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Wind Cave National ParkCave tour
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Wind Cave National Park
Natural Entrance Cave Tour
 
Ranger and visitors on the Natural Entrance Cave Tour
NPS Photo by Mike Landrum
Ranger and Visitors on the Natural Entrance Cave Tour

This tour includes a visit to the natural entrance of Wind Cave where visitors can see where the cave was discovered and learn how it got its name. Participants enter the cave through a man-made entrance and journey through the middle level of the cave. Wind Cave's famous boxwork is abundant throughout this trip. Most of the 300 stairs along this route are down. This moderately strenuous one-half mile tour lasts 1¼ hours and exits the cave by elevator.

Click Here for Scheduled Tours

 

Fees*

Age 17-61

$9.00

Age 6-16

$4.50

Senior, Golden Age or Golden Access

$4.50

Under 6 (all children must have a ticket)

Free


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

Features

  • The tour enters the cave near the natural entrance and exits by elevator.
  • The tour lasts 1¼ hours, is ½ mile long, and encounters 300 stairs (mostly down).
  • You will be walking through the middle level of the cave where boxwork is abundant.

Some rooms seen on this tour:

Blowhole | Post Office | Devils Lookout | Cathedral | Model Room | Fallen Flats

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 permitted, but please no tripods. 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 in the park.  

Did You Know?
A Rocky Mountain bull elk weighs between 700 - 800 pounds. Rocky Mountain elk were introduced to the park in 1914 and 1916.
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Last Updated: September 14, 2008 at 12:59 EST