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General Information
Wind Cave National Park is open year round with visitation the highest in June, July and August and lowest in December, January and February.
One of the world's longest and most complex caves and 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and associated wildlife are the main features of the park. The cave is well known for its outstanding display of boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs. The park's mixed grass prairie is one of the few remaining and is home to native wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs.
Touring the cave; hiking in the prairie and forest; walking the nature trails; observing plants and wildlife; bird watching; photography, camping at Elk Mountain Campground or in the backcountry; attending evening campfire programs, taking a guided prairie hike, enjoying the view from the top of the Rankin Ridge Fire Tower are some of the activities that visitors can enjoy while at Wind Cave National Park. A Junior Ranger program is available for ages 12 and under.
Regularly scheduled cave tours, year-round. Five types of cave tours are scheduled approximately every twenty minutes, from 8:40 am to 6:30 pm, daily, 01 June to 16 August. Tour schedules are reduced the remainder of the year.
Junior Ranger Programs
Activities for kids are the Junior Ranger Program, Cave Tours and Ranger-led Hikes. A Junior Ranger program is available for ages 12 and under. Junior Ranger books are available in the bookstore of the visitor center.
Ranger Led Activities
Become better acquainted with Wind Cave National Park. Evening campfire talks are presented at the Elk Mountain Campground amphitheater. Topics may include wildlife, plants, geology, park management and history. Nightly program titles are posted at the visitor center. The programs last about 45 minutes.
Times and dates are subject to change. Check at the Visitor Center or the campgrounds for exact times and dates. Usually begins late May, early June and goes through September.
| Dates | Days | Times |
| 23 May - 25 May | Sat Sun | 8:30 pm |
| 07 Jun - 22 Aug | Daily | 9:00 pm |
| 23 Aug - 06 Sep | Daily | 8:00 pm |
| 07 Sep - Sep 26 | Fri Sat Sun | 7:00 pm |
| Tour | Length | Fees 6 -16 17 - 61 Golden Age |
Description |
| Candlelight | 2.0 hr | $ 3.50 $ 7.00 $ 2.50 |
Children under 7 are not permitted. This tour takes place in a less developed, unlighted part of the cave. Each participant will carry a candle bucket. This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 8. This strenuous tour covers one mile of rugged trail. Shoes with non-slip soles are required. NO SANDALS! Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations are being taken one month before the tour. |
| Fairgrounds | 1.5 hr | $ 3.00 $ 6.00 $ 2.00 |
Under 6 free. This tour includes some of the larger rooms found in the developed area of the cave. Visitors will see examples of many cave formations, including Wind Cave boxwork. The tour enters and exits the cave by elevator. This moderately strenuous tour has 450 stairs. |
| Garden of Eden | 1.0 hr | $ 2.0 $ 4.0 $ 1.0 |
Under 6 is free. The tour enters and exits the cave by elevator. The tour is less than .25 mile long, and encounters 150 stairs. You will be walking primarily through the upper level of the cave and will see cave popcorn, frostwork and boxwork. |
| Natural Entrance | 1.25 hr | $ 3.00 $ 6.00 $ 2.00 |
Under 6 is free. Visitors walk through the middle level of the cave where boxwork is abundant. This tour begins at the walk-in entrance and exits by elevator. This moderately strenuous tour has 300 stairs (mostly down). |
| Wild Cave | 4.0 | Not Permitted $ 20.00 |
Visitors will be introduced to basic, safe caving. Wear old clothes and gloves, as much of the trip will be crawling. Long pants, long sleeved shirts and sturdy, lace up boots or shoes with non-slip soles are required. Clothing worn on the Jewel Cave Wild Cave Tour are not permitted in Wind Cave. The park provides hard hats, lights and kneepads. This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 16. Please do not bring jewelry, watches and other valuables on the tour. Reservations are required. Reservations are taken one month before the tour. Reservations may only be made by telephone: 605-745-4600. |
| Event | Dates | Days | Times | Description |
| Prairie Hikes | early Jun thru mid Aug |
Daily | 9:00 am | Explore the park's prairie and forest habitats with a ranger. This two hour activity will meet at the visitor center and then drive to a nearby trailhead. Hiking boots or sturdy shoes and water are advised. Check at the visitor center for details. |
| Discovery Activity | early Jun thru mid Aug |
Daily | Join a ranger for a short talk or demonstration explaining some facet of the park. Topics may include local wildlife, plants, geology, area history, Lakota culture and cave surveying. Check at the visitor center for details. |
Visitor Center
Visitor center open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. The Visitor Center contains three exhibit rooms featuring cave exploration, cave formations, early cave history, the Civilian Conservation Corps, park wildlife, and resource management.
Phone: 605-745-4600
Visitors traveling on I-90: At Rapid City, SD, exit onto U.S. Route 79 south. Follow Route 79 south approximately 50 miles to U.S. Route 18. Turn right onto U.S. Route 385 North, which will take you through Hot Springs and into Wind Cave National Park. Follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park information. Visitors can also reach the park by following U.S. Route 16 west out of Rapid City onto U.S. Route 385 south. Visitors traveling from Nebraska can follow U.S. Route 385 north to the park.
| Dates | Hours | Days |
| 01 Jan - beg Apr | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| Apr - beg May | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | Daily |
| May - beg Jun | 8:00 am - 6:00 pm | Daily |
| Jun - mid Aug | 8:00 am - 7:30 pm | Daily |
| mid Aug - mid Sep | 8:00 am - 6:00 pm | Daily |
| mid Sep - beg Oct | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | Daily |
| Oct - Spring | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm | Daily |
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