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Plan a Road Trip > Explore America > National Parks > Wind Cave National Park |
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RR 1, PO Box 190, Hot Springs, SD 57747-9430
Phone: 605-745-4600
Fax: 605-745-4207
Open All Year
Overview. According to Sioux legend, a cave in the Black Hills was the source of buffalo herds that once roamed the plains in great numbers. A steady, constant wind from the inner reaches of the cave is said to have blown the herds out from under the earth to feed the Lakota people. That cave may have been Wind Cave.
The charms of the cave's 104 miles of explored passages are its colorful array of geological features, including the world's most impressive display of "boxwork," a calcite formation resembling uneven honeycomb cells. It also features "popcorn" and "frostwork" formations, but due to the relatively dry atmosphere, you won't find the familiar stalactites or stalagmites that are typical of other caves.
Considered to be the fourth-longest cave in the U.S. and sixth-longest in the world, Wind Cave's known passages represent only five percent of its total size.
The national park's other feature, 28,295 acres of preserved prairie, ravines, pine forests, and hills is home to elk and bison herds and prairie dog communities. Its characteristics are typical of several regions: southwestern yucca and cactus exist side-by-side with eastern burr oak and elm. Nuthatches and wild turkeys can be found here, as well as meadowlarks and prairie falcons.
What to see and do. All cave tours begin at the visitor center, located 11 miles north of Hot Springs on US 385. Interpretive exhibits and a brief slide presentation provide orientation and background information.
Three different ranger-led tours are available for a fee. Two of these, the Natural Entrance and Fairgrounds tours, are a half-mile in length, require you to climb 450 stairs, and last almost one and a half hours. Along the way, you'll explore underground "rooms" with descriptive names like the Post Office (so-named for boxwork that covers much of the walls), Blue Grotto, and Devil's Lookout. The one-hour Garden of Eden Tour is recommended for people with physical or time restrictions. It includes about 150 stairs.
During the summer season, two special tours are offered with the more adventurous caver in mind. The Candlelight Tour takes you through a mile of passageways with light provided only by handheld candle lanterns. For two hours, you'll get to experience the inside of the cave in the same way as 19th-century pioneers. This tour requires stair-climbing, bending, and stooping.
The second special tour is only for the physically fit who want to experience a 3,000-foot passage of Wind Cave crawling on hands and knees through narrow passageways and openings. The tour lasts about four hours; the experience can give you a real flavor of what it's like to be a cave explorer. Call to reserve space on the specialty tours. No more than one-month advance notice is required for both of these tours. You should contact the National Park Service for information on restrictions and proper gear and clothing.
Above ground, scenic roadways make their way from the Black Hills to Wind Cave. Three routes in particular provide lookout points with excellent views of the open grasslands. Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, and Wildlife Loop Road take you through meadows, mountains, pine and spruce forests. Bicycling is only permitted on park roadways.
Pick up a trail booklet at the visitor center to orient yourself to the park's nature trails. Elk Mountain Trail is a somewhat strenuous walk that is a mile long and makes a loop around the campground. Rankin Ridge Trail, which is a little over a mile, leads to the highest point in the park on top of Rankin Ridge and offers a panoramic view of the area. Hikers can take advantage of 30 miles of hiking trails or travel cross-country.
Elk Mountain Campground, the only one at the park, is open from April to October. A fee is charged, and sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. No hookups are provided.
Note: The park is open year-round. The period from late September to June is considered the off-season, and cave tours and other services are limited during these months. No entrance fee is charged for day-use of the park.
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Bird Watching |
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Caving |
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Food Service |
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Geological Sites |
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Guided Tours |
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Hiking/Nature Trails |
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Historic Sites |
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Museum/Exhibits |
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Picnic Sites |
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Programs/Talks |
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Self-guided Tours |
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Visitor Center |
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Wildflower Viewing |
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Wildlife Viewing |
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