Jewel Cave National Monument - Fees & Reservations (U.S. National Park Service)

The Monument's surface trails and facilities are available free of charge. Fees are charged for cave tours. Ticket prices and tour descriptions are listed below.

Ticket Sales and Reservations:

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at Jewel Cave National Monument.
Cave tour tickets can be purchased no earlier then seven days in advance.
To purchase tickets over the phone: you must speak with a ticket sales staff member and have a major credit card ready during the call.
Visitors may call (605) 673-8300 between 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
Please plan ahead when making reservations. All reserved tickets must be picked up at least 30 minutes prior to tour time.
No messages will be taken for reservations.
We are not authorized to call outside the U.S.
Teachers may call the Visitor Center to inquire about program information.
Educational groups may qualify for a fee waiver.
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead for tour availability. Please call, or click Operating Hours & Seasons for the current cave tour schedule.

Jewel Cave National Monument announces:

FEE FREE days for 2011

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NPS photo

Calcite crystals lining the passages of Jewel Cave.

Cave Tour Prices and Details

Scenic Tour - Ticket Prices:

$8.00 - Adult age 17 & over
$4.00 - Youth ages 6-16
Free - Child ages 5 & under (must have a ticket)
$4.00 - Golden Age/Senior/Access Adult (pass holder only)
$2.00 - Access Youth (pass holder only) 16 years of age or younger
The Interagency Annual Pass is not valid for this tour.

Scenic Tour Details: Scenic Tours are offered year-round. This tour is moderately strenuous and lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes. The tour enters and leaves the cave by elevator in the visitor center. The tour route involves walking up and down 723 stair steps along a 1/2 mile loop. The tour provides an opportunity to visit chambers decorated with calcite crystals and other speleothems as you walk along a paved trail with electric lighting. Scenic Tours are limited to 30 people per tour.

Discovery Tour - Ticket Prices:

$4.00 - Adult age 16 & over
Free - Youth ages 6-15
Free - Child ages 5 & under
Free - Golden Age/Senior/Access pass holder and 3 persons (16 yrs. and older)
Free - Annual Pass holder and 3 persons (16 yrs. and older)
Tickets are required to enter Jewel Cave.

Discovery Details: This 20-minute 'Discovery' talk is an introduction to Jewel Cave's natural and cultural histories. The Discovery Talk is offered year-round, and is limited to 20 people. Participants view one large room of the cave. This easy cave visit enters and exits the cave by elevator, and involves walking up and down 15 stair steps. This talk takes place in the cave's Target Room which is accessible to visitors with limited mobility. The Discovery Talk is recommended for families with young children, and visitors with limited time or health concerns.

Historic Lantern Tour - Ticket Prices:

$8.00 - Adult age 17 & over
$4.00 - Youth ages 6-16
$4.00 - Golden Age/Senior/Access Adult (pass holder only)
$2.00 - Access Youth (pass holder only) - age 6 to 16
The minimum age allowed is 6 years old.
The Interagency Annual Pass is not valid for this tour.

Lantern Tour Details: Available from the second full week of June through Labor Day. The Lantern Tour is a 1940's style adventure. Visitors, carrying lanterns provided by the Monument, enter and exit the cave through the historic entrance. This tour is considered strenuous and lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes. The tour route is approximately 1/2 mile long and includes steep, narrow wooden steps. Visitors must be in good health and physical condition. The tour requires bending, stooping, duck walking, and navigation of steep wooden ladders. The Lantern Tour is limited to 20 people per tour.

Wild Caving Tour - Ticket Prices:

$27.00 - Adult age 16 & over
$13.50 - Golden Age/Senior/Access Adult (pass holder only)
The Interagency Annual Pass is not valid for this tour.
Participants must be 16 years of age or older. Proof of age may be required.
A parent or legal guardian, of a 16 or 17 yr. old, is required to sign a permission waiver.
Reservations can be made 28 days in advance of the tour by calling (605) 673-8300 between 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, MST. Have a major credit card ready, name, phone number, and address. This call will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Wild Caving Tour Details: Available during the summer season (June through August), and during the off-season on certain dates. This tour is designed for visitors who want the thrill of experiencing the cave in its natural state. Participants scramble over cave "breakdown," chimney between cave walls, climb semi-vertical rocks (rope-assisted climbs), and belly crawl through tight passages. Participants are required to fit through a passage 8 1/2 inches high by 24 inches wide before attempting this tour.

Along a 2/3 mile route, visitors learn about low-impact caving, caving techniques, safety, and caving equipment. The tour lasts 3 to 4 hours, and is considered extremely strenuous. Participants must be 16 years of age or older, and in good health and physical condition. Participants must provide and wear above the ankle, lug-soled, lace-up leather boots; soft elbow and knee pads; gloves; long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. We do not provide this equipment. Clothes and boots may be permanently stained with manganese.

The Monument provides a hardhat and headlamp only. Tours may be cancelled due to lack of required participants (2); due to emergencies at the Monument; and/or lack of proper caving equipment. Tour size is limited to a minimum of 2 visitors and a maximum of 5 visitors.

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