Lehman Caves

The cave takes its name from Absalom Lehman, a German-born prospector and rancher who settled in Snake Valley in the late 1860s and, by most accounts, came upon the cave in 1885 near his ranch. He began leading visitors through it by candlelight and hoped to develop it as an attraction, but he died before he could fully realize the plan.

The cave's fame grew, and in 1922 President Warren Harding proclaimed it Lehman Caves National Monument. When Great Basin National Park was created in 1986 to protect the wider Snake Range, the cave and its monument were folded into the new park, where they remain the most popular attraction.

The passages wind through limestone and low-grade marble at the base of the Snake Range, dissolved out over millions of years by slightly acidic groundwater seeping through the rock. As the water later dripped and evaporated, it left behind the slow-growing calcite formations that fill the rooms today.

Lehman Caves is best known for its shields, strange formations made of two roughly circular plates joined like a flattened clamshell, often trailing stalactites and draperies from the lower plate. Most caves have only a handful of shields if any; Lehman is studded with hundreds of them, one of the greatest concentrations known, and their origin is still not fully understood, which only adds to the fascination.

The world above the cave is as remarkable as the one below. Wheeler Peak soars past 13,000 feet, its upper slopes home to groves of bristlecone pines, among the oldest living trees on Earth, and a small rock glacier tucked into a shaded cirque. A scenic drive climbs the mountain, and trails lead to alpine lakes and the ancient pines.

Because Great Basin is so far from any city, its night skies are among the darkest in the country, and the park is a celebrated spot for stargazing. The desert basins below are home to pronghorn and sage, while the high country holds marmots, mule deer, and the occasional mountain lion. Summer is the season for the high peak, while the cave stays cool and open through much of the year.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Lehman Caves, within Great Basin National Park in remote east-central Nevada, are a beautiful and richly decorated limestone cave celebrated for their spectacular and unusual formations. Despite the plural name, Lehman Caves are a single large cave, famed for an extraordinary abundance of formations, including rare shield formations for which the cave is especially known, along with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and delicate features, all viewed on guided ranger tours through the cool underground chambers. A dazzling underground wonderland and a highlight of Great Basin National Park, they enchant visitors. With their remarkable formations and guided tours, Lehman Caves offer a fascinating destination in Nevada.

You can take a guided ranger tour through the cave, marveling at the abundant and unusual formations, including the famous shield formations, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and delicate features, and learning about the cave's geology and history along lighted pathways. The remarkable and rare formations, the informative ranger-guided tour, and the cool underground beauty are the highlights, offering wonder for all ages within Great Basin National Park. The shields are a rare and celebrated feature. With their formations and tours, Lehman Caves offer an engaging experience in Nevada.

Yes, tours of Lehman Caves are guided by rangers and are very popular, so they often require advance reservations and can sell out, especially in busy seasons, making it important to book ahead and check current tour availability and times before you go. Because the caves are the highlight for many Great Basin visitors, planning your tour in advance is wise. The tours run on a schedule year-round. Reserving ahead ensures you can experience the guided tour of Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park, Nevada.

The cave stays cool year-round at a constant temperature, so bringing a light jacket is wise even in summer, and comfortable, non-slip shoes help on the paved but sometimes damp and uneven pathways, which include some stairs and low spots. Tours are guided, require reservations, and last a set time, so arriving early for your booked tour is important. To protect the cave, touching formations is not allowed. Coming prepared for the cool temperature and reserving ahead ensure a comfortable tour of Lehman Caves in Nevada.

Lehman Caves are within Great Basin National Park in remote east-central Nevada, near Wheeler Peak and the park's trails and bristlecone pines, within reach of Ely with the Nevada Northern Railway and the Ward Charcoal Ovens, and the Great Basin desert crossed by US Route 50. That makes Lehman Caves a fascinating stop to combine with Great Basin National Park, the Nevada Northern Railway, and the other attractions of eastern Nevada on a visit to the state.