Great Basin National Park

Explore Great Basin National Park's CaveSim, a simulated wild caving experience. Gear up with provided helmet and gloves, then explore 140 feet of simulated cave passages - but be careful not to "damage" the cave's formations.

The Gothic Palace Lantern Tour takes visitors into the beautiful and bizarre first two rooms of Lehman Caves by lanternlight.

The Great Basin Junior Cave Ranger Experience engages children and their families with the park's incredible underground landscape through hands-on activities, a trip through a simulated wild cave, and a ranger-guided tour into Lehman Caves.

This half-day program meets at the Great Basin Visitor Center at 9am every Saturday from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. First, join a fun, interactive ranger-led activity about caves, such as making a sinkhole in a cup, building a cave ecosystem, or exploring the lives of bats. Then, gear up for a crawl through the park's CaveSim - featuring 140 feet of simulated wild cave passages, climbs, and squeezes. Finally, head up the mountain to experience the real Lehman Caves on a 30-minute ranger-guided Gothic Palace Tour. After leaving the cave, participants will be sworn in as a Junior Cave Ranger!

This program is limited to 20 total participants - kids and adults - and requires advance registration.

• 8:45am – Check-in begins outside the Great Basin Visitor Center

• 9:00–9:30am – Hands-on activity in the Great Basin Resource Center Classroom

• 9:30–10:15am – Explore CaveSim outside the Great Basin Visitor Center

• 10:30am – Drive up to Lehman Caves Visitor Center

• 10:50am – Meet behind Lehman Caves Visitor Center for cave tour prep

• 11:00–11:30am – Gothic Palace Tour of Lehman Caves

• 11:35am – Junior Cave Ranger Swearing-In Ceremony

CaveSim is a fun, immersive experience for visitors ages 5 & up that makes caving accessible to a wide audience. Containing 140 feet of simulated cave passages, CaveSim was custom-built for Great Basin National Park and inspired by Lehman Caves. Inside CaveSim, visitors will find speleothems (cave formations), bats and other cave life, historic artifacts, and more.

But unlike Lehman Caves, there is no easy walking trail. Visitors will have to crawl, climb, and squeeze through various passages to explore the cave. Also unlike Lehman Caves, this means touching the cave walls and floors to navigate – but be careful where you touch! CaveSim is equipped with sensors that activate when sensitive, fragile resources are touched (accidentally or otherwise) to help guide your footing.

Outside of the trailer, join a ranger for Q&A sessions and more hands-on activities on various cave science and preservation topics. The CaveSim experience usually takes 30 minutes, so plan your day accordingly.

• Helmets and gloves are required and provided by NPS. Visitors do not need to bring gear to explore CaveSim – but should bring curiosity, flexibility, and a desire to experience something new.

• Visitors 15 and under are required to have adult supervision, whether inside the CaveSim or waiting outside the trailer. Visitors under 5 are prohibited from entering CaveSim.

• Though not a real cave, CaveSim is not a playground. Running, pushing, jumping, and roughhousing are prohibited inside and outside the trailer. A ranger will remove a group or part of a group from CaveSim if they are disruptive.

• No bags are allowed inside CaveSim, and all items from pockets should be removed. Belts and watches may snag on rough surfaces, so it is recommended to remove them before entering as well.

• Claustrophobia and unease can be experienced in CaveSim due to the tight spaces inherent in cave environments. You have the option of being escorted out if these feelings are overwhelming for you or any group members.

Enjoy a double feature under the stars! Rangers will present 30-minute evening programs exploring the Great Basin and the cosmos, followed by roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes of telescope viewing (weather permitting).

Programs will be hosted in the Astronomy Amphitheater each week, Thursday through Sunday, during the summer and fall. 

Attendance to this program is limited by the number of available parking spaces. Arrive early, especially on busy holiday weekends.

Rules and recommendations

• Please do not use white lights (flashlights or cell phones) during the program in the astronomy amphitheater. Red lights are allowed
• Arrive early for the program, especially during holiday weekends
• Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or bring any pets to the program
• Wear layers - nights get cold even in summer
• Benches are provided - Personal chairs are not allowed
• Tripods are not allowed

Be aware that the program is weather dependent and may be cancelled due to lightning for everyone's safety.

Join a park ranger under the stars for an engaging and enjoyable story about Great Basin National Park. Mountain lions, wildfires, natural sounds, and bats are just a few of the many topics explored. Stick around and check our astronomy program, too.

Be aware that the program is weather dependent and may be cancelled due to lightning and inclement weather for everyone's safety.

Join a ranger for a 30-minute program outside the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Topics vary by ranger. Program occurs as staffing permits. 

Join a ranger outside the Great Basin Visitor Center for a 30-minute ranger chat. Chats are scheduled at 9:30 am and 2:30 pm as staffing permits. Topics will vary by ranger.  

The Great Basin Junior Cave Ranger Experience engages children and their families with the park's incredible underground landscape through hands-on activities.

The half-day program meets at Great Basin Visitor Center at 9:00 am every Saturday morning from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. First, join a fun, interactive ranger-lead activity about caves, such as making a sinkhole in a cup, building a cave ecosystem, or exploring the lives of bats. Then, gear up for a crawl through the CaveSim which features 140 feet of simulated wild cave passages, climbs, and squeezes. Finally, head up the mountain to experience the real Lehman Caves on a 30-minute ranger-guided Gothic Palace Tour. After leaving the cave, participants will be sworn in as a Junior Cave Ranger!

The program is limited to 20 participants—kids and adults—and requires advance registration.

Please note, children under 5 are not allowed in CaveSim, but are welcome to join in all other parts of the program. Children under 5 are required to have a ticket for the cave tour. 

Exploring the Alpine Lakes Loop or Bristlecone trails? From 9am to 3pm, keep your eye out for a friendly ranger ready to chat about Great Basin's spectacular high country.

Occurs daily, staff and weather permitting.