Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
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.
CAMPVUE! - campvue.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=campvue-northern-tour-2025&utm_content=episode-32
VIDEO FILMED: 08/10/2025
▬▬ R E L A T E D V I D E O S ▬▬
⚪ youtu.be/v3Q_zkyBmPg
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ LEHMAN CAVES -nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/lehman-caves-tours.htm
⚪ Directions to LEHMAN CAVES - maps.app.goo.gl/FdkQR9v88pSjqF3u6
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - amazon.com/shop/thecactusatlas
⚪ onX Offroad App - alnk.to/gKQ0FLG
⚪ See where we've been - google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1r2ZDO125o_NU7fUt0GPYfZeMKhHqYX3D&usp=sharing
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - epidemicsound.com/referral/6sihr2
(As an Amazon Associate and onX Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
_____________________________________________________________
✅ Find us on Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, & Facebook - @cactusatlas.
✅ Check out our website - cactusatlas.com
Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!
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.
CAMPVUE! - campvue.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=campvue-northern-tour-2025&utm_content=episode-32
VIDEO FILMED: 08/10/2025
▬▬ R E L A T E D V I D E O S ▬▬
⚪ youtu.be/v3Q_zkyBmPg
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ LEHMAN CAVES -nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/lehman-caves-tours.htm
⚪ Directions to LEHMAN CAVES - maps.app.goo.gl/FdkQR9v88pSjqF3u6
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - amazon.com/shop/thecactusatlas
⚪ onX Offroad App - alnk.to/gKQ0FLG
⚪ See where we've been - google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1r2ZDO125o_NU7fUt0GPYfZeMKhHqYX3D&usp=sharing
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - epidemicsound.com/referral/6sihr2
(As an Amazon Associate and onX Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
_____________________________________________________________
✅ Find us on Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, & Facebook - @cactusatlas.
✅ Check out our website - cactusatlas.com
Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!
