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Down deep unground in Great Basin National Park, you’ll find Lehman Caves. We knew the park was great for stargazing, but didn’t really know much about the Lehman caves tours. And, man, the Lehman Caves Tour is spectacular!
There are so many caves to explore and even options for spelunking for the experienced personnel! The cave tours are easy to navigate through, and while we wouldn’t recommend touring the caves for claustrophobic people, they’re easy on the legs after a long hike up Wheeler Peak!
A Little Bit About the Lehman Cave Tours
Well, for starters, the caves are obviously underground. So we really don’t recommend them for people who experience claustrophobia. I (Heather) am a bit claustrophobic and had a couple of freak out moments when down in the caves. But loved the tour still! The caves, for the most part, are rather open and don’t feel super small at all.
A screening of White Nose Syndrome is mandatory for the cave tours. This screening ensures that you don’t bring any contaminants into the cave. The White Nose Syndrome is a disease that has been killing bats all throughout North America. So please, be honest when answering questions — you seeing the caves is not worth potentially harming/killing the bats living within the caves.
The tours range in price from $5.00 to $11.00 depending on your age and which cave tour you choose. If you have special National Park Passes, then you can even get the tour for cheaper! This price is actually not too bad considering there isn’t an actual entrance fee for the park itself!
Being a cave, and going underground means that it’s a bit chillier actually in the caves. While you will be going up and downstairs and walking through the caves for 1.5 hours, it still gets chilly ian the caves. No matter the weather at Great Basin National Park, the caves stay at a constant temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit. We definitely recommend bringing a light jacket with you!
Lehman Cave Tours Options
There are three different cave tours ranging from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. The times and prices of the cave tours vary.
The Grand Palace Tour is 1.5 hours long and allows children over 5 years of age to join.
The shortest tour, The Gothic Palace Tour, coming in at just 30 minutes is accessible for those who can’t climb or descend stairs and is a good choice for those who are somewhat nervous of caves, as it only accesses the first room of the Lehman Caves.
The Lodge Room Tour is one hour long and is recommended for families with children.
Booking the Lehman Cave Tour
We visited Great Basin National Park at the end of August and had no problem just showing up the day of and booking a cave tour. However, the more we read the more we’re finding that people should really book in advance if you know when you’ll be arriving at the park. Apparently, the cave tours sell out often. To choose what cave tour is right for you and book your spots, head to the link below.
If you aren’t on too much of a schedule and are more go with the flow, then we recommend being sure to make your first stop in Great Basin at the visitor’s center to see what openings they have for the day! If people don’t show up for their allotted tour, the park rangers give those spots away on a first come first serve basis.
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Book Your Flight + Rental Car to the Lehman Caves
