There are quite a few units of the National Park System either centered around caves or that have caves within their boundaries in which you can explore. Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota is one of those park units. You simply cannot visit this national park and not go on at least one ranger-led cave tour.

Stopping to listen to the guide along a cave tour at Wind Cave National Park / Rebecca Latson

In truth, the only way you will be able to see the wonders of Wind Cave is to reserve a spot on one of six guided cave tours. Advanced reservations may be made for some tours (see tour descriptions below), and all other tour reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware, you might have a long wait time for those in-person reservations, and tours often sell out in 1-2 hours for the day by mid-afternoon. Tickets may only be purchased with credit/debit cards. No cash is accepted.

Map of the cave tour routes at Wind Cave National Park / NPS

Cave Tours

Garden of Eden Tour
Duration: 1 hour
Distance: 1/4 mile (1/2 kilometer)
Total stairs: 150
Difficulty: Moderate; stairs can be steep, slippery and dimly lit. Bending and stooping required.
Description: See boxwork, frostwork, flowstone and cave popcorn along this route.

This one-hour tour is our least strenuous tour. It is a wonderful sample of Wind Cave. Small amounts of all the beautiful cave formations - boxwork, cave popcorn, and flowstone - are seen along this 1/4-mile tour. The tour is designed for people with limited time or abilities. It enters and leaves the cave by elevator with 150 steps along the tour route.

Reservations must be made through recreation.gov, which also offers reduced ticket prices for Fee-Free Days.

Natural Entrance Tour
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Distance: 2/3 mile (1 kilometer)
Total stairs: 300
Difficulty: Moderate. Paths are uneven, and stairs can be slippery, steep and dimly lit. Bending and stooping required.
Description: See boxwork and cave popcorn along this route.

This tour includes a visit to the natural entrance of Wind Cave where visitors can see the largest opening to the cave and learn how we get our name. Participants enter the cave through a man-made entrance and journey into the middle level of the cave. Wind Cave's famous boxwork is abundant throughout this trip. This moderately strenuous 2/3-mile tour lasts 1¼ hours and exits the cave by elevator. This is a great tour for families.

Reservations must be made through recreation.gov, which also offers reduced ticket prices for Fee-Free Days.

Fairgrounds Tour
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Distance: 2/3 mile (1 kilometer)
Total stairs: 450
Difficulty: Strenuous. Paths are uneven, and stairs are steep. Bending and stooping required. This tour includes 89 stairs up at once.
Description: See boxwork, frostwork and cave popcorn along this strenuous route.

This 1½ hour tour explores both the upper and middle levels of Wind Cave. Boxwork is abundant along the trail in the middle level of the cave. In the upper level, the trail winds through the larger rooms where popcorn and frostwork can be seen. This is our most strenuous walking tour. The tour enters and exits the cave by elevator and there are 450 stairs along the 2/3-mile route with one flight of 89 steps going up.

Reservations must be made through recreation.gov, which also offers reduced ticket prices for Fee-Free Days.

Accessibility Tour
Duration: 30 minutes
Distance: 100 feet
Total stairs: 0
Difficulty: Easy
Description: See boxwork and learn about the cave's cultural and natural history.

Limited areas of the cave are accessible to wheelchairs and those with limited mobility. These half-hour tours serve as an introduction to the cave and boxwork, the cave's signature feature, is shown. The tour includes riding the elevator into and out of the cave, and the elevator building is located about 200 yards south of the visitor center. Accessible Parking is available at the elevator building.

Please call the visitor center at 605-745-4600 no more than one day in advance to make arrangements or ask at the information desk for an Accessible Tour on the day of your visit.

Candlelight Tour – summer only
Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 2/3 mile (1 kilometer)
Total stairs: 424
Difficulty: Strenuous; stairs can be steep, slippery, and dimly lit. Bending and stooping required.
Description: Explore the unique geology and boxwork formations of the Blue Grotto route while learning about some of the colorful characters and events in Wind Cave’s past.

Experience the cave by candlelight the way the earliest explorers of Wind Cave saw it! This tour takes place in a less developed, unlit section of the cave. Each participant must carry a candle bucket while navigating paved and natural cave surfaces, some large steps, tight passages, slick footing, and numerous stairs. The tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 8.

Wild Cave and Candlelight tours cannot be done on the same day.

