Great Basin National Park lies about 70 miles east of Ely on US-50, and is one of the least visited national parks in the country. That is one of its virtues. On summer weekends when Yellowstone is gridlocked, you can hike the Wheeler Peak trail — rising to 13,063 feet, the second-highest summit in Nevada — with almost no one else on the mountain.
The park's other centerpiece is Lehman Caves, a single cave system with an unusual density of cave shields: disc-shaped formations rarely found anywhere else. Guided tours run daily. On clear nights, the park's distance from any city makes for extraordinary stargazing; it holds dark-sky certification. Allow a full day if visiting from Ely, and book the Lehman Caves tour in advance during summer.