My friend Laura and I had the best time here today. She's lived here for like 15 years and had never been nor had I. Our tour guide was Christopher and he was just the BEST. He had an amazing knowledge of the caves and their history. We also enjoyed the gift shop and the restaurant after. We were starving from our cave exploration so the Bison burger hit just right!! Yum! We both expressed that we think our kids would also love the caves!! This is a gorgeous hour drive from Bozeman that I also thoroughly enjoyed. read more

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I had no idea what to expect when I was on a road trip and my travel partner had booked us a tour of the Lewis and Clark Caverns. I knew I was in for a hike, but that's about all I knew. I was absolutely blown away with this magnificent experience! We hiked about a mile up to the cavern entrance. It was a steady incline and almost all in the sun, so come prepared for that. Sunscreen and a water bottle would be wise. By the time you get to the top, you're pretty toasty warm-and then you can cool off in the cold, dark cave. The cave/cavern (what's the difference?) is truly remarkable. Nature can be awe inspiring and what you see inside this mountain is a perfect example of nature's masterpiece. Be respectful and don't touch anything you're not supposed to touch. This isn't a horribly physical excursion, although there's a good amount of stairs, narrow spaces and even one area where you slide down on your bum. People who have any mobility limitations might struggle with this one-although I did overhear that there's an alternate tour for folks who might need accommodations, so ask about that. This was likely my favorite part of the road trip-even more memorable than Yellowstone! (Sssshhhh, don't get me in trouble for saying that.) read more

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Great "Classic Tour" it was another 15-20 minute hike to the entrance, and then another 600 steps in the caves, our tour guide Dean was great, had some funny jokes and very informative. The tour we took was about 2 hours complete. Bring a long sleeve top, or jacket and a bottle water. read more

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We had a great time at the caverns! Buy tickets early (at least a day before) because the first time we went it was sold out, and the next day we went with tickets and I noticed it was sold out as well. The Paradise tour was good for kids, not too long and we all learned a lot. Beautiful scenery along the short walk to the entrance of the caverns. There were plenty of picnic tables and the ice cream in the gift shop was very good! read more

We did the caverns tour with tour guide Huckleberry and it was amazing! Huckleberry was so informative and funny, and he made an already amazing experience even better. You start the tour with a 15-30 minute walk that's pretty much uphill, but it's doable. There are some parts of the cave that you have to crouch pretty low to get under, but they're over very quickly. There's a lot of steps but you stop a lot and it's not very strenuous. The views are amazing inside the cave! 10/10 recommend doing this tour and make sure to bring a sweatshirt! read more

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Nowhere online does it say that these caverns are closed for hunting season. Drove an hour and a half to be told by a closed gate that it was closed. Would've been nice if the website said that. read more

This review is for the visitor center and campground. Staff at the visitor center were very nice, helpful. We did not choose to go on the cavern tour. We did come here for the campground which is excellent. Nice space between all sites, there are some electric spots but we don't need that as it was cool. We use our solar panel , except when it's hot. It unfortunately will not run the AC. We got here as they were just fully opening for the spring. So the bathrooms were not open (flush toilets and showers) but they do have put toilets for cooler times. Great trails, some good for biking. There is a fish access pony too on the Jefferson River which runs along the campground across the highway. Beautiful trip in, well Worth it! read more

Lewis & Clark Caverns - Hiking Near Me - Whitehall, Montana

Beautiful single lane drive up to cavens. Yes there is RV parking lot just before main lot. The road has many hair pen turns and is steep. read more

