Lehman Caves is located in the Snake Range of Great Basin National Park in Utah. Limestone formations drip from the walls in rare and unusual shapes called shields. There are over 300 shield formations in the cave and all the walls are decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, flowstone, popcorn and other formations. Nearly every surface is covered with something interesting and a tour of this cave is wonderful.
According to geologist, water working slowly over the ages is the sculptor of Lehman Caves and started about 600 million years ago, in the early Cambrian period. Much of what is now Nevada and western Utah was covered by a warm, shallow, inland sea. During this time, many thick layers of sediment accumulated on the sea bottom, comprised of silt and decomposed bodies of shell creatures. Over the eons, the lake dried up and the layers compacted into limestone in which Lehman Caves was formed.
Eventually, the limestone was lifted into a mountains range and the rock layers cracked and buckled, allowing water to seep from above. The water was acidic enough to dissolve the limestone and carved our cavities in the bedrock. Then, as the caves emptied of water, seeping water from above redeposited dissolved minerals on the floors, ceilings and walls of the cave.
Lodge Room Tour (60 minutes)
You will tour the highlights in this stretch of the caverns, including the Gothic Palace, Music Room and Lodge Room.
Grand Palace Tour (90 minutes)
The Grand Palace Tour take you on a visit to the Gothic Palace, the Music Room, the Lodge Room, Inscription Room and the Grand Palace sections of Lehman Caves, and most especially the famous “Parachute Shield” formation.
Candlelight Tour (60 minutes)
During the summer months, rangers offer a special, historic candlelight tour of Lehman Caves. This guided tour lasts one hour and follows the Lodge Room tour route. Participants will see the cave using historic candle lanterns, without the aid of flashlights or the cave lighting system.
Cave tours are offered daily, year round, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Park rangers lead all tours, explaining the history, ecology, and geology of the caves. Three different guided tours are offered. Reservations are strongly recommended in the summer months, as well as over holiday weekends.
Tickets are required for Lehman Caves tours, and may be purchased in person at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center or in advance by phone at (775) 234-7331 x 242, between the hours of 9 a.m. an 4 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
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