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Wind Cave National ParkCave tour
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Wind Cave National Park
Candlelight Cave Tour
 
Visitor on the Candlelight Cave Tour
NPS Photo
Visitors on the Candlelight Cave Tour

Experience the cave by candlelight! See the way the earliest explorers of Wind Cave saw the cave by candlelight.  This tour takes place in a less developed, unlighted section of the cave.  Each participant will carry a candle bucket.  The tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 8.

Scheduled Tours

 

Fees*

Age 17-61

$9.00

Age 8-16

$4.50

Golden Age/Golden Access

$4.50

*Park Pass and Golden Eagle Cards are not applicable for these fees.

Features 

  • This strenuous tour covers one mile of rugged trail and lasts 2 hours.
  • The tour enters and exits the cave by elevator. 
  • For safety reasons participants on this tour must be 8 years of age or older and must be able to carry their own candle bucket.
  • Shoes with non-slip soles are required. NO SANDALS!
  • Reservations are strongly recommended. We begin taking reservations one month before the tour.
  • Reservations may only be made in person or by telephone - (605) 745-4600.

Some rooms seen on this tour:

Blue Grotto | Council Chambers/Dinosaur Room | Elks Room | Fallen Flats | Pearly Gates | Summer Avenue | Temple

Safety and Conservation

Cave trails are dimly lighted and trail surfaces may be uneven, wet and slippery. Some of the cave ceilings are low, requiring some bending or stooping. Tours are moderately strenuous.

PERSONS WITH HEART CONDITIONS OR OTHER PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS SHOULD RECONSIDER.

Wear low-heeled walking shoes with non-slip soles. Do not wear sandals or shoes with leather or hard composition soles. A light jacket or sweater is recommended as the cave is 53° F [11° C].

For the protection of the cave, please do not touch the cave, remove cave rocks or formations, or step off the trail. Photography is discouraged on this tour for safety reasons. Please stay with the tour group.

There are no restrooms in the cave. Pets are not permitted in the cave.

PLEASE NO EATING, DRINKING, SMOKING, OR CHEWING GUM OR TOBACCO WHILE ON TOUR.

Cave Maps
Tour Routes
Map of Wind Cave Tour Routes
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Welcome to Wind Cave
Welcome
Wind Cave for the Hearing Impaired
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Bull Elk  

Did You Know?
Elk were the most widely distributed member of the deer family in North America and spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Mexico to northern Alberta. Elk began to disappear in the eastern United States in the early 1800s.
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Last Updated: September 14, 2008 at 13:27 EST