Wind Cave and Jewel Cave Honor Military Personnel With Free Tours on Veterans Day

An example of the cave formation boxwork.
An example of the cave formation boxwork

NPS Photo

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News Release Date: October 30, 2008

Contact: Tom Farrell, 605-745-4600

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park will offer free tours to military veterans and current military personnel and their families on Tuesday, November 11, in honor of Veterans Day.

Jewel Cave visitors may choose the Scenic Tour or the Discovery Talk. The Scenic Tour will be conducted at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and provides an opportunity to view the variety of beautiful, colorful, and rare cave formations for which Jewel Cave is famous. This ½-mile tour is moderately strenuous, following a paved, lighted trail with over 700 steps and lasting approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. The Discovery Talk will be conducted at 9:05 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3:45 p.m., and is a 20-minute introduction to the cultural and natural history of Jewel Cave. This wheelchair accessible program is conducted in one large room of the cave.

Wind Cave will offer tours at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Visitors will walk along the Natural Entrance Tour route and view boxwork formations for which the cave is famous. This ½-mile tour is moderately strenuous with approximately 300 steps, most of which are down. This tour lasts approximately an hour and fifteen minutes.

Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Cave temperature in both caves is approximately 50 ºF. A light coat or sweater and sturdy walking shoes are recommended. All tours begin at the respective visitor centers.

For more information, please contact Jewel Cave National Monument at 605-673-2288 or Wind Cave National Park at 605-745-4600.



Last updated: April 10, 2015

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Mailing Address:

26611 US Highway 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747

Phone:

605 745-4600

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