About Hidden Cave

Hidden Cave is a prehistoric archaeological site within Grimes Point Archaeological area that reveals thousands of years of geologic and human history. Ancient Lake Lahontan, a massive body of water that existed during the last ice age, carved the cave about 20,000 years ago. When Ancient Lake Lahontan receded, animals began dwelling within the cave. Around 3,800 years ago, ancestors of the Toi-Ticutta (literally Cattail-Eaters, today the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe) began to use the cave. They did not live inside Hidden Cave but used it as a cache site. They created pits in the cave and buried tools and supplies there, knowing those objects would be safe until they came to retrieve them.

The site can be visited either in person on an official tour (scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up for a private tour!), or in VR using kiosks at the Churchill County Museum, Churchill County Library, or Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe Community Learning Center. In 2013, we partnered with @One Digital Media of the University of Nevada Reno Libraries, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Nevada DOT to create the following documentary discussing the history and importance of Hidden Cave:

DVD and Blu-Ray copies of this documentary available at the Churchill County Museum.

Hidden Cave Tours

Since the 1980s, the Churchill County Museum has collaborated with the Bureau of Land Management to offer tours of Hidden Cave to the public. Public tours are held every 2nd and 4th Saturday, other than on Holiday Weekends. Please arrive at 9:15, as orientation begins promptly at 9:30. No reservations or tickets required.

All tours meet at the Churchill County Museum. You will watch an introductory video in our multi-purpose room. Then, the guide will lead a caravan out to Hidden Cave. Be sure to bring hiking shoes, water, sunblock, and a hat. The hike is about 3/4 mile with some steep terrain and is not wheelchair-accessible. Tour lasts about 2 hours. Please call (775) 423-3677 for more information.

2024 Tour Dates

January 27
February 10
February 24
March 9
March 23
April 13
April 27
May 11
June 8
June 22
July 13
July 27
August 10
August 24
September 14
September 28
October 12
October 26
November 23
December 14

To schedule a Hidden Cave Tour outside of regularly scheduled tour days at the museum, please contact the Bureau of Land Management at BLM_NV_CC_HiddenCave@blm.gov.