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Touring the cave; hiking in the prairie and forest; walking the nature trails; observing plants and wildlife is a great way to enjoy Wind Cave National Park. There are regularly scheduled cave tours year-round. Five types of cave tours are scheduled. See the Calendar Page for dates and times. There are 30 miles of hiking trails in the park. Two trails, the Rankin Ridge Trail and the Elk Mountain Trail are self-guiding nature trails with trail booklets.
Campfire Program
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.
Candlelight Tour
Experience the cave by candlelight. This tour takes place in a less developed, unlighted part of the cave. Each participant will carry a candle bucket. Shoes with non-slip soles are required. No sandals! This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 8. This strenuous tour covers one mile of rugged trail and lasts 2 hours. Reservations are strongly recommended. They begin taking reservations one month before the tour.
Discovery Activity
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 Sioux culture and cave surveying. Check at the visitor center for meeting place and topic.
Garden of Eden Tour
Representative features of Wind Cave are seen on this tour which enters and leaves the cave by elevator. This one hour tour is our least strenuous with 150 stairs.
Fairgrounds Tour
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 and last 1.5 hours.
Natural Entrance Tour
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, 1.25 hour tour has 300 stairs (mostly down).
Prairie Hike
Explore the park's prairie and forest habitats with a ranger. This 2-hour activity will meet at the visitor center and then drive to a nearby trailhead. Hiking boots and study shoes and water are advised. Check at the visitor center for details.
Tours for Visitors with Special Needs
The visitor center and the cave are accessible to people with limited mobility. Please call ahead to make special arrangements are at the information desk for a special tour. Limited areas of the cave are accessible to wheelchairs. There are fees charged for these services. Please call the park at 605-745-4600 for more information.
See the Address Page, the Calendar Page and Hiking Page for more information.
Safety and Conservation
Cave trail surfaces may be uneven, wet and slippery. Some of the cave ceilings are low, requiring some bending or stooping. Some tours are considered strenuous.
PERSONS WITH HEART CONDITIONS OR OTHER PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS SHOULD RECONSIDER.
Wear low-heeled walking shoes with non-slip soles. Do not wear sandals or shoes with leather or hard composition soles. A light jacket or sweater is recommended as the cave is 53° F (11° C).
For the protection of the cave, please do not touch the cave, remove cave rocks or formations, or step off the trail.
Photography is permitted, but please no tripods. Please stay with the tour group.
There are no restrooms in the cave. Pets are not permitted in the cave.
Please NO eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing gum or tobacco while on tour.
Centennial Trail
6 miles one way
Moderately strenuous.
The southern access to the trail is on Highway 87, 0.7 miles north of Highway 385. The northern access is on National Park Service 5, 1.4 miles east of its Junction with Highway 87. This trail crosses the prairie, climbs the forested ridges, and explores the wetter, riparian habitat of Beaver Creek. This 110 mile trail meanders from Wind Cave National Park north through the Black Hills.
Other sights to see near Wind Cave National Park:
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, South Dakota
Jewel Cave National Monument, near Custer, South Dakota
Custer State Park, north of Wind Cave National Park
Crazy Horse Memorial, near Custer, South Dakota
The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota
Badlands National Park near Wall, South Dakota
Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming
This information was provided by the National Park Service
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This site is in no way associated with the United States Government, the Department of the Interior or the National Park Service
