Jewel Cave National Monument
SD
Park Alerts (4)
About Jewel Cave National Monument
Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through fragile formations and glimpses of brilliant color.
Its maze of passages lures explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service.
Things To Do
Guided Cave Tours
Ranger-guided tours are required to enter Jewel Cave, and the various tours are offered at scheduled times, which vary by season. With four different tour options, there is something for all skill levels and interests.
Jewel Cave Ranger Programs
A variety of talks, demonstrations and guided nature hikes are offered on the surface. Program topics include cave exploration, wildlife, fire ecology, Jasper Fire, wildflowers and plants of the area, and other subjects. Programs are regularly scheduled from mid-June through mid-August, and may be offered throughout the rest of the year. Contact the Visitor Center for current program schedule. There are no fees for these programs.
Hiking Trails
There are many opportunities for exploring on the surface at Jewel Cave National Monument. The 1,279 acre park is located in a Ponderosa pine forest, easily seen along the short Roof Trail. The Jasper Fire of August 24, 2000, has changed the scenery of the Monument but it is an opportunity to see first hand the forest recovery process along the Canyons Trail.
Wildflower Viewing
There are 393 documented plant species at Jewel Cave National Monument. Wildflowers are commonly seen in bloom near the Visitor Center, at the Historic Area, and along all surface trails. Enjoy the flowers - look at them, smell them, compare them, sketch them, photograph them - but please do not pick or otherwise disturb them!
Historic Area
The Historic Area has a picnic area, the Historic Cabin built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Historic Entrance to Jewel Cave. While there is no access to the cave except on a guided tours, visitors are encouraged to complete the .25 mile (.4 km) walk down to see the Historic Entrance used by the Michaud brothers and park rangers to enter the cave since 1900.
Wildlife Viewing
Jewel Cave National Monument sits in a zone between Eastern and Western wildlife species. Due to this, there is a huge variety of wildlife to be seen at Jewel Cave. Take a hike along one of the trails or explore the Historic Area for the best chance of seeing some of the amazing wildlife that calls the Black Hills home.
Available Activities
Weather
Weather in the Black Hills varies significantly throughout the year and may be drastically different from the northern hills to the southern hills. The temperatures listed are for average lows to average highs in the location of Custer, South Dakota. Spring ~ Temp.
Range of 29°F to 53°F / Summer ~ Temp. Range of 54°F to 80°F / Fall ~ Temp. Range of 33°F to 58°F / Winter ~ Temp.
Range of 14°F to 37°F The yearly average rain is 19 in., with May being the wettest month. The yearly average snow is 48 in.
Getting There
By car: Jewel Cave National Monument is located 13 miles west of Custer, South Dakota and 24 miles east of Newcastle, Wyoming on U.S. Highway 16.
The monument is about 54 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota via U.S. Highway 16 / 385.
By plane: The nearest major airport, Rapid City Regional Airport, is 63 miles away.
Plan Your Visit
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Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave National Monument is a day-use area and is available for outdoor recreation on a daily basis throughout the year. However, although the monument is normally open for surface activities year round, the visitor center, park store, and ranger-guided cave tours and operational hours vary from season to season. This means that the surface features and recreational areas are open year round, yet staffing levels and visitor services may be limited during the off-season.
