This 3 Must See Caves in the West and Midwest post is the second is a 4-part summer 2014 travel series by Kathleen Bunn.  She’s a travel blogger who writes about her amazing adventures at Life with 4 Boys.

3 Must See Caves in the West and Midwest USA

While you have many choices when it comes to choosing a cave to visit, there are some that are just too beautiful or unique to miss. Below are three caves you must see when traveling throughout the Western and Midwestern United States.

Must See Caves: Bridal Cave, Thunder Mountain Park – Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

More Information: Bridal Cave 526 Bridal Cave Rd Camdenton, MO 65020 bridalcave.com (573) 346-2676 
Hours & Rates  |  Map  |  Weddings |  Special Events  | Virtual Tour

Must See Caves: Our Favorite Three in the West and Midwest  - Bridal Cave - Lake of the Ozarks MO

A short drive from Lake of the Ozarks, MO. Is Bridal Cave. This cave has been the setting of over 10,000 weddings, and it is easy to see why. This cave tour is fairly simple, with just a few spots to squeeze through. The tours are given with quite a bit of wit and humor, which makes the experience all the more enjoyable.

3 Must See Caves - Bridal Cave MO

One of the things that makes this a must see cave to visit, is the lighting. The cave is very well lit, making it a favorite among photographers. Here you will see astounding draperies, stalactites, stalagmites, cave popcorn, soda straws and more. Tours take about 60 minutes and cost $16 for adults and $8 for kids.

Must See Caves: Lehman Cave – Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Great Basin National Park – Baker, NV nps.gov (775) 234-7331
Directions | Operating Hours & Seasons  | Fees and Reservations  | Lehman Caves Tours

Must See Caves: Our Favorite Three in the West and Midwest - Lehman Cave, Great Basin National Park Tucked away behind the visitor’s center in the picturesque Great Basin National Park is Lehman Cave. Photographers and cave lovers flock to this cave for a rare and unique formation that lurks deep inside. Shields do not form in every cave, and Lehman Cave is home to a unique set of two conjoined shields that some say look like angel’s wings, while others claim it is more like a jellyfish. Regardless of what you call it, Lehman Cave is one of the only places to view a formation like this.

Must See Caves: Our Favorite Three in the West and Midwest Lehman Cave - Great Basin National Park NevadaAnother unique feature of Lehman Cave is a bit of a controversial subject. Lehman Cave was open to the public into the early part of the 20th century and was not federally owned or protected. In those days some marked on the cave with soot from candle flames. People feel very differently about these markings.

Tours at Lehman Cave are $8 for adults and $4 for kids for 60 minute tours and $10 for adults and $5 for kids for a 90 minute tour.

Must See Caves: Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Montana

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park 25 Lewis and Clark Caverns Rd Whitehall, Mt 59759  stateparks.mt.gov (406) 287-3541
Hours | Tour Information & Pricing | Special Events | Directions

Must See Caves: Our Favorite Three in the West and Midwest Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

Perhaps not as well-known as some of the other caves, this one sits in the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park just outside of Whitehall, Montana. Those visiting should be aware that the tour takes two hours, 45 minutes of which is the climb up a strenuous hike to the cave’s entrance. The tour itself has many areas where you may have to crawl and duck down, as well as many steps.

Must See Caves: Our Favorite Three in the West and Midwest Montana - Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

The history of this cave is fun, and visitors can enjoy learning how tours used to be illegally operated in the early years of the cave’s discovery. This cave is great for the imagination, especially in the final room of the tour, where formations resembling frogs, alligators and even one with a small Santa Claus shaped formation on it can be seen. Tours leave at varied times throughout the day and are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Why You Must See These Three Caves

Caves give individuals the ability to take a look at a different world that lives far below. Cave tours are a great way to not only see the beautiful sites, but to learn about how caves and the formations within them form. The three caves above may not be the most well-known, but they are among some of the most scenic within the Western and Midwestern United States.

Have you visited any of these caves? Can you recommend other must-see caves in the Caves in the West and Midwest?