Ely sits at 6,400 feet and has proper seasons. Summers are warm and dry, with highs in the mid-80s Fahrenheit and cool evenings — the most comfortable time to visit, and the best time for Great Basin National Park, where the high-altitude trails are clear of snow from late June through September. Spring and autumn are mild and uncrowded; October brings aspen color in the mountains.
Winters are cold and snowy. US-50 stays open year-round, but Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive in the national park closes with the first significant snowfall, usually November. The railway museum runs a popular holiday Ghost Train event in late October.