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ScenicTour-Offered year-round (more pictures)
Schedule subject to change.
January 2 - May 13, 2006 offered 3 times daily at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.
May 14 - May 25, 2006 offered 6 times daily at 9:20 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:20 pm, and 3:00 pm.
May 26 - May 29, 2006 offered 15 times daily at 8:40 am, 9:20 am, 10:00 am, 10:20 am, 10:40 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 12:40 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:20 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:20 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 4:20 pm.
May 30 - June 10, 2006 offered 11 times daily at 9:20 am, 10:00 am, 10:20 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 12:40 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:20 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:20 pm.
June 11 - mid-August, 2006 offered 22 times daily at 8:40 am, 9:20 am, 9:40 am, 10:00 am, 10:20 am, 10:40 am, 11:00 am, 11:20 am, 12:00 pm, 12:20 pm, 12:40 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:20 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:20 pm, 2:40 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:20 pm, 4:00 pm, 4:20 pm, 5:00 pm, and 5:30 pm.
The tour provides an opportunity to visit chambers decorated with calcite crystals and other speleothems, while walking on a paved trail. You will enter and leave the cave by elevator from the visitor center. This tour is considered moderately strenuous. It is a 1/2 mile loop that includes 723 stair steps scattered throughout the loop. It lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. This tour is offered year-round. The visitor center phone number is 1-605-673-2288, ext. 0 if you want additional information.
Low-heeled, rubber-soled shoes and a light jacket or sweater are recommended for the tour. The cave temperature is 49 degrees year-round. Persons who have heart or respiratory problems, have recently been hospitalized or have a fear of heights or closed-in spaces should talk with a park ranger before selecting a tour. There is a limit of 30 people on each tour. During spring and summer months, and holidays, this tour will frequently sell out.
Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis at the visitor center or by phone up to seven days in advance. For advance reservations please call 1-605-673-2288, ext. 0 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily.
Tours can sell out at any time of the year. All tours require a minimum of 2 participants.
The fee is $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for youth 6-16, children 5 and under free. Only cardholders of the Golden Age or Golden Access Passport receive a discount of 50% off the cave tour ticket price. The National Parks Pass is not valid for Scenic Cave Tour fees.
Jewel Cave Discovery - Offered year-round
Schedule subject to change.
January 2 - May 13, 2006 offered 3 times daily at 9:00 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:30 pm.
May 14 - May 25, 2006 offered 4 times daily at 8:55 am, 11:35 am, 1:35 pm, and 3:35 pm.
May 26 - May 29, 2006 offered 5 times daily at 8:55 am, 11:35 am, 1:35 pm, 3:35 pm, and 4:35 pm.
May 30 - June 10, 2006 offered 5 times daily at 8:55 am, 11:35 am, 1:35 pm, 3:35 pm, and 4:35 pm.
June 11 - mid-August, 2006 offered 6 times dailly at 8:55 am, 11:35 am, 1:35 pm, 3:35 pm, 4:35 pm, and 5:55 pm.
This talk is an introduction to Jewel Cave. Participants view one large room of the cave and go up and down fifteen stair steps. This talk is handicap accessible.
Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis at the visitor center or by phone up to seven days in advance. For advance reservations please call 1-605-673-2288, ext. 0 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily.
Tours can sell out at any time of the year. All tours require a minimum of 2 participants.
Fee: $4.00 for ages 17 and over, Free for ages 16 and under. This program is free to holders of the National Parks Pass and their immediate families, and for holders of Golden Age or Access Passes and their immediate families.
Lantern Tour-tours to resume in June 2006(pictures)
The Lantern Tour is a 1930s-style adventure. Visitors enter and leave through the historic entrance and view the cave from an unpaved trail. This tour is considered strenuous. The tour route is approximately 1/2 mile long, and includes steep wooden steps. The only light is provided by a lantern each visitor carries. There is bending and stooping as you work your way through passages to the Dungeon or Heavenly Room. The tour lasts approximately 1-3/4 hours. Participants must be at least 6 years old. There is a limit of 20 people on each tour. Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis. This tour is offered early June through Labor Day. Tickets for the Lantern Tour must be purchased or picked up at the visitor center.