Required

• Long pants to protect the cave resource and yourself.  Pants must not have any holes in them.
• Fully enclosed, lace-up footwear with good traction. Hiking boots are recommended. Five-fingered toe shoes, cowboy boots, and sandals including Keens, Chacos, and Merrills are not allowed.
• Clothing worn in Jewel Cave or any other cave is not permitted on this tour to prevent the spread of White-Nose Syndrome.
• For safety reasons, photography is not permitted on this tour and cameras and phones are not allowed.
• Reservations are required for this tour and can be made up to one month in advance by calling the Visitor Center at 605-745-4600.

Wild Cave Tour – summer only
Duration: up to 4 hours
Distance: 2/3 mile
Difficulty: Very Strenuous. Cave passages are not lit and trail surfaces are uneven. Some surfaces may be wet and slippery. Some of the cave ceilings are low and some passages have a very steep grade, requiring bending, stooping, crawling, and climbing. Most of the tour is spent crawling on your hands and knees.
Description: This tour introduces safe caving in an undeveloped part of the cave.

Explore the cave away from the developed trails with this introduction to safe caving techniques. On this very strenuous tour, visitors will each get helmets, kneepads, and headlamps and see what it's like to explore Wind Cave as cavers do today.

Wild Cave and Candlelight tour cannot be done on the same day.

Required

• Long, sturdy pants such as jeans or hiking pants with no holes.  Sweatpants, leggings, or yoga pants of any kind are not allowed.
• Long or short sleeve shirt is acceptable, no tank tops allowed.
• Sturdy, lace-up hiking boots or shoes (designed for trail) with aggressive tread are required. No slick-soled footwear is permitted. Tennis shoes, five-fingered toe shoes, sandals, cowboy boots, and climbing shoes of any kind are not allowed.
• Clothing worn in Jewel Cave or any other cave is not permitted on this tour to prevent the spread of White-Nose Syndrome.
• Reservations are required for this tour and can be made up to one month in advance by calling the Visitor Center at 605-745-4600.

Features

• On this tour visitors will be introduced to basic, safe caving.
• Visitors will need to fit through a space that is 10 inches tall and 3 feet wide (25.4 cm by 91.4 cm).
• Wear old clothes, as much of the trip will be crawling.
• The park provides helmets, lights, gloves, elbowpads, and kneepads. Visitors may bring a bandana to help keep their helmet in place.
• This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 16.
• We require a signed parental/guardian release for those 17 and under.
• For safety reasons, photography is not permitted on this tour and cameras and phones are not allowed.
• Please do not bring jewelry, watches, or other valuables on the tour.

A few things to know before you go on your tour:

• Know your physical limitations. You will be walking up and down many stairs.
• You might not want to take a tour if you are claustrophobic.
• There are no restroom facilities in the cave.
• Do not touch the cave walls, remove cave rocks, or cave formations.
• Photography and handheld flash are permitted, but no tripods. Also, cameras are not permitted on the Candlelight or Wild Cave tours.
• The cave temperature is a constant 54°F (12°C), so wear long sleeves or a light jacket.
• Shoes should be comfortable with non-slip soles. Sandals and open-toed shoes are not recommended on the standard walking tours and are not permitted on the Candlelight or Wild Cave Tours.

Prohibited items include:

• Food and drinks, including: candy, gum, water, etc.
• Bags of any kind, including: backpacks, purses, fanny packs, etc.
• Baby back carriers: Children may be carried in arms or in a front carrier.
• Walking sticks, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks.
• Pets and comfort animals (Certified Service Animals are permitted on certain tours.)
• Firearms
• Tobacco products

Cave trails are dimly lit, often narrow, and may be wet and slippery in certain areas. There are numerous stairs along all tour routes. Those with vision impairments should be cautious when entering the cave. Bringing an extra flashlight may assist visitors with vision impairments to see steps and ceiling areas better. Specific arrangements may be made in advance for visitors with special concerns.

For sign-language programming, please call the visitor center at 605-745-4600 at least two weeks ahead of time to arrange accommodations.

For more cave tour details and a list of frequently asked questions, click here.

Group photo within the Model Room of Wind Cave, year unknown, Wind Cave National Park / NPS historical archives

Traveler’s Note: All cave tours are suspended through early winter 2024 for a complete replacement and modernization of the park’s elevator system. During this time, there is no access to the cave. 

The Wind Cave elevator building, Wind Cave National Park / Rebecca Latson