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WOW! We were on our way down from Yellowstone and decided to stop by Lewis and Clark Caverns and OMG it was so amazing. Definitely worth the stop and half day we spent here. Be warn they get pretty busy so you will be spending anywhere between 2-5hrs depending on the day and tour you take. Make sure to gas up and grab a bite to eat at Whitehall before exiting to the caverns. The cafe up by the visitors center is closed for construction so there is only chips, gogurt, cookies, and applesauce to snack on. They also sell drinks like water,soda and Gatorade. If you are not able to climb stairs, have mobility issues, are on the heavier side or are claustrophobic do NOT do the classic tour. You can do the paradise tour that takes you to the biggest cave room they have and is about an hour long tour. There is a mini hike you have to take to reach the entrance to the cave. If you are up for adventure definitely do the classic tour. We had Tessa as our guide and she was FANTASTIC! She was funny and very knowledgeable about the caves and bats. There is a lot of ducking/leaning especially if you are over 5'7", and there is even a place where you have to slide on your butt because of how small the space is to walk through. You will see some bats, and amazing formations throughout your entire walk. This tour also passes through the crystal clear lake which you can see from about 15 feet from the path. Tips for classic tour: If you have depth perception problems make sure someone is there to guide you because the stairs are not uniform at all. Most of the time you are walking down the stairs sideways because your feet don't fit in the steps. Make sure to take a jacket and a water bottle. Do not take a backpack you will regret it. If you have hiking shoes/boots or shoes that give you extra grip wear them! This is a tour for children who are 8 years or older. There is a small time where they turn off all the lights so you can experience the cave but it only lasts about 1 min. read more

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The campgrounds is very spacious. It was a bit confusing to go into the office and pay for spot only to find out that somebody used a kiosk and had already occupied it. The lady in the office, Karen, was extremely nice and said to drive around and see if anything was open. She deserves 5 stars. However, the camp host was very rude and only deserves 1 star. When I asked if there were any open spots, he started going over everything. I said we will take anything available and he replied to me not to interrupt him. We were able to get a spot in the overflow. Karen was very sweet while we did the change. The next morning while going for a walk, I heard another camper ask the camp host if his German shepherd had been barking all night. He replied "it's a husky and there are other places to camp." Rude. The campground was nice if you don't have to interact with the host. However, due to recent rains, there were tons of mosquitos. read more

This was my first night's stop on my drive from Portland to New York City in June. I was actually surprised I was able to book a cabin at the park, on a Saturday night, about a week before I left. The first thing I noticed is how isolated and beautiful this park is- this was not the first time I had visited Montana, but I'm always blown away by it's pristine beauty and open skies. I arrived at around 11pm and it was DARK. There was a new moon, and absolutely no lights on at all which made a very quiet and serene sleeping experience. The cabin was clean- barren and rustic, but very very charming. Restrooms were serviceable- not the cleanest but not filthy (the showers takes quarters, also.) The caverns, however, were the main attraction and the next day I went on a tour. My only caving experience prior was the Ape Caves in Washington State, but this experience was much more engaging and entertaining. The guide was affable, and I was quite glad that it wasn't super busy (post-Covid, it's kind of hit or miss if these things will be super packed or not.) The views from the trail to the cave are also quite spectacular, and one of the few times I have used the panorama feature on my phone. I absolutely recommend staying the night here, as it is off the beaten track a bit (I had to do a Montana State Parks search to even find it.) It's fun for the family, but also for a single traveler such as myself. read more

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Fun for the whole family. Bring a front pack for your little one, you will need it in the cave--but if you forgot yours, they'll provide you one! Great experience and I've had the privilege of visiting New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns. I'm not which I like better. I think Lewis and Clark Caverns is cooler actually. Be prepared for a little hike up to the entrance. But slides, stairs and ramps will take you down down down. Guides are cool despite their jokes and they have fun with it, which makes it enjoyable. Take lots of pictures. Very memorable. read more

