Wind Cave Hours, Tours and Fees

Wind Cave National Park is open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are extended during the summer months.

Ranger-guided tours of Wind Cave leave from the visitor center year-round. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, except for the Candlelight, Crawling Tour and for groups. During peak summer visitation, long waits may be encountered. To avoid waiting, the best time to visit the cave is during the early hours of the day. During the summer, weekends are a good time to visit. Tuesday and Wednesdays are the busiest days at Wind Cave.

The Natural Entrance Cave Tour includes a visit to the natural entrance of Wind Cave where visitors can see where the cave was discovered and learn how it got its name. Participants enter the cave through a man-made entrance and journey through the middle level of the cave. Wind Cave's famous boxwork is abundant throughout this trip. Most of the 300 stairs along this route are downhill. This moderately strenuous one-half mile tour lasts 1¼ hours and exits the cave by elevator. This tour is offered year-round. Ticket prices: $9 for adults 17 & over. $4.50 for children 6-16 and free for children 5 and under.

The Garden of Eden Tour is the least strenuous tour and lasts one hour. It is a wonderful sample of Wind Cave. Small amounts of all of the beautiful cave formations including boxwork, cave popcorn and flowstone are seen along this ¼ mile trail. This 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. This tour is offered year-round. Ticket prices: $7 for adults 17 & over. $3.50 for children 6-16 and free for children 5 and under.

The Fairgrounds Tour is 1½ hours in length and 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 the most strenuous walking tour at Wind Cave. The tour enters and exits the cave by elevator and there are 450 stairs along the ½-mile route with one flight of 89 steps going up. This tour is available from June through Labor Day. Ticket prices: $9 for adults 17 & over. $4.50 for children 6-16 and free for children 5 and under.

A Candlelight Tour is offered to visitors that want to experience the cave the same way early explorers did. This two-hour candlelight excursion takes place in a less developed, unlit part of the cave. Each participant will carry a candle bucket and the tour is limited to 10 people with the minimum age being 8 years old. This tour is considered strenuous and covers one mile of rugged trail.  It lasts about 2 hours. Shoes with non-slip soles are required. This tour is available from June through mid-August by reservation only. Reservations can be made up to one month before the tour by calling (605) 745-4600. Tour prices: $9 for adults 17 & over. $4.50 for children 8-16.

The Wind Cave Crawling Tour is a way for visitors to explore the cave away from developed trails. During this 4-hour tour visitors will be introduced to basic and safe caving. Park staff asks that you wear old clothes and gloves for this tour because much of the trip involves crawling. Long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy, lace-up boots or shoes with non-slip soles are also required. Wind Cave does not permit clothing worn on the Jewel Cave Spelunking tour. Wind Cave will provide participants with hard hats, lights and knee pads. This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 16. Wind Cave requires a release form be signed for participants under 17. Please don’t bring jewelry, watches or other valuables on this tour. This tour is available from June through mid-August. Reservations are required and can be made up to one month before the tour by calling (605)-745-4600. Tour prices: $23 for adults 16 & over.

The Visitor Center and the cave are accessible to people with limited mobility. Limited areas of Wind Cave are accessible to wheelchairs. Please call ahead to make special arrangements or ask at the information desk for a special tour. Fees are charged for these services. Call Wind Cave National Park for more information (605) 745-4600.



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