From stalagmites and stalactites to twisted helictites and fused columns, this park’s fascinating caverns are packed with striking geological features.
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is one of Montana’s best-known natural attractions, with caverns adorned with stalagmites and stalactites. Venture inside the caverns for which the park is named during a guided tour or follow hiking and mountain biking trails aboveground.
Remember your school history training as you realize that the park takes its name from the historic early 19th-century expedition led by explorers CaptainMeriwether Lewisand Second LieutenantWilliam Clark. Though Lewis and Clark did pass through this region, they did not enter the caves themselves. In 1936, it was declared Montana’s first state park.
The park’s primary attractions are the caves after which it is named. Select from a number of guided tour choices that provide access to the interior of the caves. Opt for the 2-hour Standard Cavern Tour and make your way around the well-lit cave interior where you can examine the strangely shaped rock formations that protrude from the caverns’ ceilings and floors. In addition to stalagmites and stalactites, the cave also features helictites, curved formations that resemble twigs or branches, and columns, which are formed by the joining of a stalagmite and stalactite.
Visitors with limited mobility can do the Paradise Tour, which provides easy access to the biggest, most adorned section of the caverns. For more thrills, try the challenging Wild Cave Tour, a good introduction to spelunking.
An atmospheric candlelight tour is offered during December. Bring extra layers in winter or summer because the temperature in the caves is much cooler than outside. Watch for bats inside the caverns.
Back out in the open air, explore the park’s 10 miles (16 kilometers) of trails. For a short, easy route, follow the quarter-mile (half-kilometer) Nature Loop Trail at the upper picnic area. The 6-mile (10-kilometer) Grand Loop runs between the camp’s two visitor centers and gives a good overview of the park.
Visit Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park year-round. Regular cavern tours take place during summer, while candlelight tours are offered on select dates in December. Visitor centers are open daily, with reduced hours during winter.
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