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The only thing I can really say about this place is: wow! I had read about it online as a possible side trip on our way to Yellowstone, but I quickly forgot about it while planning our route. Then while driving along the freeway heading towards our destination, I noticed a sign for Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park and remembered that it was an option to visit. Since it was early in the day, we decided to take the short side route to the park. We were not disappointed. In fact, I would say it was one of the most amazing highlights of our trip. When you enter the park, if you aren't a Montana resident you first stop at the visitor center and pay $6 for a park access pass. Then you head up about a 4-mile road to the top of the mountain, where you purchased your tickets for the cave tour. We opted for the longer, more difficult tour, which was $12 per person. I consider this one of the best bargains in vacation history. We joined a group of 14 people, plus our awesome guide Russ. The tour begins with a semi grueling slightly up hill hike to the cave entrance. Because it was hot, and the elevation was pretty high compared to our home town, this was a bit of a rough slog for those of us who, say, aren't exactly in the shape we were back in college. But there were a few shady spots to rest along the way, and Russ gave us half an hour to make the nearly one mile journey. So eventually the entire group did make it to the cave entrance. Once we had all gathered at the entrance, Russ gave us a history of the cave and how it was discovered. Spoiler alert, Lewis and Clark did not actually discover the cave. But they did explore the area during their journey down the nearby river. It was interesting to hear about early entrepreneurs who charged $1 for what sounds like a pretty grueling, all day journey to and from the caves. Although the stories were interesting, I admit it was hard to stand out in the sun for the extra time it took to hear the history. By the time Russ was done speaking, we were all pretty hot from the hike. If I could suggest a change, it would be to make the speech just inside the cave rather than outside. Still, it was a minor distraction from the adventure that was to come. Once inside the cave, we met in a large room just inside the entrance. Russ pointed out some bats, and talked a little about attempts to preserve the bat population within the cave. At this point he gave the option to leave the cave if anyone was uncomfortable, and three people took him up on the offer and exited. So our group of 11 + Russ proceeded into the magnificent cave. It was truly something that I would describe as a bucket-list adventure, with stalactites, stalagmites, and numerous other cave formations which Russ pointed out to us as we continue the journey. There were several rooms that we visited, all connected by sometimes narrow passages. There were also a lot of steps on the tour, though the overwhelming majority of them were downhill. Still, I appreciated the hand railings as it would not be a fun place to fall. There were some fun surprises along the way, and lots of anecdotes, stories, and history from Russ. I won't spoil it, because the cave is best experience on a personal level. But this was seriously one of the most amazing things I have done in recent decades. I highly recommend it if you have a decent level of physical fitness. If not, there is also a shorter tour which is less strenuous. However, if I can do the long tour, I think most in decent physical condition could do it as well. There is no actual climbing, and very little in the way of uphill stairs. The most grueling part of the tour was the trail getting from where we bought the tickets to the actual cave entrance. I was glad we brought lots of water! Food is not allowed on the tour, but there is a well-stocked deli at the end of the trail. We enjoyed a couple of ice cream sandwiches before heading back to the car. There's also a gift shop with lots of fun souvenirs from the caverns and other surrounding attractions. Overall, it took about three and a half hours from the time we entered the park at the bottom, to the time we left. It was a great adventure, and one I would happily do again. read more

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Really a nice family adventure and learn about science. The classic tour is worth it - be warned it does entail tight squeezes and bent over walking to gain accesses. Therefore not for those unable to handle tight spaces or otherwise claustrophobic. My kids (Aves 4, 6, and 9) just loved it. The walk up was moderately difficult but the path is well maintained. The return path is also equally maintained but is generally level with no elevation changes. Since yours are only during warmer periods - bring lots of water and dress appropriately. read more

Beautiful! If your group is able to do the longer tour, it is definitely better and more of a caving experience. The shorter tour is good, if you're unable to access the longer tour, but it's very short and you only see one room. Park staff was helpful. The cafe was also tasty (per my family--they could not accommodate my medical dietary needs). Glad we went. read more

This could be a really cool adventure into the caverns but the only tour available was the Paradise tour. We had to pay $8 just to get into the state park and then $15 each for the tour. The tour was to be an hour long so we expected a tour like we have had in other caves. Not even close. We walked half a mile on a gravel path with amazing views. That walk was one of the highlights of the tour. We then stopped and our guide told us lots of interesting things about the cavern. We walked to the door and then down a really dark really long hallway to another door. Once we got in the cavern it was really cool. We entered in a small area and our guide told us briefly about that room. We moved to another amazingly cool room and that's where we stayed for the rest of the tour. Our guide tried his best to keep us interested but there is only so much you can say in that small area. We did stay in that area to kill the hour but honestly I would have rather left instead of just hanging out. We heard a tour of school kids down below us so we assumed we were waiting for them to leave so we could go on. Nope. We were done and we followed them out. We were really disappointed. They do have a Classic tour where we could have seen lots more. I get that they were understaffed but we should have been told we we would only see a tiny fraction of the cavern. Paying $38 for that tour was crazy. Had we paid $5 we would have been happy. read more

