Lehman Caves

Lehman Caves is one of the most beautifully decorated caves in the West — a single, richly ornamented marble cavern within Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada, famous for its dense and varied formations. Though not large, it is packed with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, draperies, flowstone and an unusual abundance of rare shield formations, making it a jewel-box of cave decoration.

Discovered and promoted by rancher Absalom Lehman in the 1880s, the cave has drawn visitors for well over a century and helped lead to the area’s protection. Today it is explored only on ranger-guided tours that wind through its chambers, past the famous shields and the ornate ‘Grand Palace,’ at a cool, constant temperature year-round. A dazzling underground wonder beneath the high desert, Lehman Caves is a treasured natural icon of Nevada and Great Basin National Park.

Lehman Caves is experienced on ranger-guided tours (of varying lengths) that wind through its decorated chambers, past the rare shield formations, columns and the ornate Grand Palace — the only way to enter the cave. Above ground, the visitor center, nearby trails and the rest of Great Basin National Park offer hiking, the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive and stargazing. The guided cave tour, marveling at the dense and rare formations, is the signature experience. The combination of the jewel-box cave and the surrounding national park makes it a uniquely rewarding stop.

The cave stays a cool, constant temperature year-round, so it is wonderful in any season — though tours are most frequent in summer and fill up, so reservations are essential, especially in the busy months. Visiting the cave pairs naturally with the high country of Great Basin in summer and fall, while the cave itself is a fine winter destination when the upper park road is closed. Year-round for the cave is the highlight — reserve a tour ahead, and combine it with the rest of Great Basin National Park.

Lehman Caves were known to or used by Native peoples and brought to wide attention by rancher Absalom Lehman, who began guiding visitors through them in the 1880s. The cave’s fame helped lead to its protection as Lehman Caves National Monument in 1922, later incorporated into Great Basin National Park in 1986. Generations of visitors have left their mark on its history (and early signatures remain in places). Lehman Caves preserves this exquisitely decorated cavern and its long history of wonder, a treasured icon of Nevada.

Lehman Caves formed in marble — limestone that was metamorphosed by heat and pressure — within the uplifted Snake Range, as slightly acidic groundwater slowly dissolved the soluble rock to hollow out the chambers. Over hundreds of thousands of years, dripping and seeping water then deposited calcite to build the cave’s dense formations, including its remarkable abundance of shields — rare disk-shaped formations whose exact origin is still debated. The soluble marble, the dissolving groundwater and the slow growth of calcite created this richly decorated cave.

Lehman Caves shelters several species of bats, which use the cave and the surrounding park, along with cave-adapted invertebrates living in the dark, stable environment. Above ground, the pinyon-juniper and desert around the cave entrance host the wildlife of Great Basin’s lower zones — mule deer, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and a variety of birds. The cave’s bats are a key part of its ecosystem and are protected from disturbance. The cave and its surroundings support specialized and varied wildlife in this high-desert setting.

Lehman Caves is a delicate cave ecosystem — a dark, cool, humid environment where bats and specialized cave invertebrates live, sustained by nutrients carried in from outside, with formations that grow imperceptibly slowly. The cave connects to the surrounding pinyon-juniper and desert ecosystem of Great Basin. The cave environment and its bats are extremely sensitive to disturbance and contamination. Protecting the cave’s formations, its humidity and its bats (including guarding against white-nose syndrome) sustains both the ecology and the beauty of this underground jewel.

Lehman Caves holds a treasured place among the icons of Nevada — a dazzling, densely decorated marble cavern that has drawn visitors for well over a century, famous for its rare shield formations and ornate chambers, and the original heart of what became Great Basin National Park. The cave embodies the hidden wonders beneath the stark Nevada high desert. Lehman Caves is a cherished natural icon of Nevada and a jewel of Great Basin National Park.

Lehman Caves is in Great Basin National Park in remote east-central Nevada, at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center near the town of Baker, off U.S. Highway 50 near the Utah border. There is no park entrance fee, but cave tours require tickets and advance reservations (tours sell out, especially in summer). The visitor center has exhibits, a cafe and trail access. The cave is cool (bring a layer) with stairs and some low passages. Check the National Park Service for tour times, reservations and conditions before visiting.

The National Park Service protects Lehman Caves and its fragile formations and bats. Visitors help by never touching the formations (skin oils halt their growth), staying with the tour and on the paved path, following white-nose-syndrome screening (not bringing gear or clothing used in other caves), not disturbing the bats, and packing out everything. The cave environment, its delicate decorations and its bats are highly sensitive. Protecting the formations, the humidity and the bats sustains both the ecology and the beauty of this exquisitely decorated cave.

Cave tours involve stairs, uneven and sometimes slippery surfaces, low passages where you must duck, and cool temperatures — wear sturdy, non-slip shoes and bring a light jacket, and let the ranger know of mobility concerns. Stay with the group and on the path. The cave is not recommended for those with serious claustrophobia or mobility limits on some tours. Above ground, the high desert brings strong sun and the park’s remoteness limits services. Respect the cool damp footing, the low passages and the need to stay with the guided tour.

Cave entry is by guided tour only, with tickets and advance reservations required. Never touch the cave formations. Do not bring gear, clothing or footwear used in other caves (white-nose-syndrome screening protects the bats). Stay with the tour and on the paved trail; do not stray or touch walls. No food, drink (except water), gum or tobacco in the cave; strollers and large bags are restricted. Pets are not allowed in the cave. Check the National Park Service for tour reservations, screening rules and current conditions before visiting.

The rest of Great Basin National Park — Wheeler Peak, the bristlecone groves and the alpine lakes — surrounds the cave, with the town of Baker at the gate, the historic town of Ely, U.S. 50 (‘the Loneliest Road’) and the western Utah desert in the region. The Snake Range and the Great Basin define the region. Lehman Caves is the underground jewel of Great Basin National Park, a centerpiece of a Great Basin adventure, easily combined with Wheeler Peak, the bristlecone pines and the park’s famous dark-sky stargazing.

Reserve your Lehman Caves tour well in advance — tours sell out, especially in summer — and choose a longer tour if you can to see more of the ornate chambers and rare shields. Wear non-slip shoes and bring a light jacket for the cool cave, and don’t touch the formations. Pair the tour with the rest of Great Basin National Park: the Wheeler Peak drive, the ancient bristlecone pines, and the superb dark-sky stargazing. Fuel up in Baker or Ely, as the park is remote.