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Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

Discover one of the most highly decorated limestone caverns in North America.
Camp, hike and experience amazing geologic wonders at Montana's first and best-known state park.

2023 Season

Park, trails, and campground are open, please look at the ‘Seasons and Hours’ tab below for the latest availability of cave tours for the 2023 season, as well as hours for the upper visitor center, café, and gift shop and other important information.

About the Park

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park features one of the largest known limestone caverns in the Northwest. Cave access by guided tour only. 

 
Tickets

Paradise Tours and Classic Tours available online

Buy tour tickets


NOTE: Please see “Seasons and Hours” for more information.   There is no access to the cave without a tour.

 
Camping, hiking, and more

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park also features camping and trails to hike or bike, a state-of-the-art visitor center, interpretive displays, a gift shop, food and beverage concessions, amphitheater, and interpretive events presented during the summer months.

The park has a large campground with 40 campsites, a wall tent, and three cabins, which you can reserve online. The park also has hiker/biker sites available on a first come/first served basis.  There is a $5 charge to use the dump station.

The site encompasses 3,015 acres. The entry area is at an elevation of 4,300 feet and the caverns area is at an elevation of 5,300 feet.

 
Bats and white nose syndrome

White nose syndrome is a fungal disease, well established in the eastern portion of North America and recently found in the west. It does not affect humans, but has proven lethal to bats. If you have been to a cave or mine in the past five years, do not wear the same clothing, shoes or accessories as you wore there on our caverns tour. If it cannot be avoided (for example, eye glasses or shoes) please contact park staff the day of your visit in order to obtain a disinfecting wipe. 

Alerts & Closures

Beginning May 1, the Visitor Center is open 7 days a week from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. The Park Gate is open May 1 through September 30.

 

Help us conserve the bat population at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. White nose syndrome is a fungal disease, well established in the eastern portion of North America and recently found in the west. It does not affect humans, but has proven lethal to bats. If you have been to a cave or mine in the past five years, do not wear the same clothing, shoes or accessories as you wore there on our caverns tour. If it cannot be avoided (for example, eye glasses or shoes) please contact park staff the day of your visit in order to obtain a disinfecting wipe.

 

Restrictions and Closures

See a current list of Restrictions and Closures on State Parks and other FWP lands that may be affected by floods, fire, drought or major maintenance activities.

Seasons & Hours

Hours listed below are normal operating hours and may not apply when there is a special restriction or closure. Check Alerts and Closures in the tab above.


CLASSIC CAVE TOUR (Moderately Difficult)

  • This is a two hour, two mile guided walking tour. This tour is challenging. The tour will gain an elevation of 300ft, ascend over 100 stairs, and descend over 500 stairs. The caverns will be wet and slippery. 

  • Tours are offered May - September

  • Purchase Classic Tour tickets here

 

PARADISE TOUR (Easy)

  • This is a 1 1/2 hour, 1 mile guided walking tour. This tour is great for young children and is accessible to most people. The tour will view 2 cave rooms.

  • Tours are offered May - September

  • Purchase Paradise Tour tickets here

 

Visitor Center
  • October through April

    • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily

    • Closed Sundays and Mondays starting in December

  • May through September

    • 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily

Water
  • Available May through September as weather allows
Showers & Comfort Station
  • Open through September as weather allows
 
Montana Gift Corral
  • 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday

Activities

  • Bicycling

  • Bird Watching

  • Camping

  • Canoeing

  • Deer Hunting

  • Fishing

  • Group Camping

  • Guided Cave Tours

  • Hiking

  • History

  • Hunting

  • Lewis And Clark

  • Nature

  • Photography

  • Picnicking

  • River Fishing

  • RV Camping

  • Tent Camping

  • Visitor Center

  • Wildlife Viewing

Amenities

Some amenities are seasonal. Check with the park for availability.

