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.
Park, trails, and campground are open, as well as both visitor centers, café, and gift shop. More information can be found under 'Seasons & Hours'. Please look at the ‘Tours & Programs’ tab below for the latest availability of cave tours for the 2026 season."
About the 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.
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.
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.
Seasons & Hours
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.
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.
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.
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.**
Park Rules
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.
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
Must be 5+
$15
Paradise
$15
$10
Free
$10
Candlelight
$25
$15
Must be 5+
$25
*Educational Group
$12
$8
$4
$12
**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
* 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.
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park Management Plan Update
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.
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.
1-855-922-6768 (For campsite and tour reservations during applicable seasons)
What About Bats?
How Does FWP Monitor Bat Populations for White-nose Syndrome?
FWP has begun its annual surveillance for Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats. This disease has caused devastating declines in bat populations across North America, and it was first detected in Montana in 2021. Since the detection, Montana FWP has begun to see declines in bat populations within the state. Tune in to witness the crucial steps being taken to safeguard our winged night mammals!
