Jewel Cave National Monument, Black Hills, South Dakota   Going to Jewel Cave National Monument is a tremendous idea when you have to get out of the house. Just can't get enough of Jewel Cave National Monument. There is a great hiking trail right next door to Jewel Cave National Monument called the Lost Cabin Trail, and if you need a site to stay Econo Lodge Custer is a delightful choice. Jewel Cave National Monument is a tremendous wilderness vicinity that everybody enjoys. This spot, the Black Hills, has so much outdoors exciting things. Stay the night at Custer Mountain Cabins, and dry warm beds await     you at State Game Lodge. There's no way somebody can get bored here in the Black Hills. Dry warm beds await you at Rock Crest Lodge and Cabins, and going for a hike on the Cathedral Spires Trail is always a good adventure. It's a popular place to get away to for folks travelling from Custer. There are loads of fun pastimes for everybody. At Jewel Cave National Monument you find a lot of outdoors recreation, so you may have fun during your stay. On a great day at Jewel Cave National Monument you can take a hike along the Sunday Gulch Trail. There's so much to do here at Jewel Cave National Monument that you need to camp here for a while, Spirit Horse Escape is a brilliant place for that. For the period of the months of summer, highs usually are in the 80's at Jewel Cave National Monument. Throughout the moonlight hours it's       you at State Game Lodge. There's no way somebody can get bored here in the Black Hills. Dry warm beds await you at Rock Crest Lodge and Cabins, and going for a hike on the Cathedral Spires Trail is always a good adventure. It's a popular place to get away to for folks travelling and January is when it's the driest. Custer Days Inn is a perfect location to get some rest, and you can go for a hike on the Sylvan Lake Harney Trail. Here at Jewel Cave National Monument you can catch a sight of Buckhorn Mountain, and getting to Sidney Creek from Jewel Cave National Monument is uncomplicated. There are other spots here than Jewel Cave National Monument, for example Lake of the Pines, and a perfect spot to camp here at Jewel Cave National Monument is Horsethief Lake Campground - Black Hills National Forest. Jewel Cave National   Monument has pretty nature scenery for you to love. So many entertaining things to do at Jewel Cave National Monument, so little time. Chief Motel is a pleasant location to get some rest, and if you're a golfer then a great nearby course is Rocky Knolls Golf Course. If you came to camp The Roost Resort is a pleasant spot to do that, and this is a popular spot for folks from Custer. So much exciting stuff to do in the Black Hills, not enough time. Near Jewel Cave National Monument you find the Paha Sapa Trail which is a brilliant hiking trail, and camping at Custer Crazy Horse Campground is always a brilliant experience. With more than 127 miles surveyed, Jewel Cave is recognized as the third longest cave in the world. Airflow within its passages indicates a vast area yet to be explored. Cave tours provide opportunities for viewing this pristine cave system and its wide variety of speleothems including stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, frostwork, flowstone, boxwork and hydromagnesite balloons. The cave is an important hibernaculum for several species of bats. Jewel Cave National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation on February 7, 1908    CONTACTS Email - JECA_Interpretation@nps.gov Fax- 605-673-3294 Write to RR 1, Box 60 AA Custer, SD 57730 Phone Headquarters - 605-673-2288 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons Daily, summer: 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; winter: hours for visitation may vary, but generally the Visitor Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1. Getting There PLANE - The nearest major airport is 54 miles away in Rapid City, South Dakota. CAR - The main Visitor Center and cave entrance is thirteen miles west of Custer, South Dakota on RT 16, 24 miles east of Newcastle, Wyoming on RT 16 and 54 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota via RT 16 & 16 -385. Weather & Climate Surface Weather-Summer days are usually warm or hot, often with late afternoon thundershowers. Spring and Fall weather is the most variable. Cool damp days alternate with warm dry ones. Winters are cold. Be prepared for changes in weather. Cave 'Weather'- Temperature: 49 degrees F (9 C), with approximately 98% humidity year round. Accessibility The Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible. Accessible restrooms are also available. The Target Room in Jewel Cave is accessible. FEES/PERMITS Activity Fee LANTERN TOUR $8.00 for One Time The Lantern Tour is an 1930's style adventure. Visitors, carrying candle-lanterns provided by the Monument, enter and leave the cave through the historic entrance and view the cave from an unpaved trail. This tour is considered strenuous. The tour route is approximately 1/2 mile long, includes