Introduction:
What? :
When visiting Great Basin National Park you must visit Lehman Caves, it is a spectacular marble cavern filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and rare formations called shields.
This ranger-guided experience is a must-do for any park visitor.
Where? :
Great Basin National Park sits near the Utah–Nevada border, just outside the small town of Baker, Nevada.
It’s about 4.5 hours (230 miles) southwest of Salt Lake City and roughly 5 hours (300 miles) north of Las Vegas.
The largest nearest town is Ely, NV, located about an hour drive north of the park on highway 50 (known as the “Loneliest Road in America”).
It is one of the most remote national parks in the contiguous United States.
When? :
The park is officially open year-round but most facilities and inner park roads are closed during the winter months.
My recommendation is to visit here during late Summer (late August) or early Fall (September), this offers the best balance of open roads, comfortable hiking weather, and clear night skies.
Because of its wide elevation range, the Great Basin experiences a variety of climates.
Spring (April–June): Snow lingers at higher elevations; lower trails bloom with wildflowers. Temperatures range from 50–75°F during the day.
Summer (July–September): The most popular time to visit. Cool mountain air keeps highs around 70–85°F (21–29°C), but it can be hot in the valleys. Afternoon thunderstorms are common. Hiking trails and all roads are open, stargazing programs.
Fall (October): Crisp air, golden aspens colors, and fewer visitors. Highs around 60°F.
Winter (November–March): Cold and quiet. Snow blankets the mountains, perfect for snowshoeing, but some roads and facilities close.
Tips and inputs:
Due note 1:
This is a remote park, always fill your gas before driving here.
The nearest gas station to Great Basin National Park is located about 5 miles north of the park on highway 6, right on the border of NV/UT (part of the Border Inn Casino complex).
There are only minimal tourist facilities and services.
Due note 2:
The park offers several developed campgrounds, all of which generally have vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire grills. Campgrounds reservation is highly recommended, some are first-come, first-served in summer.
The small town of Baker has motels, Desert Camping & RV parks, and a few restaurants.
Backcountry Camping permits are free and required for overnight trips into the wilderness area.
Due note 3:
The 12 miles Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is typically open June–October (depending on snow).
Due note 4:
Bring layers, even in summer, temperatures can swing 40°F in a single day.
Due note 5:
Although considered a remote and less crowded park, during the summer month there are many other travelers visiting the park and you need to reserve your campground and cave tours in advance.
I visited here mid-September 2025 and there were only the last few available campground sites + no cave stores, only 8am visitor center reservation.
Due note 6:
Expect little to no cell reception once you leave the town of Baker.
Download maps (like Google Maps or the NPS app) for offline use and print reservation confirmations.
If you need to make a camping reservation do this before getting here or ask for wifi password at the visitor center.
Due note 7:
The high-elevation trails start above 10,000 feet. Take it slow, drink plenty of water.
Due note 8:
Unlike many national parks, Great Basin does not charge an entrance fee. However, the Lehman Cave tour requires a ticket as well as payment for the campground site.
Due note 9:
Winter snow storms can come early, always check the official NPS website for current road and trail conditions before your trip.
Due note 10:
Even during the shoulder seasons (spring fall) Lehman Cave tours can sell out, book in advance at recreation.gov.
Due note 11:
Dogs are not permitted on most of the park trail.
My thoughts:
I visited here mid September 2025 and there were no available slots so I stood in-line before the visitor center and managed to get a ticket for a 30 minute tour.
It was interesting to learn about the geology and the human history of the cave and the view of the different rooms is very impressive.
This is a great tour for 30 minutes and you can arrange your visit to the park around it.
The Visit:
The only way to visit the cave is with Ranger-guided tours ranging from 60 to 90 minutes.
There are specific hours for each tour.
Reservations are Crucial:
Cave tours are ranger-guided only, limited to 20 visitors, and often sell out well in advance. Reservations on Recreation.gov are strongly recommended.
In some cases there are last minute cancellations so you can find empty spots.
