Lovelock Cave Historic Site
Overview:
Lovelock Cave Historic Site is at the end of a designated backcountry byway along unpaved roads. The site features a cave with historic significance, an information kiosk, a self-guided nature trail, a covered picnic table, and a vault toilet. At the cave entrance, visitors will find a wooden deck, visitor log, and educational signs.
Vehicle Access: A high-clearance vehicle is not required. The roads are well-maintained dirt/gravel.
Camping: Although this is not considered a camping destination, overnight stays are allowed in the designated parking area.
Activities: Popular activities include visiting the historic site and hiking the self-guided trail.
Point of Interest:
Lovelock Cave is a site of historical significance known as the “Cradle of Great Basin Archaeology.”
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this unassuming cave was used by native peoples for thousands of years for shelter and storage.
Recent History
Lovelock Cave first received broader attention in the 1910s by guano (bat dung) miners who found artifacts in the cave deposits. The find was reported to researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and archaeological investigations began in 1912. Work continued intermittently in the cave through the 1960s.
Lovelock Cave was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 1984.
Since 2006, the BLM Humboldt River Field Office and local organizations sponsor “Lovelock Cave Days.” This event brings hundreds of elementary school students to Lovelock Cave where they can experience an important part of Nevada’s rich history.
Artifacts
This is the original site of the famous Lovelock Cave duck decoys, which at 2,000 years old, are the oldest in the world. Among these, the “Tule Duck Decoy” is officially recognized as Nevada's State Artifact.
The oldest artifacts are attributed to the Northern Paiute, who likely first used the cave for storage and shelter thousands of years ago. The cave hosted over 10,000 artifacts such as baskets, textiles, and other tools. The cave was also found to contain human remains that are up to 4,000 years old. While some artifacts are on display at museums around the U.S., others have been repatriated to native tribes of Nevada.
Today, the cave is empty of artifacts but allows us to visit the site of their important rediscovery.
Know Before You Go:
- 25 mph is recommended along the entrance road.
- Bring sturdy footwear, water, and a flashlight to view the cave.
- Interpretive trail brochures are in a metal box mounted to the information kiosk.
- This site is remote.
- There is no drinking water.
- There is limited cell coverage.
- Temperatures can fluctuate quickly.
- Animals may roost in the cave. Their movements can be startling, so please watch your footing.
- Watch for rattlesnakes, especially in warmer months when they seek cool places under rocks and bushes.
- This site is important to many people still living today.
- Please dispose of litter, leave any found artifacts, and report vandalism or other disruptive behaviors to the Winnemucca District Office.
Nearby Attractions:
Lovelock Cave Historic Site is located near the city of Lovelock, Nevada.
About 30 minutes away, the county of Pershing maintains the Marzen House Museum in Lovelock, NV. The museum is a historic building and features artifacts from Lovelock Cave and tells the wider history of Pershing County and its residents.
About an hour's drive away, Nevada State Parks maintains many amenities at Rye Patch State Recreation Area. This 2,400-acre state park around a reservoir offers a variety of year-round facilities such as ADA-compliant campsites, fishing, boating, showers, covered picnic tables, and RV, bike, and equestrian amenities.
Photos:
Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA)
This site may present challenges to accessibility due to steep, narrow, and uneven terrain in some locations*.
Parking:
- The large parking area can hold about 10 vehicles and consists of graded, packed dirt with unstriped spaces.
- Pull-through parking is available at the vault toilets and picnic tables.
Paths/Pathways:
- None
Toilets
- One unisex vault toilet with wide entries and grab bars. The ground approaching the toilet is packed gravel and may be uneven.
- There may be a lip between the packed ground and concrete slab the toilet sits on, which might present a challenge for mobility devices.
Water spigots/hydrants:
- None
Signs:
- Signs are at a height that is viewable by / appropriate for visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Picnic Tables:
- A picnic table under a shade structure is available. The ground approaching the table is graded packed dirt and allows for direct vehicle access.
- The picnic table is configured such that it may limit access by visitors who are mobility impaired
- A trash can at chest-height is available near the picnic table.
Grills/Fire Rings:
- None
Trails:
- The cave entrance can be reached by heading south from the parking lot following the 1/2-mile “Nature Trail” - a counterclockwise loop with interpretive signage and a self-guided brochure.
- Alternatively, visitors can arrive at the cave by taking the “Nature Trail” approximately 300 feet in a northeast direction from the Information Kiosk.
- At the cave entrance, there is a wooden platform deck with multiple shallow stairs.
- The trail may present significant challenges to accessibility due to portions that are narrow (less than 2 feet), steep (greater than 20 percent), and consisting of loose soil with uneven, rocky terrain. A portion of the trail follows a cliffside.
- Educational signs along the trail are at a height that is viewable by / appropriate for visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
*Note: Descriptions and photos uploaded January 2025. Please note that actual on-the-ground conditions may vary due to natural events (e.g., weather, wildfires, erosion), normal wear and tear, or site improvements.
Phone
Activities
Addresses
Geographic Coordinates
Directions
Lovelock Cave Historic Site is located 18 miles south of Lovelock, NV.
From Lovelock: Drive south on NV-397 for 6.5 miles. Continue south on a dirt road (S Meridian Road) for 2 miles. Turn left onto Derby Rd and drive 0.5 miles. At the ditch crossing, turn south to follow signs for Lovelock Cave Byway. Follow more signs for Lovelock Cave Byway for approximately 9 miles. The parking area is at the end of the road.
Fees
None