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.

This tour is scheduled early May through early October.

Click Here for Scheduled Tours

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.