News Release

Jewel Cave Offers Guided Snowshoe Hikes

News Release Date: January 8, 2020

Contact: Visitor Center, 605-673-8300

Jewel Cave National Monument is hosting two ranger-guided snowshoe hikes at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 18. The hikes are geared for beginners and will follow the easy one-quarter-mile Roof Trail near the visitor center. There are no fees for the activities, and reservations are not required. However, limited equipment is available and will be made on a first come first served basis for both hikes.

Bradley Block, Chief of Interpretation, states, “Snowshoeing is an excellent recreational way to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months. Although Jewel Cave is well-known for cave tours and an extensive cave system, the surface features of the monument are quite beautiful and worth exploring during the off-season.”

The Roof Trail follows a path through a ponderosa pine forest, mixed with open meadows caused by the Jasper Fire in August 2000. Participants will learn about the various wildlife species that live within the monument and will identify signs of wildlife, such as animal tracks, midden piles, and fur. Block further comments, “We need at least four inches of snow to go snowshoeing. However, even without snow, if the weather conditions are appropriate, we will still head out on a winter hike and enjoy the outdoors.”

Throughout the day, snowshoes will be loaned out on a first come first served basis for visitors that wish to explore the trails on their own. Participants need to wear appropriate clothes for the weather conditions. Hiking or snow boots are required for use with the snowshoes. The visitor center will be open and available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for participants that need to warm up or for those that wish to wait for other family members on the trail.

The monument is hosting two more ranger-guided hikes on Saturday, February 8 at the same times and locations. During the winter season, snowshoes can also be loaned out on-site for visitors to hike the monument’s trails.

For more information on the guided hikes, call the visitor center at 605-673-8300. For other happenings at the monument, follow Jewel Cave on social media through Facebook at www.facebook.com/JewelCaveNPS/ or Instagram at www.instagram.com/jewelcavenps.