Fees & Reservations
Visitors at Natural Entrance to Wind Cave NPS Photo by Mike Landrum There are no fees to drive through or hike in the park. There are fees associated with visiting the cave or camping in the park's campground. (The park's campground is closed this year.) There are also fees associated with special park uses such as special events and professional photography. These activities need a special use permit. To encourage Americans to continue to explore our country's natural beauty and rich history and culture, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the National Park Service will offer the following fee free days in 2013: August 25 - National Park Service Birthday Fees for cave tours will be waived on these days. "From Independence hall to our newest national park, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, our national parks tell the story of America, from the beauty of our land to our struggle for freedom and justice," Secretary Salazar said. "Whether or not it's during one of the 17 fee free days next year, I encourage everyone to visit a park near them and enjoy the remarkable landscapes and historical and cultural sites that are unique to our great country." Tour fees include: (click here to see scheduled times of tours) 1. Garden of Eden Cave Tour - $7.00 for adults 17 and older, $3.50 for children 6-16, children 5 and under are free, $3.50 for holders of the Golden Age (Senior)/Access Passports. Representative features of Wind Cave are seen on this tour which enters and leaves the cave by elevator. This one hour tour is our least strenuous with 150 stairs. 2. Natural Entrance Cave Tour - $9.00 for adults 17 and older, $4.50 for children 6-16, children 5 and under are free, $4.50 for holders of the Golden Age (Senior)/Access Passports. Visitors walk through the middle level of the cave where boxwork is abundant. This tour begins at the walk-in entrance and exits by elevator. This moderately strenuous, 1¼ hour tour has 300 stairs (mostly down). 3. Fairgrounds Cave Tour - $9.00 for adults 17 and older, $4.50 for children 6-16, children 5 and under are free, $4.50 for holders of the Golden Age (Senior)/Access Passports. This tour includes some of the larger rooms found in the developed area of the cave. Visitors will see examples of many cave formations, including Wind Cave boxwork. The tour enters and exits the cave by elevator. This moderately strenuous tour has 450 stairs and lasts 1½ hours. 4. Historic Candlelight Cave Tour - $9.00 for adults 17 and older, $4.50 for children 8-16, $4.50 for holders of the Golden Age (Senior)/Access Passports. Experience the cave by candlelight. This tour takes place in a less developed, unlighted part of the cave. Each participant will carry a candle bucket. Shoes with non-slip soles are required. No sandals! This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 8. This strenuous tour covers one mile of rugged trail and lasts 2 hours. Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations may only be made by telephone, up to 30 days in advance of the tour - (605) 745-4600. 5. Wild Cave Tour - $23.00 for adults, half price for holders of the Golden Age (Senior)/Access Passports. Explore the cave away from the developed trails. On this 4-hour tour visitors will be introduced to basic, safe caving. Wear old clothes and gloves, as much of the trip will be crawling. Long pants, long sleeved shirts and sturdy, lace up boots or shoes with non-slip soles are required. The park provides hard hats, lights and kneepads. Please do not bring jewelry, watches and other valuables on the tour. This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 16. We require a signed consent form for those 17 and under. Reservations are required. Reservations may only be made by telephone, up to 30 days in advance of the tour - (605) 745-4600. 6. Tours for Visitors with Special Needs - $5.00 for adults 17 and older, $2.50 for children 6-16, children 5 and under are free, $2.50 for holders of the Golden Age (Senior)/Access Passports. Limited areas of the cave are accessible to wheelchairs. Please call ahead (605-745-4600) to make special arrangements or ask at the information desk for a special tour. Sign-language capable rangers are available for the hearing impaired. For more information click here. 7. Elk Mountain Campground. The campground will be opened with limited services starting May 24, 2013. C Loop will be closed and maintenance of the facilities will be limited due to the 5% across-the-board cut in the park's operating budget. The fee is $12.00 per site per night. Holders of a Golden Age (Senior)/Access Passports received a half-price discount.
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Did You Know?
Fire is an important factor in protecting the prairie. Historically, fires burned across the prairie every 4 to 7 years. Fires burn the small trees that would otherwise march across the prairie and turn the grasslands to forest.