All cave tours at Jewel Cave are scheduled, ranger-guided, and require a minimum of two visitors. Tickets are required to enter the cave, and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis for the day of the tour at the Monument. Tour tickets are limited and cave tours do sell out at any time during the day. When planning a visit to Jewel Cave, it is important to know there is no food service at the Monument.
It is advised that you arrive in the morning at the Monument to purchase tour tickets for same day tours. Reservations are not taken over the phone by a Park Ranger. Working in collaboration with Black Hills Central Reservations, visitors can purchase tickets (over 48 hours) in advance for the Scenic Tour using an online service: www.blackhillsvacations.com or a call center at 844-245-6179. Before arriving, please review important information regarding cave tours here.
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.
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 offered daily at 9:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Additional Lantern Tours may be available at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., except for Fridays. A Wild Caving Tour will be offered at 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays in mid to late June, July, and August. Reservations are required and can be made up to 28 days in advance 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. 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. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Late Summer Tour Schedule (August 20 to September 4, 2017): 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. in mid to late August, if staff is available. The last day for a Wild Caving Tour (summer season) is August 30. Reservations are required and can be made in advance 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 5 - October 1, 2017): 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 2 - 29, 2017): Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Scenic Tour offered at 10:00 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. Discovery Tour offered at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m. _______________________________________________________________________ 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. and 2:00 p.m. Discovery Tour offered daily at 9:05 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3:45 p.m. Wild Caving Tour may be offered once a month during the off-season (dates to be determined). The Wild Caving Tour meets at 11:00 a.m. (check-in). Reservations are required and should be made in advance (3 - 28 days) by phone. Note: The reservation deadline for this date is the Wednesday prior to the scheduled tour. A minimum of four visitors is required for this tour to proceed with a maximum of five. Winter Tour Schedule (November 27, 2017 through mid-March, 2018): Visitor Center Hours - Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time). The Monument is closed on December 25, 2017 and January 1, 2018. 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. Discovery Tour will be offered at 9:05 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3:45 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Wild Caving Tour may be offered once a month during the off-season (dates to be determined). Reservations are required. A minimum of four visitors is required for this tour to proceed with a maximum of five. Early Spring Tour Schedule (Mid-March through Mid-April 2018): Subject to Change Visitor Center Hours - Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time). The Visitor Center is open daily; however, the cave tour schedule is subject to change at any time. Visitors are encouraged to call the visitor center (605) 673-8300 for more updated information. All scheduled tours leave on time. You cannot catch up to a tour group once the tour leaves the surface. Discovery Talk offered at 9:05 a.m., 12:45 and 3:45 p.m. on Mondays - Thursdays. Scenic Tour offered at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday - Wednesday. Scenic Tour offered at 10:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. Thursday - Sunday. Discovery Tour offered at 9:05 a.m., 12:45 and 3:45 p.m. Monday - Wednesday. Discovery Talk offered at 9:35 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. Thursday - Sunday. _______________________________________________________________________ Late Spring Tour Schedule (May 1 to mid-May, 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. There are no Historic Lantern Tours or Wild Caving Tours during the month of May. Early Summer Tour Schedule (Memorial Day weekend through mid-June, 2018): 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: August 12, 2017