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As a family, we've toured a few caverns now, and this one was one of our favorites. We arrived early for the first tour, and I'm glad we did. Upon leaving, the parking lot was full and crowded (and the temps were rising). We did the 2 hour tour. There is a 3/4 mile fairly level hike to the entrance. Along the way, the guide answers questions about local plants and animals and points out some fossils. It's a pretty little hike. Right at the entrance is a bat habitat, so hushed voices are used. It was neat to see the cluster of bats clung to the roof of the cave. The cave is lit the entire way. Lots of stairs, mostly downhill. Beautiful formations. Interesting history of the cave provided by the guide. Some areas get a little tight, but not too bad. Average cave temp year round is 49 degrees (we were fine with light jackets). The guide was good with the kids, and ours seemed to really enjoy it. You leave from a different exit below the entrance. From there a short hike back to the parking lot, where a store offers food and souvenirs. read more

Refer to Joy D.'s review! The cave is pretty cool, but a waste of time and money...........

Stayed at the campground two nights. Loved the bug free scenic environment. All sites seem to have a Electric and none of the sites have water or sewer which is typical for state parks. However, avoid camping site D1 ... both the fire pit and the picnic table are not logically placed and are far away from where you need them rendering them unusable because of the distance. A few other sites have the similar problems. Looks like the sites were laid out by somebody who does not camp. The pull through sites have the electric on the wrong side. Ask for a detailed picture of the site before reserving so you know what you're getting. There is a fee to use the RV dump... Five dollars. There is a fee to use the shower... $3.50 for seven minutes. read more

This was the third tour of a "live" cavern we enjoyed in four months. Mac, our young but mature guide, gave an informative and entertaining tour. There are three different tours; we did the Classic, which lasts about two hours. Please note that to do this tour, you need to walk about 3/4 of a mile uphill to get to the entrance of the cave and when the tour is completed, you walk about a 1/2 mile back to the visitor center so you do need to be in reasonably good shape. The Paradise tour is shorter and easier (you enter at the exit of the cave, eliminating the uphill walk but you do not see the entire cave system). Both of these tours are $12 per person and well worth the money. No advance reservations are allowed but we had no problem getting a tour that left a half-hour later on a Friday evening. The third option is the Wild Cave tour for $30 per person; this one you reserve and pay in advance and there are no refunds if you cancel. This is more like spelunking and is offered on a limited basis. The other thing to note is that they, like the other live caverns we toured, are concerned about white-nose disease that is affecting the bats. Make sure you do not wear clothing, watches, or other jewelry that you have worn in another cave for the past two years. We did see some little brown bats and it was very interesting to learn about their history. read more

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The Caverns were closed, as were the roads going to the caverns and the hiking trails. This review is of the park ranger who was behind the counter. She was on a personal call, refused to get off and watched me walk around for about 10 minutes before she got off the phone. When she did acknowledge me she said, curtly "sorry about that". She wasn't. I asked her a few questions and was given short answers in a rude manner. I am sure the L and C Caverns are beautiful, the area sure is, but this woman was the worse Ranger I have encountered in the many, many places I have been with Park Rangers over the past month. Horrible people shouldn't take jobs working with people. But in this case, I bet even the bears and bats asked the Park Service to keep her in the visitor center. read more

Lewis & Clark Caverns - Hiking Near Me - Whitehall, Montana

Amazingly beautiful, adventurous, educational, and fun! Came here on our way from Billings to Hamilton (on tour), and we had an amazing time! The tour was cheap ($12) and it lasted 2hrs. It was a heavy climb to the beginning of the Caverns, but the view was amazing! Even got to see some bats and their new cubs! Our tour guide, Heather, was witty and knew her stuff! Made us all laugh a bunch during the tour! There was a section where we turned out all the lights, it was both exciting and terrifying! Overall, an amazing stop on our trip! 5/5 Totally Recommend! read more

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Note: We did not do the Caverns and instead did the hikes/exploration. The first thing that seemed odd was that you have to pay for a shower. $3 for 6 minutes seems rough after $31 a night fee. However the big loop trail was nice and the general campgrounds were well maintained. This is more RV friendly than tent friendly - i.e. Not much shade, little wind blocks, pay showers, etc... Would I go back? No Would I recommend? Maybe read more

