Jewel Cave National Monument - Operating Hours & Seasons (U.S. National Park Service)

The Visitor Center and surface trails are open daily. The Visitor Center will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1st. In the event of inclement weather, visitors are advised to call ahead. Hours of operation are subject to change during severe weather.

All cave tours are ranger-guided and require a minimum of 2 visitors. Tickets are required to enter the cave, and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Cave tours do sell out at any time. Therefore, the wait time for a tour, without reservations, could be a few hours or the next day. For this reason, we recommend making a reservation for a tour.

Cave tour tickets can be purchased up to seven days in advance of your visit. In order to purchase tickets over the phone, you must speak with a representative and have a major credit card. Please call 1-605-673-8300 between 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

Note: Tour schedules are subject to change due to staff availability, emergency situations, and/or special events.

Winter Tour Schedule (October 12, 2009 - mid April, 2010):

Visitor Center hours - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Scenic Tour offered daily at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:05 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3:45 p.m.

Wild Caving (Spelunking) Tour offered at 11:30 a.m. on December 12, 2009, January 9, 2010, February 13, March 13, and April 10, 2010. Reservations are required and can be made up to 30 days in advance. Plan ahead - the check in time at the visitor center is 11:00 a.m.

Spring Tour Schedule (mid-April through mid-May, 2010):

Visitor Center hours - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Scenic Tour offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 2:40 p.m.

Discovery Tour offered daily at 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m.

Late Spring Tour Schedule (mid-May through early June, 2010):

Visitor Center hours - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 2:40 p.m.

Discovery Tour offered daily at 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m.

Summer Tour Schedule (June 13 - August 14, 2010):

Visitor Center hours - 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:20 p.m., 12:40 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:20 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 5:20 p.m.

Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., 3:35 p.m., and 6:05 p.m.

Lantern Tour offered daily at 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m, 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.

Wild Caving (Spelunking) Tour offered daily, except for Tuesdays and Fridays, at 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made four weeks in advance. Check in time at the visitor center is 12:00 p.m. (noon).

Late Summer Tour Schedule (August 15 - September 11, 2010):

Visitor Center hours - 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 3:40 p.m.

Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 4:25 p.m.

Lantern Tour offered daily at 9:45 a.m., (10:45 a.m.), 12:45 p.m., (1:45 p.m.), and 3:30 p.m.

Wild Caving (Spelunking) Tour offered daily, except for Tuesdays and Fridays, at 12:30 p.m. through late August, 2010.

Early Fall Tour Schedule (September 12 - October 3, 2010):

Visitor Center hours - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 2:40 p.m.

Discovery Tour offered daily at 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m.

Wild Caving (Spelunking) Tour offered on certain days (TBA) at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are required. Check in time at the visitor center is 11:00 a.m.

Fall Tour Schedule (October 4 - 11, 2010)

Visitor Center hours - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Scenic Tour offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 2:40 p.m.

Discovery Tour offered daily at 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m.