Road Trip around Montana – Lewis & Clark Caverns
 | Author:
Brenda Phillips
Brenda Phillips: MT43 News Office Administrator |
Road Trip around Montana – Lewis & Clark Caverns
Brenda Phillips
Recently we took 2 of our grandsons to Lewis & Clark Caverns. We wanted to share some of the interesting Montana historical sites and revisit a place that we hadn’t been to in years. After a little research on the internet, looking for tour schedules and fees, we were surprised to learn that you need to make reservations for the tours. The days of just popping in for a visit are becoming scarce.
We recommend you do a little research before planning an outing like this.
We decided to make the 45-minute drive from Townsend to the Caverns to see if they had any cancelations or last-minute tickets available. Arriving just before 1:00, we found that they still had 4 tickets available for the 4:00 tour. This allowed time to visit the gift shop and have some lunch. We had time to watch the 15-20 minute video in the Visitor Center that explained a lot about the cavern’s history.
Lewis & Clark Caverns was our 1st Montana State Park. It is also the 1st site in Montana that was named after Lewis & Clark - despite the hundreds of places that are named after them today. I was surprised to find the Caverns have two different tours now. The Classic Tour is about 2 hours and a little more physical. The Paradise Tour is about 1 1/2 hours and less strenuous.
After a bit of rest in the shade and another trip to the snack bar for ice cream and slushies, our tour was called. From previous trips to the Caverns, we knew that we would need a jacket and water bottle for the trip to the Cavern. The temperature in the Caverns stays about 48-50 degrees all year long. We were able to get in with the Classic Tour. In order to get to the Cavern entrance, we made a ¾ mile hike uphill on a well-groomed trail. They give you 30 minutes to make the walk up this trail because it increases in altitude by 300 feet in less than a mile.
The grandkids trucked right up the hill but for this gal, slow and steady got me there. I remember a brief time in history that there was a trolley/train that took the guests up the hill – but that was many years ago.
Our tour guide, Amanda, was very knowledgeable and quite entertaining. It was like being back in school. We learned lots of history, science, some math, geology and even included the P.E. class. We learned what pitch black meant when she turned off the lights for a short time and you couldn’t even see your hand an inch in front of your face. We even heard stories of Romeo & Juliet. (You’ll have to go hear that one yourself!) There are 500 steps hand carved throughout the cave and it makes you wonder how they got around in the caves before the trails and with only primitive lights.
We had both been to the caverns before but this was our 1st time together and with the grandkids. The boys were very excited and impressed with all they saw. You may think “I have been there before” but we recommend another trip to the Caverns. You can always learn more and it's a great opportunity to make more memories.
We came out of the lower tunnel of the caverns and it was a nice flat well-groomed trail to the Visitors center. The lower entrance also will accommodate handicapped needs. So if you think you aren’t up to the physical challenge of the uphill Classic Tour, you can take the Paradise tour, which takes you to the lower entrance. You only see the 2 lower rooms in the Caverns but they are the best part of the caverns – why else would they have named them Paradise?
Brenda and Kurt Phillips are from Townsend and enjoy visiting Montana's scenic and historic sites.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 2 Caption: Some of the 500 hand carved stairs in the Cavern
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 3 Caption: Square hole cut in the stalagmites by early explorers.
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 4 Caption: Stalagmite formation called the Brown Waterfall
Image 5 Caption: Stalagmites and Stalactites In caverns