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My hand gripped the cold steel rail. A hint of sulfur lingered in the damp air. The last rays of sun withered away. We descended into the darkness. Lightbulbs tossed their glow onto the limestone walls. Beige columns snaked across the cramped tunnel. A racquetball-sized bat slumbered peacefully upside down. Jim, the tour guide, told a story about a man who got stuck in the cave for 50 hours in the 1930s. He also pointed to a spot where one of the construction workers plummeted to his death. The other members of the tour stooped, squatted, and twisted to fit through the narrow passages. A 3 year old whimpered in fear. 500 feet below the surface of the Earth, Jim pointed to a half-calcified bat. The limestone cavern reclaimed one of its tenants. "I hope you enjoyed the matinee," Jim said as he opened the door. We emerged into the sunlight, blinking. read more

Lewis & Clark Caverns - A limestone column in the Paradise Room. - Hiking Near Me - Whitehall, Montana

I honestly don't think I have met more rude and disingenuous people that work here in my whole life. I encountered 4 employees who were the most miserable people to interact with. We ended up leaving and not even seeing the caves after driving 2 hours to see it. Literally, Lewis and Clark deserve to be represented in a better way. Lol. Seriously though, I would rather never see a cave then be subject to the employees who oversee this park. Clearly they have not had much professional development when it comes to customer service. I think I have written 3 reviews in my lifetime, but I had to make sure I tell people to not come here. It was that bad. read more

The tour was a huge disappointment today. In the past there was two tours, one that you hike up to the top and finish at the bottom and one that you go into the bottom entrance to see the the crown jewel of rooms in the caves the paradise room. Now they have what they call the classic tour and the paradise tour. The classic tour hiked us to the top, worked our way down and they failed to take us to the Paradise Room. Even though it was five stairs away from where they took us out of the caves. So basically if you want to see what they used to showed in the past, you have to take two tours. NOT GOOD LEWIS AND CLARK CAVERNS... it was literally 4 or 5 stairs away!!!! read more

Caverns are great. Really great. Campground is sparse, Un-leveled, no WiFi, and you'll get reprimanded if 1 tire is even touching grass. OMG! Hilariously ridiculous and idiotic. 'Save the grass' police! Office is great with friendly advice, souvenirs. Cafe and souvenirs good at Mtn top too. Highly recommended visit. Just don't touch the grass. read more

So much fun! Would be a little scary if you're very claustrophobic though. Also, it was a pretty long hike to the entrance. It would be difficult for an older person or someone with physical difficulties. My husband and I enjoyed it very much. Great views on the way to the entrance read more

Lewis & Clark Caverns - Hiking Near Me - Whitehall, Montana

It's a bummer the other review on here had such a terrible experience. Using the online reservation system I was able to get a cabin for a one night pit stop as a group of us road tripped across the northern states. We were greeted by a friendly camp host who was later going to share about the history of the park. Lots of RV and camping access. Dog and kid friendly as well. My group chose to hike and generally explore the area. The trails were very well marked with a fair amount of wildlife. Lots of hills and options though! read more

Lewis & Clark Caverns - View from a cabin on a lovely July evening - Hiking Near Me - Whitehall, Montana

A memorable experience visiting the Lewis and Clark Caverns in Whitehall, Montana in the early 80s, when I lived in Bozeman, Montana. We went here with my husband, my sister's boyfriend, and my two sister's. We were in awe of the guided hike up to, and through the caves, and its rock formations underground. We went to the gift shop, which had plenty of souvenirs to preserve the memories of that day. Although, we didn't camp at the campgrounds there, I wish we added that to our trip to the caverns. A remote area for a restful weekend trip! read more

Great place to visit. A trek of 20 minutes on a low incline to reach the entry of the cavern. Bring water to drink on the walk. As soon as you get into the cavern it is refreshingly cool. Inexpensive experience that you will remember. read more

Lewis & Clark Caverns - A great place to experience the awesomeness of nature. - Hiking Near Me - Whitehall, Montana

This place is awesome. We stopped on our way to Missoula from Yellowstone. What a great surprise!! We loved this spot and our tour guide Amy was awesome. The caverns are so unbelievably incredible ... So worth the detour!! Stop in, you won't be disappointed!! read more

Lewis & Clark Caverns - Exit tunnel... Over 500 feet long !! - Hiking Near Me - Whitehall, Montana

