If you think you might enjoy exploring million-year-old limestone rock caves, then you must visit Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park.
These caves originated over 550 million years ago, at a time when most of Nevada and Utah were covered by shallow sea waters.
To form the caves, what occurred in the sediments from sea creatures that lived and died within these waters created layers of rich calcium carbonate sediment on the ocean floors, which over millions of years, then solidified into limestone rock.
Then, as rain and melting snow soaked through the soil and combined with carbon dioxide gas – created from dying plants and animals – it formed an acidic solution that over time seeped through tiny cracks until the limestone around these water-filled cracks slowly dissolved and created the beautiful and mysterious limestone-covered caves.
Lehman Caves was declared a National Monument on January 24, 1922, but little presence at the cave was shown by the Forest Service prior to that. This inaction allowed private owners to do as they may within the caves.
Mr. Clarence and his wife Beatrice Rhodes purchased 50 acres of Lehman’s property near the entrance of the cave, officially with permits from the Forest Service in 1920, and began organizing and guiding multiple paid tours throughout the caves.
Many improvements were made in and around the cave by Rhodes, including replacing rope ladders with stairways, and floor excavations were undertaken that provided more headroom throughout the pathways; road work improvements to the cave entrance were made and tents were also placed within Lehman’s Orchard for overnight camping.
During the early 1920s, the movement to make the National Monument into a National Park began, but it wasn’t until the mid-1980’s that this movement became reality. In 1986, the Monument designation was abolished, and the caves and their surrounding area then became the newest U.S. National Park.
Currently, the caves are only accessible via a paid guided tour, lasting 60-90 minutes in length, which explores different parts of the elaborate cave through dimly lit passageways. The 90-minute Grand Palace Tour is the longest tour option, guiding you through the Gothic Palace, Music Room, Lodge Room, Inscription Room, and the Grand Palace sections of Lehman’s Caves. You also get a chance to view the “Parachute Shield” formation, which is the most famous formation of the cave. Time permitting, they also offer the Lodge Room Tour, a 60-minute tour that does not go as deep into the cave as the Grand Palace tour and is the preferred tour for children. This tour explores the Gothic Room, Music Room, and Lodge Room sections.
For a three-hour cave tour, back when it originated, fees were a dollar per person, and children under twelve were free, with groups of twelve or more were five dollars. Now, fees are $21 for adults, with a discounted rate for seniors aged 60+ of $19; children are $11 (ages 5-17), and children under age 4 are admitted free.
I decided to escape life for a while and booked the 90-minute Grand Palace tour. It was a selection I do not regret taking and most definitely advise you to check out. It was such a wonderful experience. The caverns are cold, so ensure you dress appropriately. Touching the limestone is not permitted, to preserve the natural cave state. Please visit recreation.gov for more information and to reserve your guided tour.
And please do not forget to leave a comment below and tell me all about your experience.