Cave tours now bookable

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park has opened reservations for its 2026 guided cave tours, with the season scheduled to run from May 1 through Sept. 30. (montanarightnow.com) The biggest planning change comes in summer: from Memorial Day through Labor Day, cave tour tickets are reservation-only and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Outside that peak window, unsold tickets can still be offered first-come, first-served at the park. (nbcmontana.com) Reservations are handled online through Montana State Parks’ booking system, not by calling the park directly. The park’s tour listings show multiple guided options tied to the caverns near Whitehall. (montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com) The cave is not an open-walk attraction. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says access is by guided tour only, which makes advance booking the deciding step for visitors trying to lock in summer dates. (fwp.mt.gov) That matters because Lewis & Clark Caverns is one of Montana’s best-known park destinations and the state’s first state park. The site pairs cave tours with camping, hiking, visitor centers, a gift shop, food service and summer interpretive programs. (fwp.mt.gov; montanastateparksfoundation.org) The tour itself is not a casual stroll. Montana State Parks says visitors travel nearly three-quarters of a mile through the cave and climb more than 600 stairs, with narrow, dim and humid sections along the route. (montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com) The caverns stay around 50 degrees Fahrenheit year-round with humidity above 90%, and the park advises visitors to bring good walking shoes, water and a light jacket. Pets, strollers, backpacks and purses are not allowed on the tour. (montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com) For travelers building Montana summer itineraries, the calendar is now set: tours start May 1, peak-season slots require advance reservations, and the busiest dates will be spoken for before visitors reach the trailhead. (montanarightnow.com; nbcmontana.com)