Lehman Caves Parachute Shield Tour

The Great Basin Underground

Related campgrounds: Baker Creek, Cathedral Gorge, Grey Cliffs, Wheeler Peak, Upper Lehman Creek

We head underground on the Parachute Shield Tour at Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park, exploring massive chambers, delicate formations, and ancient stone shaped over millions of years—an awe-filled experience and a reminder of just how fragile caves can be. In this episode, we head underground for the Parachute Shield Tour at Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park. After a morning spent exploring the alpine landscapes near Wheeler Peak, the day takes a very different turn as we check in at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and prepare for one of the park’s most iconic experiences. Before entering the cave, we spend time learning about its discovery, history, and the people connected to it—both those who knew of this place long before it was documented, and the early explorers who helped bring it to wider attention. Descending into the cave, we learn how Lehman Caves began hundreds of millions of years ago, when this region was covered by a shallow sea. Over time, limestone formed from ancient marine life, later transforming into marble and slowly dissolving to create the intricate passages and chambers we see today. Along the Parachute Shield Tour, we encounter a wide variety of formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and the striking shield formations for which the tour is named. The famous Parachute Shield stands out for its size and shape, formed as mineral-rich water spread outward in thin sheets over thousands of years. The tour also offers moments of reflection—on cave conservation, the marks left by early visitors before preservation was understood, and just how fragile these underground spaces truly are. We wrap up the episode back at camp, reflecting on the experience and why Lehman Caves is such a memorable part of Great Basin National Park.