Low-heeled, rubber-soled shoes or boots, long pants and a light jacket or sweater are recommended for the tour. The cave temperature is 49 degrees year-round. Persons who have heart or respiratory problems, have recently been hospitalized or have a fear of heights or closed-in spaces should talk with a park ranger before selecting a tour.
Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis at the visitor center or by phone up to seven days in advance. For advance reservations please call 1-605-673-2288, ext. 0 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily.
Tours can sell out at any time of the year. All tours require a minimum of 2 participants.
The fee is $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for youth 6-16, children 5 and under not allowed. Only cardholders of the Golden Age and Golden Access Passport receive a discount of 50% off the cave tour ticket price. The National Parks Pass is not valid for Lantern Cave Tour fees.
Spelunking Tour - tours to resume in June 2006 (pictures)
With hard hat in place and headlamp turned on you are ready to experience the cave in its natural state. Feel the wind at Hurricane Corner, ascend Martha's Kettle, crawl through the Roller Coaster and squeeze into the Brain Drain. Participants scramble over cave "breakdown," chimney between cave walls, use a handline to climb a nearly vertical wall, and belly-crawl through tight passages. The cavers visit 2/3 mile of cave, and learn about low-impact caving, caving techniques and safety. The tour lasts 3-4 hours and is extremely strenuous. Anyone having a fear of closed spaces or heights should not attempt this tour.
Participant must be 16 years of age and older. All participants are required to provide proof of age, upon request. A parent or legal guardian is required to sign, on the day of the tour, a waiver of responsibility for any 16 or 17-year-old participants and should remain at the monument throughout the duration of the tour. Participants must be in good physical condition and are required to pass through an 8-1/2 inch by 24-inch crawl space before beginning the tour. Refunds are not given for those visitors unable to negotiate the block. This tour is offered early June through mid-August.
The monument provides a hard hat and headlamp to each participant.
The participant provides: sturdy, above ankle, rubber-soled, lug-soled, lace-up boots, long pants or coveralls, and a long-sleeved shirt, a change of clothing, shoes, and a plastic bag for carrying soiled clothes and boots from the visitor center after the tour. Gloves, soft knee pads and elbow pads are required and must be provided by the participant. Clean clothes and shoes must be brought to the visitor center when you check in for the tour.
Clothing and footwear will be permanently stained by black manganese deposits encountered during this tour.
Reservations are required and can be made up to one month in advance by calling 1-605-673-2288, ext. 0. This tour can sell out. Tour size is limited to a minimum of 2 visitors and a maximum of 5 visitors. Tours may be canceled due to lack of the required number of participants or due to emergencies at the Monument. For more information on this tour you may call the visitor center at 1-605-673-2288, ext. 0. The fee is $27.00. Golden Age and Golden Access Passport cardholders receive a discount of 50% off the cave tour ticket price. The National Parks Pass is not valid for Spelunking Cave Tour fees. PDF Brochure (Get Adobe Reader® at http://www.adobe.com.)
Organized groups are encouraged to make arrangements for cave programs one month in advance. Advance arrangements can be made for the Scenic Tour, Discovery Program and Lantern Tour. To arrange a group tour please contact the park at least one month prior to your visit by calling 1-605- 673-2288, ext. 0 or by writing to Jewel Cave National Monument, Attn: Group Tour Reservations, 11149 US Hwy. 16, Bldg. B12, Custer, SD 57730. If your request is written, please include your phone number. When discussing tour arrangements with National Park Service staff, please indicate if someone in your group has special needs. You will receive written confirmation, if time allows. You must reconfirm your tour arrangement at least two days prior to your visit by phoning 1-605-673-2288, ext. 0.
Other National Park Service Caves
Last Updated April 13, 2006
e-mail jeca_interpretation@nps.gov