Lehman Caves Parachute Shield Tour in Great Basin National Park

Exploring Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park is like stepping into an underground wonderland filled with dramatic rock formations, mysterious history, and breathtaking natural beauty. On the Parachute Tour, visitors can wander through stunning rooms adorned with stalactites, stalagmites, cave shields, and historic inscriptions, all while learning about the cave’s discovery by Absalom Lehman and its significance to Native American cultures. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a multi-day adventure in Great Basin National Park, the Parachute Tour offers an unforgettable glimpse into one of Nevada’s most fascinating and photogenic caves.

Stairs 0

Duration 60 minutes

Don't miss looking for cave bacon in the Grand Palace

Lehman Caves Parachute Tour

My dad and I are spending a few days exploring Great Basin National Park, and before I set off on the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail this morning, we make a beeline for the Lehman Caves Visitor Center to join the 10:00 AM Parachute Tour. After grabbing our prepaid tickets, we step outside for the ranger orientation. Ranger Victoria welcomes us, runs through the park rules, and covers some key safety tips. We’re fascinated to learn that Lehman Caves has so far avoided the devastating white-nose syndrome that has impacted so many cave systems across the country. To help keep it that way, we dip our shoes in a special decontamination solution before heading in.

A short walk brings us to the cave’s new entrance. After receiving a few more safety tips and our trusty lanterns, Ranger Victoria collects our tickets and we descend into the cave through a smooth concrete tunnel.

Below, a concrete path guides us through a series of rooms adorned with stalactites and stalagmites in all shapes and sizes, perfectly lit up for viewing.

Our first pause is brief, and then we press on to the Lodge Room, where Ranger Victoria introduces us to some of the cave’s most intriguing features. Here—and throughout the tour—we see cave shields, large, round speleothems that continue to puzzle geologists. With over 500 shields, Lehman Caves has far more than any other cave in the country—Carlsbad Caverns, for instance, has just four.

The Lodge Room is steeped in history. During Prohibition, locals from Ely would brave the hour-long drive down bumpy dirt roads to gather here, likely to discuss important matters—and maybe sneak a few bottles of booze.

Next, we descend a small staircase and traverse a long tunnel known as the Panama Canal, emerging into the Inscription Room.

As the name suggests, the ceiling is covered in historical graffiti—names and initials etched by cave explorers and tourists, some dating back nearly a century. Ranger Victoria points out FS and USFS inscriptions, likely left by Forest Service personnel decades ago.

In this room, we also find Fat Man’s Misery, a tight squeeze above a slope that hints at even more hidden chambers beyond.

A few minutes later, we enter Cypress Swamp, named for the small, year-round pool to the side. The room is adorned with interesting cave popcorn formations, a cool sight that never fails to impress.

Finally, at the tour’s turning point, we step into the Grand Palace, the largest room on the tour. Here, stalactites and stalagmites almost touch, leaving gaps no wider than a sheet of paper.

The room dazzles with formations like cave bacon, a wishing well, and, of course, the tour’s star attraction: the Parachute Shield.

My dad and I snap photo after photo, mesmerized by the dramatic formations as Ranger Victoria shares fascinating tales about the cave’s discovery by Absalom Lehman and its rich history.

Curious about the cave’s Native American connections, we ask Ranger Victoria, who tells us the stories must wait until we exit. Once sunlight hits our faces, she explains that several Native American cultures, including the Western Shoshone, once explored the cave. Once the sunlight hits our faces, she shares that several Native American cultures, including the Western Shoshone, historically explored the cave. Human remains found decades ago were respectfully repatriated near the natural entrance, and within the cave, speaking of the deceased is considered disrespectful—according to the Shoshone, it can even summon their spirits. She tells us that we can go visit the natural cave entrance with a short uphill walk. We do, and find that it's now just a small, caged-off hole in the ground, a humble reminder of the cave’s long history.

Ultimately, this ends our tour. It’s been an incredible introduction to one side of the park—an experience I’d highly recommend to anyone spending a few days exploring Great Basin National Park. Now, I'm off to summit Wheeler Peak.