  • ADA Accessible

  • Camp Host*

  • Electricity

  • Established Fire Pits

  • Firewood for Sale

  • Gift Shop

  • Holiday Event

  • Interpretive Display

  • Maps

  • Parking

  • Pets Allowed (outdoors on a leash, not allowed in the caverns)

  • Picnic Shelter

  • Playground

  • Public Restroom

  • RV Dump Station*

  • RV Hookups

  • Shower*

  • Toilets (Flush)*

  • Toilets (Vault)

  • Tours*

  • Trash Removal

  • Water*

*Only available May-September

Events and Programs

CLASSIC CAVE TOUR (Moderately Difficult)

  • This is a two hour, two mile guided walking tour. This tour is challenging. The tour will gain an elevation of 300ft, ascend over 100 stairs, and descend over 500 stairs. The caverns will be wet and slippery. 

  • Tours are offered May - September

  • Purchase Classic Tour tickets here

 

PARADISE TOUR (Easy)

  • This is a 1 1/2 hour, 1 mile guided walking tour. This tour is great for young children and is accessible to most people. The tour will view 2 cave rooms.

  • Tours are offered May - September

  • Purchase Paradise Tour tickets here

 

CANDLELIGHT CAVE TOUR (Moderately Difficult)

  • CANDLELIGHT CAVE TOUR (Moderately Difficult)

  • Dates: TBD for 2024 season

  • This is a two-hour, two-mile guided walking tour. This tour is challenging. The tour will gain an elevation of 300ft, ascend over 100 stairs, and descend over 500 stairs. The caverns will be wet and slippery.

  • A limited number of tours will be available. 

  • Beginning late November, tickets will be available for purchase online. No tickets will be sold at the park visitor center.

Park Rules

Volunteer

Contact the park manager for open volunteer positions at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park.

For complete position descriptions, application forms, and details about Montana State Parks volunteer programs, visit the Volunteers page.

Fees

MONTANA RESIDENTS

  • Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees to state parks. For residents who don't include this in their vehicle registration, non-resident day use fees apply.


NONRESIDENTS

  • Day use entrance fee with a vehicle: $8

  • Day use entrance fee as a walk-in, bicycle or bus passenger: $4

  • With a Nonresident Entrance Pass: Free



Guided Cave Tours

Tour Name

 Adult 15+

Youth 5-14 yrs

Child 4 & Under 

Seniors 62+ yrs 

Classic Cave

$15

$10

$5

$15

Paradise

$15

$10

Free

$10

Wild Cave

$40

Must be 15+

Must be 15+

$25

Candlelight

$25

$15

Must be 5+

$25

*Educational      Group

$12

$8

$4

$12

 

Guided Hikes & Tours:  $4 per person or as posted
Specialty Tours (i.e. Photography Tour):  $50 per person or as posted
Interpretive & *Educational Programs

*Please call the park at least 2 weeks prior to visit to receive the Education Rate


Campsites
  • Campsite fees range from $4 - $34 per night, depending on season and available amenities

Montana State Parks offers hike/bike, rustic, tent, rv, and boatslip campsites.

 
Cabins and Wall Tent

Residents and Nonresidents with a Park Pass

  • $54 per night

  • $50 between third Monday in September - third Thursday in May

 

Nonresidents

  • $66 per night

  • $60 between third Monday in September - third Thursday in May

 

Nonresidents

  • $42 Per night

  • $36 between third Monday in September - third Thursday in May

 

Visit Reserve America to check fees and reserve campsites, cabins and tipis at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park.

 

* Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees to state parks. For residents who don't include this in their vehicle registration, non-resident day use fees apply.

Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park
PO Box 489
Whitehall, MT 59759

Phone: 406-287-3541
Email: Lewis&ClarkCavernsStatePark@mt.gov

 

Reservation Phone Number:

1-855-922-6768

Recreate Responsibly

Tips to stay safe while getting outdoors

To keep our state parks safe and accessible to all, make sure you know before you go, practice physical distancing, plan ahead, play it safe, explore locally, leave no trace, respect wildlife, and do your part to build an inclusive outdoors. 

Visit the Recreate Responsibly page for more information 

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

Address

25 Lewis and Clark Caverns Rd.
Whitehall, MT 59759
Latitude/Longitude:
(45.82289 / -111.85082)

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Contact the Park

 

Mailing Address:

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

PO Box 489

Whitehall, MT 59759

 

Phone: 406-287-3541

Email: Lewis&ClarkCavernsStatePark@mt.gov

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