BLM-managed rock shelter on the edge of the Humboldt Sink, famed as the “Cradle of Great Basin Archaeology.” Guano miners and later UC Berkeley and other teams recovered more than 10,000 artifacts used by ancestral Northern Paiute peoples for millennia — including the tule duck decoys (Nevada’s official state artifact). Today the emptied cave is open via a short nature trail with deck, interpretive signs, picnic table, and vault toilet at the end of the Lovelock Cave Backcountry Byway.
Field facts
| Region | Churchill County, NV |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39.9625, -118.5586 |
| NRHP | Listed 1984 |
| Artifact | Tule duck decoys (state artifact) |
| Agency | BLM Humboldt River Field Office |
| Access | Free; dirt byway; short trail |
Nearby locations
Nearby amenities
- RestroomLovelock Cave Vault Toilet0 km away
- Visitor centerLovelock Cave0 km away
- Picnic areaLovelock Cave Picnic Shade Structure0 km away
Public recreation data — BLM & Recreation.gov (RIDB). Verify current access, fees, and seasonal closures before traveling.
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