For the first time in more than four decades, visitors to Great Basin National Park can explore rarely seen sections of the park’s iconic Lehman Caves on a new ranger-led adventure.
The park has launched its “Introduction to Wild Caving Tour,” a three-hour guided experience that takes visitors into wild, undeveloped areas of Lehman Caves — sections that have been closed to the public since 1981. The tours are being offered on Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day weekend, as staffing allows.
Described as a more rugged, off-trail alternative to the standard cave tour, the wild caving experience brings participants deep into Nevada’s longest cave. After following the paved trail to its endpoint, visitors will venture into the Royal Gorge, scramble into the massive Talus Room, and — for those who opt in — squeeze into the Behman Annex, an area never before open to the public. Along the way, they’ll see calcite formations, delicate helictites, and historic 19th-century inscriptions, all while learning about the cave’s geology and cultural significance from a ranger guide.
The new offering is part of a broader project to enhance scientific research and public appreciation of wild caves within the park, funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. Lehman Caves, estimated to be 10 million years old, are the largest and most visited of 40 known caves in the park’s 77,000-acre landscape.
Participation is limited to eight people per tour. Tickets cost $40 and are available by advance reservation through recreation.gov. The tour is open to adults aged 16 and older, with parental permission required for those under 18. Participants should be prepared for physical activity, including hiking, rock scrambling, and navigating dark, narrow spaces.
Full tour details can be found at go.nps.gov/LehmanCaves.
