Lewis and Clark Caverns
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is Montana’s first and best-known state park featuring one of the most decorated limestone caverns in the Northwest. Naturally air-conditioned, these spectacular caves lined with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites are electrically lighted and safe to visit. Above ground, a self-guided nature trail provides opportunities to understand the natural surroundings.
Plan to spend a minimum of 2 hours to hike 2 miles on the guided tour through the caverns. The park also provides trails, a brand new visitor center, amphitheater, picnic areas, large campground, showers, RV dump facilities, tipi, and 3 cabins. Please be aware that water is turned off from October 1-April 30, so flush toilets, showers, drinking water, and the RV dump facilities are available only during the summer.
Also available is 10 miles of hiking trails, 40-space campground, 3 camping cabins, tipi, picnic sites, firewood, flush and vault toilets, showers, group use area, RV dump station, grills/fire rings, picnic tables, trash cans, drinking water, and a food/beverage and gift concession. Pets are allowed if on a leash and under control.
The cabins are disabled accessible and sleep 4 comfortably (maximum occupancy is 6 people) – double bed, set of bunk beds, and room for a cot. Plumbing, kitchen facilities, bedding, and linens are not provided. Please bring your own sleeping bag or bedding, towels, cook stove, etc. There are electric lights and plug-ins – you may bring your own coffee maker. A table and 4 chairs are provided and a picnic table and fire ring are located outside each cabin. Shower facilities are located nearby.
The park is open year-round, but guided tours are conducted daily only between May 1 and September 30. The park has two visitor centers, interpretive displays, and evening programs presented during the summer months. The site encompasses 3,000 acres at an elevation of 4,300 and 5,600 feet. Golf courses and museums are located nearby in Three Forks and Whitehall.
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Lewis and Clark Caverns
Where are Lewis and Clark Caverns
Located about forty minutes south of Butte, Montana, the Lewis and Clark Caverns are just off Highway 2. If you’re driving across the state, taking the detour to the Jefferson River Valley is easy and won’t put you terribly off track. The highway actually loops back onto I-90 so you don’t even have to backtrack! Like doing a detour to Philipsburg, MT visiting Lewis and Clark Caverns is an easy addition and totally worth it.
From Yellowstone National Park, Lewis and Clark Caverns is about 2 hours from the Gardiner, MT entrance and just under 2 hours from the West Yellowstone entrance. There are plenty of other attractions in the area, including Big Sky and Virginia City, so if you need to interrupt your Yellowstone trip, you’ll have plenty of other interesting sites and activities to make the day additionally worthwhile.
Tip: when you pay for your entrance at Lewis and Clark Caverns, know that it’s a Montana State Park, save your receipt and it’ll get you into every other Montana State Park for seven days! Awesome experience and the gift goes on!
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Information on Caverns