Jewel Cave National Monument | Black Hills & Badlands - South Dakota

Jewel Cave National Monument

  •  Jewel Cave National Monument
    Jewel Cave National Monument
  •  Jewel Cave National Monument
    Jewel Cave National Monument
Find Us: 
11149 U.S. Hwy 16 Bldg. B12
Custer, SD 57730
Call: 
(605) 673-8330
Welcome to Jewel Cave National Monument

The monument is home to the third-longest cave in the world. A visit to Jewel Cave National Monument is most enjoyable when it is pre-planned.

Jewel Cave is home to an amazing underground wilderness that showcases an array of cave formations. Elevators take visitors 234 feet beneath the surface. Scenic Tours and Discovery Talks are offered year-round. Historic Lantern Tours are offered June through early-September. Guide fees apply for cave tours. Free visitor center open year-round, with limited availability in the off-season.

We suggest you begin by deciding which cave tour is appropriate for you and your family. All cave tours are ranger-guided. There are four tour options during the summer season. All cave tours provide a view of two types of calcite crystals known as nailhead spar and dogtooth spar, which are the "jewels" of Jewel Cave.

Cave Construction Update and Progress


NOTE: Due to White Nose Syndrome (WNS) which is affecting bat populations across North America, Europe, and Asia, clothes, shoes, or gear worn in Jewel Cave may not be allowed in any other caves or mines. This includes private caves and mine attractions within South Dakota. Furthermore, clothing and footwear used in Jewel Cave will NOT be allowed on the Candlelight and Wild Cave Tours at Wind Cave National Park. The reason for this possibility is because Jewel Cave has been identified as a WNS-positive site. For additional information, please contact the visitor center at (605) 673-8300 and speak with a park ranger.

Please use our website to plan your visit and find information on: 

  • Basic Information
  • Operating Hours & Seasons, including the opening and closing hours of the visitor center; and the available tour schedule, which changes by season (dates listed).
  • Fees & Passes, including ticket prices for each tour type.
  • Permits & Reservations, including special use permits for commercial use and other special activities.
  • https://www.nps.gov/jeca/index.htm

Hours: 

Jewel Cave National Monument announces its off-season hours beginning Sunday, September 26th.  The monument will be closed on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, and open Wednesdays-Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These hours will be in effect throughout the winter.