Last updated on December 20, 2023.

One of the most popular activities at Great Basin National Park is to visit the Lehman Caves. Discovered by Absalom Lehman in 1885, the caves are home to several small creatures including bats, spiders, and mites, and are full of spectacular formations. Cave bacon, stalactites, and stalagmites are everywhere.

 

Tours of Lehman Caves

Tours of the Lehman Caves can be booked at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, but booking online in advance is highly recommended. They sell out fast! Bookings can be made up to 30 days in advance.

There are four tours available and all are limited to 20 people. Check the official website to see which tours are currently on offer.

The Lodge Room tour lasts about 60 minutes and visits the Gothic Palace, Music Room, and Lodge Room. It’s ½ mile long. It costs US$12 per adult (as of April 2023).

The 60-minute Parachute Shield tour visits the Lodge Room, Inscription Room, and Grand Palace. It’s ½ mile long and costs US$12 per adult (as of April 2023).

The 30-minute Gothic Palace tour visits the Gothic Palace. It’s ¼ mile long and costs US$8 per adult (as of April 2023).

The 90-minute Grand Palace tour visits all of the above sections. It’s 0.6 miles long and costs US$15 per adult (as of April 2023).

Entrance to Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Entrance to Lehman Caves

We decided to do the Grand Palace tour. It was a great choice because we were able to see all of the best rooms in the cave. The ranger who led our tour was enthusiastic and funny, and we learned a lot about the formations present in each room.

 

Gothic Palace

The first room we visited was the Gothic Palace, which has very high ceilings and all kinds of amazing formations.

Gothic Palace at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Gothic Palace
Gothic Palace at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Gothic Palace

 

Music Room

Next was the Music Room. We felt as if we were inside a giant pipe organ. We were then shown how cave bacon and the other formations are created.

Music Room at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Music Room
Cave bacon at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Cave bacon
Cave formations at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Cave formations

 

Lodge Room

The ranger had some intriguing stories about how the Lodge Room was used over the years. It was shocking to many on the tour that in the early 20th century, people would enter the cave in their best clothes for parties. They would bring food and drinks, bands would play live music, and there would be dancing. Lots of garbage accumulated over the years and irreparable damage was done.

Lodge Room at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Lodge Room
Lodge Room at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Lodge Room

 

Inscription Room

If we had taken the Lodge Room tour, it would end here, but we still had a good half hour to go on the Grand Palace tour. We continued with the Inscription Room, where early 20th century visitors would leave graffiti on the walls of the cave.

Inscription Room at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Inscription Room
Inscription Room at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Graffiti in the Inscription Room
Inscription Room at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Inscription Room

 

Grand Palace

The final area of the tour was the Grand Palace, which is the most spectacular room in the cave.

Grand Palace at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Entering the Grand Palace
Grand Palace at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Grand Palace
Grand Palace at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Looking up in the Grand Palace
Grand Palace at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Grand Palace
Grand Palace at Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Grand Palace

 

Mountain View Nature Trail

When the tour was finished, we decided to do the short Mountain View Nature Trail, which takes  you past the original entrance to the cave. It’s hard to imagine visitors over 100 years ago climbing down a rope in formal clothing.

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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