Trained service animals allowed. Learn more about service animal regulations at this link. Water Potable water is not available along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Pack sufficient water with you, about one gallon per person per day. Water is available year-round at the nearby Lehman Caves Visitor Center or seasonally at the dump station. Restrooms The nearest restrooms are pit toilets with no running water at the Bristlecone Trailhead.