There is an option of walk-up tickets: you must be at the cave visitor center at 8am and check for day tour tickets availability. I came here in mid-September 2025 and the people start to get in line from 7am near the visitor center close doors.
Day tickets sell out quickly so I do recommend coming here at 7:30am.
The Tour:
The cave tours begin at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, accessible via Highway 488, just a short drive from Baker.
Plan your day according to your tour hour.
You need to check in at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center at least 15 minutes before your tour time.
There is a small cafeteria near the visitor center.
Tip and Guide:
Bring a light jacket, internal cave temperature stays around 50°F (10°C) year-round.
Wear closed-toe shoes with good traction, as the cave trail can be wet and slippery.
To prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome (a fatal disease for bats), do not bring any footwear, clothing, or gear that has been in any other cave or mine unless it has been thoroughly disinfected.
No bags (backpacks, purses, fanny packs, camera bags), food, or drink (including water) are allowed inside the cave.
Only front-mounted baby carriers are permitted.
Crawling is not required.
Handrails are available on all staircases.
No need for flashlights.
Geological information on the cave formation process:
Lehman Caves is a limestone solution cavern where its unusual creation process began over 500 million years ago.
The Limestone rock has been metamorphosed into marble due to heat and pressure.
Over the years warm Acidic water rise from below reacted strongly with the surrounding marble, dissolving it away and rapidly enlarging the passages and rooms near the water table.
When the mountain range raised the cave above the water table, the water drained out leaving behind air-filled chambers.
The last stage is when the chambers were air-filled, surface water (rain and snowmelt) percolated down through the soil and rock. This slightly acidic water dissolved tiny amounts of calcite from the marble above the cave. When the water droplets reached the open cave air, they deposited their mineral load, creating the spectacular formations
During the tour the rangers will explain the unique geologic of this cave and point out the different rock formations.
Human History:
You will also learn about the human history of the cave, from the native americans, through the Absalom S. Lehman that enabled it into a private cave tour, and all the way until today when it is governed by the National Park Service.
There is clear evidence that Native American Fremont Culture was aware of the cave's natural entrance and the cave was used for burial purposes long before the arrival of white settlers.
The cave is officially credited to Absalom S. Lehman, a German immigrant, prospector, and rancher who settled in the Snake Valley in the late 1860s. Lehman began offering paid, lantern-lit tours in 1885, using the cave as a tourist attraction until his death in 1891.
People were lowered by cables into the cave through the natural entrance and left there for self explanatory with candle lights.
Lehman Caves National Monument was established by President Warren G. Harding in 1922. It was later incorporated into Great Basin National Park when the park was established in 1986.
Preparation of the cave for modern public tours:
The National Park Service (NPS), and the local custodians before the transfer of the monument, undertook extensive work to transform Lehman Caves from a difficult-to-access wild cave into a modern show cave for public tours.
Most of the major infrastructure projects to facilitate tours were completed between the 1920s and the 1960s.
While keeping the native cave entrance, a major tunnel digging project involved blasting and constructing “air lock” entrance and exit tunnels into the lower cave level.
Building wooden and concrete stairways and paths inside the cave.
The most significant change was the installation of an electric lighting system throughout the cave.
What you can see in the cave:
As its rather unique geological creation process Lehman Caves is renowned for its sheer density and variety of speleothems (cave formations), including some rare types.
Shields: These unique, plate-like formations are a particular highlight of Lehman Caves, giving it international significance. They are disc-shaped, usually with a small flange around the edge.
Stalactites and Stalagmites: Classic cave formations. Look for stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (growing from the floor). When they meet, they form a column.
Draperies (Cave Bacon): Long, thin, wavy sheets of calcite, often with colored bands that make them look like strips of bacon.
Popcorn and Flowstone: Popcorn refers to small, knobby formations, while flowstone is a sheet of mineral deposits that coats the cave's walls and floors.
Final Thoughts:
A visit to Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most richly decorated limestone cave systems in the United States.
Additional Pictures:
Comments
Post a Comment