Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park Campground

Lewis and Clark Caverns, discovered by local ranchers in 1892, was established as a national monument in 1908, but by the late 1920s, the lack of sufficient funding caused the federal government to transfer some national monuments to state or local control. In 1932, it was proposed to transfer Lewis and Clark Caverns to the state of Montana to become the first state park. In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps established a camp here. They built a visitor center and constructed a new entrance and trail through the cave.

Today this park offers a well-maintained campground, picnic areas, hiking trails and guided tours of the cave. The campground is set over a fairly large area, offering spacious sites but little privacy. There are some sites with electric and water hookups along with three cabins and a tipi. The setting is in a wide valley above the Jefferson River in the rolling hills of central Montana. This is a nice spot to stay while traveling, offering a few days worth of activities for those who want to stay longer. The campground is open year-round, but the cave is only open from May through September.