steep, narrow wooden steps, and requires bending and stooping. The tour lasts about 1-3/4 hours. Participants must be at least 6 years old. Fees are $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children ages 6-16. This tour is available starting June 2 through Labor Day. Tickets for this tour are sold at the Visitor Center and must be picked up at least 30 minutes in advance. SCENIC TOUR $8.00 for One Time The Scenic Tour provides an opportunity to visit chambers decorated with calcite and other speleothems, while walking along a paved, lighted trail. The tour enters and leaves the cave by elevator from the Visitor Center. This tour is moderately strenuous. The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Fees are $8.00 for adults, and $4.00 for children ages 6-16. There is no fee for children under 6 years of age. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Center also. SPELUNKING TOUR $27.00 for One Time This is the tour for those visitors who prefer to experience the cave in its natural state. Participants scramble over cave 'breakdown,' chimney between cave walls, climb semi-vertical rocks (rope-assisted climbs), and belly crawl through tight passages. The cavers visit 2/3 mile of cave, and learn about low-impact caving, caving techniques, safety, and caving equipment. This tour lasts 3-4 hours and is considered extremely strenuous. Participants must be at least 16 years old. Participants must provide over the ankle, lug-soled, lace-up boots, elbow and knee pads, gloves and long pants. Clothes and boots may be permanently stained with manganese. The fee for this tour is $27.00. Reservations are required. This tour is available early June through mid-August. Contact the Monument for additional information about this tour. The phone number is 1-605-673-2288. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 1-800-967-2283 or by accessing the website at http://reservations.nps.gov. FACILITIES Ranger Stations HISTORIC RANGER STATION Phone - 1-605-673-2288 Location - The Historic area is located .9 of a mile west of the main visitor center on highway 16. Exhibits - The Historic area is the location for our '1930's era' activities. Rangers are on duty at the historic log cabin and provide the Candlelight Tours. Visitor Centers JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT Open All Year 8:00am to 4:30pm Phone - 1-605-673-2288 Location - Jewel Cave National Monument is located 13 miles west of Custer,SD on highway 16 or 24 miles east of Newcastle,WY on highway 16. Closures - The Monument is closed on Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1. Special Programs - Ranger-led surface talks are available throughout the day at posted times on a variety of topics. Exhibits - Interactive computers, Interpretive exhibits, and the Jewel Cave Map are available to introduce you to the resources of the Monument. Surface programs are also offered during the summer months. User input for Jewel Cave National Monument, Black Hills, South Dakota: Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Review Guidelines   Current weather conditions at Jewel Cave National Monument, Black Hills, South Dakota Local climate location: CUSTER 22 miles away Find a Business in or near Jewel Cave National Monument Business TypeOR Business Name   Coordinates: Latitude: 43.77 Longitude: -103.6 Black Hills Outdoors Info Complete outdoors info for the Black Hills. South Dakota Public Lands Complete list of all Public Lands in South Dakota Outdoors Recreation Near Spearfish, South Dakota Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Spearfish, South Dakota, the metro area neareast to Jewel Cave National Monument. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more. 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South Dakota Outdoors Index Campgrounds Near or in Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Paddling Rivers Near or in Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Other National Parks Near Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Trails Near or in Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Hotels Near or in Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Lakes Near or in Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Beaches Near or in Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Golf Courses Near or in Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Ski Areas Near or in Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota     Custer Days Inn, Custer .1 miles away State Game Lodge, Custer .2 miles away Econo Lodge Custer, Custer .3 miles away Chief Motel, Custer .5 miles away Rock Crest Lodge and Cabins, Custer .6 miles away Custer Super 8 Motel, Custer .8 miles away Comfort Inn & Suites, Custer .9 miles away Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites CUSTER, Custer 1.2 miles away Legion Lake Lodge, Custer 1.4 miles away Best Western Buffalo Ridge Inn, Custer 1.6 miles away * Distances listed are direct linear distances, actual travel distance may be different.