Entrance to the cave requires a ranger-guided tour, a minimum of two visitors, and tours are scheduled. Tickets are required to enter the cave, and are sold on-site on a first-come, first-served basis (check schedule below). Reservations are not taken over the phone by a park ranger. Working in collaboration with Black Hills Central Reservations, visitors can purchase Scenic Tour tickets in advance between 72 hours and 90 days using an online service: www.blackhillsvacations.com or a call center at 844-245-6179.
Tickets are limited by tour type and cave tours do sell out at any time during the day. During the peak season or a holiday weekend, it is advised that you arrive in the morning to purchase tour tickets or go through the reservation service (mentioned above). When planning a visit to Jewel Cave, it is important to know there is no food service at the Monument.
Operating Hours & Seasons
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CAVE TOUR SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE due to staff availability, emergency situations, construction projects, inclement weather, and/or special events. In the event of inclement weather, visitors are advised to call ahead at (605) 673-8300. Visitor Center hours and tour operations are subject to change during severe weather. Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:40 p.m., and 3:40 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 4:25 p.m. Historic Lantern Tours and Wild Caving Tours are not available during this time frame. Summer Tour Schedule (June 10, 2018 through August 18, 2018): Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:00 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:40 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., 3:35 p.m., and 4:35 p.m. Historic Lantern Tour may begin during the second week of June depending on the following statement. A Wild Caving Tour will be offered on June 14, 16, 18, and 21. Visitors can call in to request a reservation for one of these dates listed. We will return calls for reservations between 1 - 4 p.m. Mountain Time. Future dates of tour availability will be posted to this site as our tour schedule becomes finalized. When available, this tour's check-in time at the visitor center is 11:00 AM with the tour beginning at 11:30 AM. Call us for details about this tour. ________________________________________________________________
Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:00 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 3:40 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 4:25 p.m. Historic Lantern Tour offered daily at 9:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. (Last day is Labor Day Monday.) A Wild Caving Tour will be offered at 11:30 a.m. (dates to be determined) in mid to late August, if staff is available. The last day for a Wild Caving Tour (summer season) is August 29. Reservations are required and can be made in early August by phone. Reservations will be taken or processed between 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. This tour's check-in time at the visitor center is 11:00 AM. This tour may not be available in September due to staff availability. Early Fall Tour Schedule (September 4 - 30, 2018): Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m. ________________________________________________________________ Fall Tour Schedule (October 1 - 14, 2018): Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Scenic Tour offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m. ________________________________________________________________ Early Winter Tour Schedule (October 15 - November 11, 2018): Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time). Scenic Tour offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:05 a.m. (the only wheelchair accessible tour)
Winter Tour Schedule (November 12, 2018 through mid-March, 2019): Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time). The Monument is closed on Thanksgiving Day (November 22), Christmas Day (December 25), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Presidents' Day. There are no cave tours available Mondays - Thursdays, and some Fridays due to limited staffing in the off-season. Scenic Tour will be offered at 10:00 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Discovery Tour will be offered at 9:05 a.m. (the only wheelchair accessible tour) on Saturdays and Sundays. Early Spring Tour Schedule (Mid-March 2019 to mid-April, 2019): Subject to Change Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time). Cave tours will not be available on Mondays and Tuesdays due to limited staffing. Discovery Talk offered once a day at 9:05 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Spring Tour Schedule (Mid-April, 2019): Subject to Change Scenic Tour offered at 10:00 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. on Mondays - Wednesdays. Scenic Tour offered at 10:00 and 11:20 a.m., 12:40 and 2:40 p.m. on Thursdays - Sundays. Discovery Talk offered once a day at 9:05 a.m. on Mondays - Wednesdays. Discovery Talks offered at 9:35 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. Thursdays - Sundays. ________________________________________________________________ Spring Tour Schedule (Mid-April - April 30, 2019): Subject to Change Scenic Tour offered daily at 10:00 and 11:20 a.m., 12:40 and 2:40 p.m. Discovery Talk offered daily at 9:35 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. ________________________________________________________________ Late Spring Tour Schedule (May 1 to May 24, 2019) Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m. There are no Historic Lantern Tours or Wild Caving Tours during the month of May. Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Scenic Tour offered daily at 9:20 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:20 a.m., (12:00 p.m.), 12:40 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:40 p.m., (3:20 p.m.), and 3:40 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 4:25 p.m. Historic Lantern Tours may begin during the second weekend of June at 9:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. depending on the following statement. A Wild Caving Tour may be offered in early June if tour guides for this specific tour are trained. Otherwise, tours are planned to begin in mid-June on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Reservations will be taken or processed between 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. When available, this tour's check-in time at the visitor center is 11:00 AM with the tour beginning at 11:30 AM. NOTE: Would you like a real adventure? Anyone over the age of 16 can take part in our Wild Caving Tour. Call us for details about this tour. |
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Last updated: June 3, 2018