Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

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

Tickets

Advanced purchase of tickets is recommended from June 4 through September 5 (Buy Tour Tickets); additional tours will have tickets available on a first come, first serve basis and is based on tour guide availability. Starting September 6 through September 30, all tours will be sold on a first come, first serve basis and based on tour guide availability. Tour schedules will be posted at the park at the beginning of each day.  
 

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.

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

The park has a large campground with 40 campsites, a tipi, 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

Extra precautions are being taken for the park’s bat populations.  While white nose syndrome (a fungal disease that affects bats but not humans) has reached Montana, Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park staff strive to decrease additional stressors that might affect bats such as exposure to Covid-19. 

Any visitor choosing to take the Classic Tour of the Cave will need to bring and wear a face mask just in the areas where the bat colony resides.  Those needing to go mask-free can still see the cave by taking the Paradise Tour that visits portions of the cave where bats do not live.  

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

The last day for cave tours will be September 30. The park gate will be closed beginning October 1.

Beginning September 6, cave tours will be closed on Tuesdays through the end of the tour season.

Beginning September 7:

• The park gate will close at 5:30pm through the last day of September.
• All cave tour tickets will only be available on a first come first serve basis. Please drive directly to the top cave visitor center to purchase tickets at the park.

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 two 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.

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.

Park

Buy tour tickets

• 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.

• 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.

Visitor Center

• May through September

  • 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily

• October through April

  • 10 a.m. - 4 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

• 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

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

2022 Summer Interpretive Programs

• Program Schedule (PDF)

• Program Descriptions (PDF)

Visit the State Parks Fees & Regulations page for 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

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

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

Tipis

Residents and Nonresidents with a Park Pass

• $30 per night 

• $26 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.

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