The Great Basin, in Nevada but on the border of Utah, is the dry, mountainous region in between the Sierra Mountains and the Wasatch Mountains. Great Basin National Park is most famous for its Bristlecone pine groves, having the darkest skies in the United States, Wheeler Peak Glacier (the last in Nevada) and the Lehman Caves. It is off season here because of the weather. Roads to the pines and glacier are closed and the skies are full of clouds instead of stars. This leaves visitors with the caves. There are two cave tours offered but only one in the off season, the Lodge Room. Two Lodge Room tours are on the weekend versus one weekday. Tours sell out as soon as tickets are posted on recreation.org. We were able to snag two yesterday (cancellations). So in order to get one more we had to wait at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center before they opened, so we could be the first to write our name on the no-show list. There is no guarantee but it’s the only option. It was a brisk 33F outside as I waited but it was well worth it to be the first on the list at 8:00am (opening). The Lehman Caves Visitor Center provides wonderful information about the caves, meaning we were even more hopeful we could be one of twenty to take the tour. There is a short trail around the visitor center where visitors can peak into the natural cave entrance where bats are tracked by scientists. At 8:45, cave tour check in time, a group came without their full party. We were in. A birthday weekend miracle.
Intriguing!