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The hike isn't bad but bring water if it is hot outside. They have bats inside and a cool slide. They were low spots where you have to duck under. Our guide Carlie was incredible and knew everything about these caves. We even ran into Winnie the Pooh. Really fun time. read more

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This place is phenomenal, out of this world experience. You have to check the tour timing before you go there. And make sure you go with the awesome tour guide Mr. Shaun, he is fantastic, the 2hrs seem shorter with him. Loved the experience https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g45380-d456421-r526379370-Lewis_and_Clark_Caverns_State_Park-Three_Forks_Montana.html# read more

Excellent tour with high quality educational elements too. Gentle and well paved hike up to cave entrance and an awesome loop through the cave instead of in and out the same path. The CCC did justice to the history here despite many years of taking from the cave geological formations that literally took millions of years to develop. read more

Well-run, low-key, just fine. No problems at the campground. But it would be nice to have a dump station and water.

The time and money spent to take the caverns tour is worth it. It's not expensive but you may have to travel quite a distance. My spouse and I visited from Calgary, Alberta and both would recommend this trip to anyone who is physically fit enough to handle it. Honestly, if you have poor cardio and low strength or stamina, you will struggle. I'm a fit person overall but have knee challenges when walking long declines or when knee twisting is involved. I was having pain issues about 2/3 of the way through the tour. Also, if you are obese or claustrophobic, you too are likely to have challenges because you need to walk and crouch through some small spaces. If you are okay with all of this, the caverns is a must see. read more

Okay, first off, Lewis and Clark NEVER stepped foot in these hills!!! Why the caverns are named after them I have no idea. Granted the Park Ranger who was our tour guide might have told us the story, but I was still recovering from that 300 ft vertical climb from the ranger station to the entrance! If you are on the "plus" side of things you might want to start working out now to get into shape, this place is not for the weak or timid. While we took our 7yo daughter with us, she had no real issues other than the bats...yes bats....not blood suckers so Emo kids can stay at home and not bother the poor little things. Stories told by the Ranger were cute and attempted to be funny. The bat story totally had our youngest worried. It is dark, it is damp, and it is on the cool side, a light jacket or sweat shirt might be in order. If memory serves the place is like 53 degrees year around?? Anyway, you've been warned. If you can't bend or stoop or crawl then save your entrance fee, you'll need to be able to do all three, and sometimes all at once! Great stuff to see if you are into cave-like stuff. We enjoyed it. A ton of parking, tours begin every so many hours, and the tour itself is 2 hrs long, at least, also depends on how many faint on the climb up....lol... Snack and gift shop across the parking lot hosts the restrooms as well. read more

Took the kids here this July. It's a bit of a trek to the entrance of the caverns -- but absolutely worth it. Go first thing in the morning before it gets too hot outside! Bring at least a light jacket, though, as the inside of the caves are much cooler in comparison to the outside temperature. I'm not usually a fan of gift shops, but this a nice one! Food available here, too. Also, there *IS* an ATM here -- I didn't know if there would be, so I wasted an hour beforehand to search out an ATM in the "area". Interesting that this is now a State park, but still staffed with National Park employees. I noticed that there were little golf carts available to transport people that just couldn't do the walk to/from the caves, but there is significant walking to be done inside the caverns that could not be accessed in that manner. Lots of stairs up and down, slippery areas, and even one spot where you need to sit down and slide on your bum to get through the passageway. There are a decent amount of handrails installed throughout the caverns, though, to help steady you. Bring your sunglasses! When you exit the caves after 2 hours underground in the dark, the light-of-day is quite harsh! The tour is guided-only, and seems to lead a new group through every 40 minutes or so? We showed up hoping to go through as soon as they opened, but a school group had reserved that first spot and it was full -- so we had to wait another 40 minutes to be included in the next group to be guided through the caverns. Very cool experience, though, and got the biggest reactions out of my kids. At every turn, I heard them exclaim "cool!", "wow!", "look at that!" :) No shade to speak of to park in, so don't have anything in the car that can't get hot. Crack a window. When we got back to the car, my chapstick in the center console was nearly liquid. read more

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We camped here in between camping at Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. The campground was small but nice. Great playground in the middle that our kids loved to play on. Bathrooms were clean. Only downside was the wind and lack of shade at our site. The caverns were beautiful and our 3 kids (11, 10, and 7) loved it. read more

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