Beneath the ancient pine-covered Black Hills of South Dakota, lies another world of mystery, beauty and adventure. A world of constant darkness inexplicably draws us into its vast crystal-lined chambers. Silence is punctuated only by the dripping of water and perhaps your own heartbeat. Standing here you can ponder the natural forces that created this unique and fragile environment.
Explore our pages and find out more about this amazing natural resource. Jewel Cave is a complex, pristine cave system that the National Park Service has been entrusted to protect. It is the third longest cave in the world, currently having more than 135 miles of mapped and surveyed passageways. This is only a small percentage of what is believed to exist here.
From the cave's discovery in 1900 until today, it has continued to inspire visitors with calcite crystal-lined passages and rooms decorated with speleothems (cave formations). Come take a tour and learn for yourself about the wonders of Jewel Cave and why it is important to preserve it. If it is not possible to visit in person, we hope you will learn about Jewel Cave through these pages.
Contact Information
For information requests please contact us at:
Jewel Cave National Monument
11149 US HWY 16
Bldg B12
Custer, SD 57730
1-605-673-2288
jeca_interpretation@nps.gov
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Last updated April 13, 2006
e-mail jeca_interpretation@nps.gov