You are here

Improved Safety At Jewel Cave National Monument Clears The Way For Younger Tour Participants

Share

Installation of fencing in strategic spots along the Scenic Tour at Jewel Cave National Monument has led to the decision to let children under the age of 5 to once again go on the tour.

The age restriction was implemented last July 28 in response to safety concerns along the tour route. A chain-link fence has been installed in key locations along the tour route and around the various platforms to provide a safer environment for visitors and staff, a park release said.

"Over the past six months, considerable work and effort has been made to increase and enhance the safety measures along the Scenic Tour route. Safety is of prime importance, and we appreciate the public's patience while we completed the improvements," said monument Superintendent Bonnie Schwartz. "The lifting of the age restriction comes at a time, when the NPS is celebrating its Centennial in 2016, and the Monument is gearing up for what we feel will be an exciting and memorable summer season."

In 2015, 117,399 people visited the Monument, of which about 45 percent took part in the Scenic Tour. Families comprise the majority of park users, and tour popularity occurs in June, July, August, and early September.

Although the Scenic Tour is available for children under the age of five, there still is an inherent risk while visiting any natural environment. For this reason, additional safety guidance is available to accommodate youth on guided cave tours. For more information, you can visit the Monument online at www.nps.gov/jeca and click on the Plan Your Visit –Safety icon or call the visitor center at (605) 673-8300.

The Monument, located in Custer, South Dakota, is currently open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Guided cave tours are only offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays each week during the winter months.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.