Jewel Cave National Monument, Black Hills, South Dakota   This site is so good, just look at all the amusing stuff to do close to Jewel Cave National Monument. If you need a spot to stay Econo Lodge Custer is a perfect choice, and Jewel Cave National Monument is splendid enough to spend more than a day at, The Roost Resort is a splendid local campground. Fun pursuits are abundant; there's always something for everyone. It's a popular place to get away to for folks travelling from Custer. The Sylvan Lake Harney Trail offers hiking at its best, and a lake nearby is Stockdale Lake. A good spot to camp here at     Jewel Cave National Monument is Custer Crazy Horse Campground, and do take a look at Sylvan Lake, it's a pretty lake. The fine people of Custer like to hang out close by, and Jewel Cave National Monument is not the only place nearby, Bismark Lake is a nearby lake. If you get bored of Jewel Cave National Monument, you could also stop by nearby Stockade Lake, and hiking is a popular thing to do around Jewel Cave National Monument; Cathedral Spires Trail is a fine local trail. These mountains rock, just look at all the amusing stuff to do in the Black Hills. Americas Best Value Inn Cowboy Inn is a splendid place to get some rest, and camping is available at Horsethief Lake Campground - Black Hills National Forest. There's just no way anybody can get bored here at Jewel Cave National Monument. A fine close by hotel is Days       Jewel Cave National Monument is Custer Crazy Horse Campground, and do take a look at Sylvan Lake, it's a pretty lake. The fine people of Custer like to hang out close by, and Jewel Cave National Monument is not the only place nearby, Bismark Lake is a nearby lake. If you get you find a heap of outdoors recreation that you can take advantage of. Go for a hike on the Sunday Gulch Trail, and Buckhorn Mountain is clearly visible from Jewel Cave National Monument. You truly must have a thing about the Black Hills. After a long day outdoors Chief Motel is a wonderful place to spend a night or two, and Lake of the Pines is a nearby lake that you could explore. Jewel Cave National Monument is a great wilderness area that is popular with folks from far and near. Good hiking is available along the Paha Sapa Trail. You'll need   more than a day to look at everything Jewel Cave National Monument has to offer, you can camp at Custer Mountain Cabins. Man, is there loads of entertaining things to do in the Black Hills. If you're here at Jewel Cave National Monument and you like golf, you can pop by Rocky Knolls Golf Course; after a long day outdoors State Game Lodge is a great place to spend a night or two. Summer brings highs in the 80's to Jewel Cave National Monument, and during the night it cools down to the 50's. During the wintertime highs are regularly in the 30's while Jewel Cave National Monument night low temperatures throughout the wintertime are in the 0's. Any time is a pleasant time at Jewel Cave National Monument if you go for the outdoors. There's some flowing water close by, Sidney Creek is a stream you can visit while here, and don't leave Jewel Cave National Monument without first going for a hike along the Lost Cabin Trail. Jewel Cave National Monument has beautiful nature scenery for you to love. Jewel Cave National Monument is usually a quite dehydrated spot; June is the wettest month with most rain; January meanwhile is the driest month. 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. Books about about Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Books available from Amazon.com about Jewel Cave National Monument. 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     Days Inn Custer, Custer .1 miles away State Game Lodge, Custer .2 miles away Econo Lodge Custer, Custer .3 miles away Americas Best Value Inn Cowboy Inn, Custer .4 miles away Chief Motel, Custer .5 miles away Rock Crest Lodge and Cabins, Custer .6 miles away Super 8 Custer/Crazy Horse Area, Custer .8 miles away Comfort Inn & Suites, Custer 1 miles away Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites CUSTER, Custer 1.2 miles away Legion Lake Lodge, Custer 1.4 miles away * Distances listed are direct linear distances, actual travel distance may be different.