One of the greatest illusions of the Great Basin is that it is a deserted wasteland that must be crossed in haste as a traveler heads for California. The striking beauty of the mountains of the Great Basin is a well-kept secret. The magnificent desert, marsh, and alpine scenery of this area s showcased in many wilderness areas and wildlife refuges.

The mountain ranges of the Great Basin have been called islands of ecological diversity because slightly different species of plants and animals have developed on each. The intervening mud and salt flats and broad dry valleys kept plant and animal species from migrating and interbreeding.

The upper reaches of the Stansbury and Deep Creek mountains are untouched wilderness areas. Hikers can sight deer, pronghorn antelope, chukar partridge, bald and golden eagles, and peregrine falcons.