Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
Montana
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park in Montana spans 3,000 acres and is renowned for its extensive limestone caverns formed in Madison Limestone dating back over 300 million years. The park offers two visitor centers, ten miles of hiking trails, and a campground, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and adventurers. The caverns themselves were first explored in the late 19th century and developed for tours around 1900. They were designated as a national monument in 1908 before becoming Montana's first state park in 1938. The cave system features impressive geological formations shaped by acidic groundwater and uplift during the Laramide Orogeny. Visitors can take guided tours from May to September, including a two-hour Classic Cave Tour and a shorter Paradise Tour. The park is also home to Townsend's big-eared bats, which roost inside the caverns each year, contributing to the local ecosystem by consuming thousands of insects daily. Beyond the caverns, the park provides amenities such as camping, hiking, biking, bird watching, and picnicking, ensuring a diverse outdoor experience. The Civilian Conservation Corps played a significant role in making the caves accessible during the New Deal era, and the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, highlighting its cultural and natural significance.
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Tip: The best time to visit Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is from May through September when guided tours of the caverns are available. Booking tours in advance is recommended, especially during peak summer months. Visitors can enjoy hiking and wildlife watching year-round, but cave access is limited to guided tours only. Look out for annual Bat Week celebrations in August, which offer special programs about the park's bat population. Camping and other amenities are available on-site, so plan accordingly for overnight stays.
Interesting facts
- •Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park covers 3,000 acres and includes ten miles of hiking trails.
- •The caverns were formed in Madison Limestone dating back 325 to 365 million years ago.
- •The site was originally designated a national monument in 1908 but became Montana's first state park in 1938.
- •Townsend's big-eared bats roost in the caverns, consuming thousands of insects daily and playing an important ecological role.
- •Bat guano from the caverns was collected during World War II to produce TNT.
- •The Civilian Conservation Corps was instrumental in making the caves accessible to tourists during the New Deal era.
History
The caverns were likely known to Native Americans long before European discovery, but documented exploration began in the late 1800s.
Local ranchers discovered the caverns around 1892, with initial claims dating back to 1882 being unsubstantiated.
The cave was developed for tourism by Dan A.
Morrison around 1900 and was designated as a national monument in 1908.
President Taft officially surveyed and declared the monument in 1911.
However, it lost national monument status in 1937 due to a lack of national significance and was transferred to Montana state ownership, becoming the state's first state park in 1938.
The Civilian Conservation Corps improved the site during the New Deal era, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
Place Guide
Classic Cave Tour
A two-mile guided tour lasting about two hours that explores the main limestone caverns, showcasing stunning geological formations and the cave ecosystem.
Paradise Tour
A shorter, one-mile guided tour lasting approximately one hour, offering a concise but impressive experience of the caverns' highlights.
Contact
Phone: (406) 287-3541
