Pork Chops and Cave Stops.
Today’s plan was to visit Lewis & Clark Caverns near Whitehall, about an hour southeast of Butte. Our tour reservation wasn’t until 4:30pm, which meant we had most of the day to do… well, nothing.
Lynn was up extra early — just before 5am — thanks to lingering tooth pain. She still managed a morning walk and spent the rest of the morning taking it easy. Kirk rolled out at his usual 9am, and we eased into a slow RV morning.
By 1:30pm, lunch sounded pretty perfect. Kirk tracked down Pork Chop John’s in Uptown Butte, so off we went. Their famous pork chop sandwich has been a Butte staple since 1924 — a hand‑battered, deep‑fried boneless pork chop tucked into a soft bun with mustard, onions, and pickles. Simple, old‑school, and pure Butte tradition. The place is wonderfully no‑frills, the kind of counter where miners once grabbed a quick bite before heading underground.
Kirk ordered the original sandwich, while Lynn — still on soft‑food duty — went with pork chop nuggets. Both were excellent, and the prices were refreshingly old‑school too (under $10 each). If we were staying longer, we’d definitely be back for round two.
At 2pm we headed toward the caverns. We’d be early, but that gave us time to explore. The drive to the caverns itself was beautiful! We arrived just after 3pm and browsed the Visitor Center and gift shop until our 4:30 tour (last tour of the day). We chose the shorter Paradise Tour, the easy option: about an hour and a half, no steep climbs, no squeezing through tight passages. They take you into two rooms — really one giant room with a divider — and the walking is simple. Our guide was informative, and although the tour was sold out (~28 max), only about 12 people showed up. Lots of kids, and the guide definitely tailored her talk to them, so the presentation felt a bit kid‑centric.
The caverns were cool with some unique, almost otherworldly formations. Still, nothing compares to our private tour of Bethlehem Cave in South Dakota — that one set the bar impossibly high. The Paradise Tour was fun, but probably not worth an hour and a half if you’re expecting a big cave system. The walk to the cave entrance is longer than the tour itself! Tour cost = $31 total (2 Paradise Tour tickets).
By 7pm we were back in Butte looking for dinner. We stopped at Sparky’s Garage and had a very “meh” meal. Lynn ordered jambalaya (soft food), and Kirk had southern fried chicken with breading tough enough to qualify as armor. The cheese curds were the highlight.
In all, it was a full day of food, caves, and exploring.
Weather – High 83*, Low 54*. Winds 0-7/11 mph. No rain, no humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Pork Chop John’s – excellent.
Notable – Pork Chop John’s, Lewis & Clark Caverns.
