Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

Caverns

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

Cave Tours are available by advance reservation or same-day purchase May 1-Memorial Day, and Labor Day – September 30, and by advance reservation only Memorial Day -Labor Day. Please go to Campgrounds and Camping Reservations - Montana State Parks for cave tour and campground reservations.

Camping, hiking, and much 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.

• Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park Trail Guide (pdf)

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. You can find decontamination protocols for anything that may have come into contact with the fungal disease at www.whitenosesyndrome.org.

• Video: Montana's bats face a deadly wildlife disease video

The road to the Upper Visitor Plaza is closed to motor vehicle traffic October 1-April 30 every year. Visitors are still welcome to walk or bicycle along the road, but it is not maintained regularly during the winter months so may be impassible or partially blocked due to ice, snow, or rock debris.

From May 1 through September 30, the visitor center will be open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The park gate will be open from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day).

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. You can find decontamination protocols for anything that may have come into contact with the fungal disease at www.whitenosesyndrome.org.

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.

Caverns

• May 1-September 30. Please see Tours and Programs for more information.

Visitor Center

• October through April
  • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily October -November
  • Closed Mondays and Tuesdays December-April
• May through September
  • 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily
• Closed all federal and state holidays except Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Park is also closed December 24th and 31st.

Water

• Available May through September as weather allows

Showers & Comfort Station

• Open May through September as weather allows

 Montana Gift Corral and Limespur Café

• 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, May through September.

• Bicycling

• Bird Watching

• Camping

• Canoeing

• Fishing

• Group Camping

• Guided Cave Tours

• Hiking

• History

• Hunting- LCC Hunting Brochure

• Lewis And Clark

• History

• Nature

• Photography

• Picnicking

• RV Camping

• Tent Camping

• Visitor Center

• Wildlife Viewing

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

• Visitor Center
• Cave Tours*
• Kennels*       
• Gift shop
• Café*
• Hiking and Biking Trails
• Campground
• RV hookups
• Cabins
• Wall tent*
• Camp Host*
• Established Fire Pits
• Picnic Shelter
• Playground
• RV Dump Station*
• Showers*
• Toilets (Flush)*
• Toilets (Vault)
• Potable Water*
• Firewood for Sale
• ADA Accessible
• Interpretive Displays
• Maps
• Pets Allowed (outdoors on a leash, not allowed in the caverns)

*Only available May-September

2026 Summer Programs at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

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
• Please arrive 30 minutes before your tour time.
• Reservations are required for your tour, and access to the caverns are by guided tour only.

• Find Available Tours - Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park tour, MT - Montana State Parks

PARADISE TOUR (Easy)

• This is a 1 ½ hour, 1-mile guided walking tour. This tour is our easier option and consist of a flat trail with about a dozen stairs. This tour is ADA accessible with a few exceptions and is open to all ages, please call or email the park if you have any questions about accessibility. The caverns will be wet and slippery. 
• Tours are offered May – September
• Please arrive 30 minutes before your tour time.
• Reservations are required for your tour, and access to the caverns are by guided tour only.

• Find Available Tours - Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park tour, MT - Montana State Parks

CANDLELIGHT CAVE TOUR (Moderately Difficult)

• CANDLELIGHT CAVE TOUR (Moderately Difficult)

• Dates: TBA

• 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. 

• You can purchase Candlelight tour tickets online the Monday after Thanksgiving. Tickets will not be sold at the park visitor center.

• **Please use extra caution when traveling to Lewis and Clark Caverns during winter months. Be aware of potentially icy or snowy conditions on roads and trails leading to the visitor center—always check road conditions in advance and allow additional travel time as necessary. We recommend dressing appropriately for winter weather by layering clothing to adjust to temperature changes, and wearing insulated, waterproof footwear with good traction to help prevent slips, trips, and falls during your walk to the caverns.**

• Dogs must be on leash at all times, both in the campground and on all trails.
• Please park only in designated parking areas, do not park or drive on the grass.

Visit the State Parks Fees & Regulations page for more park rules.

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.

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

**Please note that while the Paradise Tour is free for children under 5, tickets are still required

Guided Hikes & Tours:  $4 per person or as posted

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

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.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is updating the management plan for Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. The updated plan will guide how FWP cares for the park's natural and cultural resources, supports a quality visitor experience, and manages facilities and day-to-day operations.

A management plan is the guiding document for a state park. It describes what FWP wants the park to look like in the years ahead and lays out the strategies and priorities for getting there.

The park's current management plan was adopted in 2000 and amended in 2007. Much has changed since then. Visitation has grown substantially, the Lewis and Clark Caverns Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, white-nose syndrome (a disease affecting bats) was detected in Montana in 2021, and the park's tours and visitor services have expanded. The updated plan will reflect today's conditions and address the park's current needs and opportunities.

The planning process runs from 2026 through 2027, with plan adoption targeted for December 2027. Public input is a central part of the process, and there will be several opportunities to participate along the way.

How to get Involved

Public input directly shapes this plan. Whether you visit Lewis and Clark Caverns every year or visited once and never forgot it, we want to hear from you.

Take the scoping survey (open now through September 30, 2026).
FWP is gathering input on what people value about the park, what could be improved, and what issues the management plan should address. The survey takes about five minutes, with optional additional questions if you'd like to share more.

Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LCCaverns

Planning Timeline

Spring 2026: Information gathering
FWP compiles current information on the park's resources, facilities, and visitor use to establish a clear picture of existing conditions.

Summer 2026: Public scoping
The public is invited to share what they value about the park and what issues the plan should address. The scoping survey is open through September 30, 2026.

Fall 2026 – Spring 2027: Management alternatives
Drawing on public input and the information gathered, FWP develops draft management alternatives. Additional opportunities for public input will be announced during this stage.

Summer 2027: Draft management plan
FWP prepares the draft plan based on the preferred alternatives.

Fall 2027: Public review
The complete draft plan is released for a formal public comment period.

End of 2027: Plan finalization
FWP finalizes and adopts the updated management plan, incorporating what was heard during public review.

Current Management Documents

The park's existing management documents are provided below for reference.

• Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park Management Plan (2000)
• Management Plan Amendment — Environmental Assessment (2007)
• Management Plan Amendment — Decision Notice (2008) 

Contact

For questions about the planning process, please contact:

Amber Lopatine, Parks and Outdoor Recreation Planner
Amber.lopatine@mt.gov • 406-444-3364

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  (For campsite and tour reservations during applicable seasons)