If you’re up for a Montana road trip, you’ll be happy to know that Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park will open their cave for the 2023 season! From May 1 to Sept. 30, you can take a tour of the cave, either on a first-come-first-served basis or by making a reservation. To make a reservation, call 1-855-922-6768 or visit fwp.mt.gov/stateparks.
The upper visitor area will be open seven days a week, with tours starting at 9 a.m. The campground and trails are also open, and facilities like showers, comfort stations, and water stations will reopen when the weather allows.
There are two tour options: the Paradise Tour and the Classic Tour. The Paradise Tour is a 90-minute, 1-mile tour of the largest and most decorated room in the cave. It’s recommended for visitors with small children, claustrophobia, or who prefer an easier experience. The Classic Tour is a two-hour, 2-mile journey through most of the developed cave, with more than 600 stairs, stooping, and tight squeezes. It’s not recommended for small children or visitors with claustrophobia.
Tickets for the Paradise Tour cost $10-$15, depending on age, while tickets for the Classic Tour cost $15 for visitors ages 15 and up. Visitors are also required to pay an $8 entrance fee, unless they are Montana residents.
When visiting the cave, remember to not wear any clothing or accessories that have been in another cave or mine in the past two years, to protect the bat populations. Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is located about 15 miles southeast of Whitehall, along Montana Highway 2. For more information, visit fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lewis-and-clark-caverns or call 406-287-3541.
