Wind Cave National Park, Black Hills, South Dakota   Wind Cave National Park is a beautiful location where everyone has a glorious time. Fun pastimes are abundant; there's always something to please everyone. If you need a place to stay Best Western Sundowner Inn is a delightful choice, and why not explore close by Hot Brook since you're here at Wind Cave National Park. Camping is available at Elk Mountain Campgrounds, and Wind Cave National Park is right next door to Cold Brook Canyon which is definitely worth visiting. Wind Cave National Park is a popular destination for people coming from Hot Springs.     High temperatures at Wind Cave National Park through the warm months are in the 80's. Once the sun is down it drops down to the 50's. For the period of the winter highs are in the 30's with winter lows in the 0's overnight here at Wind Cave National Park. Not far from Wind Cave National Park, you'll locate Larive Lake which is a charming lake; Wind Cave National Park is delightful enough to spend more than a day at, Larive Lake Resort is a delightful local campground. If you came for an overnight stay Kemo Sabay Campground is a wonderful place to camp, and do visit Cottonwood Springs Lake, it's a charming lake. There are other places here than Wind Cave National Park, for example Cold Brook Lake. Americas Best Value Inn By The River/Mount Rushmore is a delightful place to get some rest, and you'll probably meet some       High temperatures at Wind Cave National Park through the warm months are in the 80's. Once the sun is down it drops down to the 50's. For the period of the winter highs are in the 30's with winter lows in the 0's overnight here at Wind Cave National Park. Not far from Wind and Campgrounds is always a pleasant experience. Man, is there a heap of cool things to do in the Black Hills. Dry warm beds await you at Budget Host Hills Hot Springs, and while you're here and you like golf, you can have a look at Southern Hills Golf Course. Wind Cave National Park is frequently a reasonably dry place; most of the rain falls through July, and January is the month with the least moisture. So much exciting stuff to do here in the Black Hills, too pleasant to be true. Cold Brook Dam is not far at all from Wind Cave National Park; a striking   lake like Angostura Reservoir is a nice place to go to. Don't stop me now, cause I'm havin' a delightful time here at Wind Cave National Park. The top of Battle Mountain is easily observed from Wind Cave National Park, and naturally Cold Brook is a stunning stream that is worth a visit. The majestic prettiness of Wind Cave National Park is there for you to love. At Wind Cave National Park you find loads of outdoors recreation, so you may enjoy yourself during your stay. Going to Wind Cave National Park is a perfect idea when you've got to get out of the house. A nice close by hotel is Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hot Springs; Rifle Pit Campground is a fine local campground. You completely ought to love the Black Hills. After a long day outdoors Super 8 Hot Springs is a wonderful spot to spend a night or two, and lakes are such peaceful locations, why not stop at Cold Brook Reservoir. One of the world's longest and most complex caves and 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and associated wildlife are the main features of the park. The cave is well known for its outstanding display of boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs. The park's mixed grass prairie is one of the few remaining and is home to native wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs.     CONTACTS Email - phyllis_cremonini@nps.gov Fax- 605-745-4207 Write to RR 1 Box 190 Hot Springs, SD 57747-9430 Phone Visitor Information - 605-745-4600 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons Park open year-round. Visitor center open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Visitor center hours: January 1 to April 7, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; April 8 to May 6, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; May 7 to June 3, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; June 4 to August 19, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; August 20 to September 23, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; September 24 to October 7, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; October 8 to Spring 2002, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Getting There PLANE - Nearest commerical airport is in Rapid City, SD. CAR - Visitors traveling on I-90: At Rapid City, SD, exit onto U.S. Route 79 south. Follow Route 79 south approximately 50 miles to U.S. Route 18. Turn right onto U.S. Route 385 North, which will take you through Hot Springs and into Wind Cave National Park. Follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park information. Visitors can also reach the park by following U.S. Route 16 west out of Rapid City onto U.S. Route 385 south. Visitors traveling from Nebraska can follow U.S. Route 385 north to the park. Please note that S.D. Route 87 south from Custer State Park into Wind Cave National Park is closed because of construction in Custer State Park. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - No public transportation serves the park. Weather & Climate Spring and fall weather are the most variable with cool, damp days alternating with dry, warm ones. Summers are generally sunny, hot, and dry. Winters are generally mild with little snow, but occasional sub-zero temperatures can be expected. Dress appropriately for the season. Persons touring the cave should wear low-heeled walking shoes with nonskid soles and a lightweight jacket or sweater. The cave is 53? Fahrenheit (12? Celsius). Accessibility The visitor center, including two exhibit rooms and restrooms, is accessible. Campground restrooms and one campsite are accessible. Limited areas of the cave are accessible to wheelchairs. Getting Around There are 30 miles of hiking trails in the park. U.S. Route 385, S.D. Route 87 and two backcountry roads make much of the park accessible to motor vehicles. Two trails, the Rankin Ridge Trail and the Elk Mountain Trail are self-guiding nature trails with trail booklets. FEES/PERMITS Activity Fee CANDLELIGHT CAVE TOUR $9.00 for One Time Experience the cave by candlelight. This tour takes place in a less developed, unlighted part of the cave. Each participant will carry a candle bucket. Shoes with non-slip soles are required. No sandals! This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 8. This strenuous tour covers one mile of rugged trail and lasts 2 hours. Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations may only be made by telephone, up to 30 days in advance of the tour - (605) 745-4600. FAIRGROUNDS CAVE TOUR $8.00 for One Time This tour includes some of the larger rooms found in the developed area of the cave. Visitors will see examples of many cave formations, including Wind Cave boxwork. The tour enters and exits the cave by elevator. This moderately strenuous tour has 450 stairs and last 1? hours. GARDEN OF EDEN CAVE TOUR $6.00 for One Time Representative features of Wind Cave are seen on this tour which enters and leaves the cave by elevator. This one hour tour is our least strenuous with 150 stairs. NATURAL ENTRANCE CAVE TOUR $8.00 for One Time Visitors walk through the middle level of the cave where boxwork is abundant. This tour begins at the walk-in entrance and exits by elevator. This moderately strenuous, 1? hour tour has 300 stairs (mostly down). WILD CAVE TOUR $20.00 for One Time Explore the cave away from the developed trails. On this 4-hour tour visitors will be introduced to basic, safe caving. Wear old clothes and gloves, as much of the trip will be crawling. Long pants, long sleeved shirts and sturdy, lace up boots or shoes with non-slip soles are required. The park provides hard hats, lights and kneepads. Please do no bring jewelry, watches and other valuables on the tour. This tour is limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 16. We require a signed consent form for those 17 and under. Reservations are required. Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations may only be made by telephone, up to 30 days in advance of the tour - (605) 745-4600. Permits BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING Free! All backcountry campers must have a backcountry use permit in their possession. These permits are free and can be obtained at the Wind Cave visitor center information desk or at the Centennial trailheads. Permits help park managers gather information needed to make wise resource management decisions. Because the mission of the park service is to preserve and protect the natural resources, a variety of needs must be considered. CAMPING $10.00 for Day Elk Mountain Campground offers campers a unique opportunity to view the plants and animals of the southern Black Hills. Campers, whether in a tent or a motor home, are responsible for maintaining the natural state of these habitats. After camping, leave a site you would like to visit again. CAMPING Elk Mountain Campground Elk Mountain Campground, with 75 campsites, is located one mile from the visitor center. The campground has flush toilets and running water during the summer months. There are no showers, dump stations, or electrical hookups. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. FACILITIES Visitor Centers WIND CAVE VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Phone - 605-745-4600 Location - Visitors traveling on I-90: At Rapid City, SD, exit onto U.S. Route 79 south. Follow Route 79 south approximately 50 miles to U.S. Route 18. Turn right onto U.S. Route 385 North, which will take you through Hot Springs and into Wind Cave National Park. Follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park information. Visitors can also reach the park by following U.S. Route 16 west out of Rapid City onto U.S. Route 385 south. Visitors traveling from Nebraska can follow U.S. Route 385 north to the park. Closures - Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day Special Programs - Park open year-round. Visitor center open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Visitor center hours: January 1 to April 7, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; April 8 to May 6, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; May 7 to June 3, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; June 4 to August 19, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; August 20 to September 23, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; September 24 to October 7, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; October 8 to Spring 2002, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Exhibits - The Visitor Center contains three exhibit rooms featuring cave exploration, cave formations, early cave history, the Civilian Conservation Corps, park wildlife, and resource management. User input for Wind Cave National Park, Black Hills, South Dakota: Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Review Guidelines   Current weather conditions at Wind Cave National Park, Black Hills, South Dakota Local climate location: CUSTER 8 miles away Find a Business in or near Wind Cave National Park Business TypeOR Business Name   Coordinates: Latitude: 43.43 Longitude: -103.48 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 Wind Cave National Park. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more. Books about about Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Books available from Amazon.com about Wind Cave National Park. South Dakota Outdoors Index Campgrounds Near or in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Paddling Rivers Near or in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Other National Parks Near Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Trails Near or in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Hotels Near or in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Lakes Near or in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Beaches Near or in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Golf Courses Near or in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Ski Areas Near or in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota     Americas Best Value Inn By The River/Mount Rushmore, Hot Springs .3 miles away Super 8 Hot Springs, Hot Springs .4 miles away Budget Host Hills Hot Springs, Hot Springs .7 miles away Best Western Sundowner Inn, Hot Springs .8 miles away Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hot Springs, Hot Springs .9 miles away State Game Lodge, Custer 18.8 miles away State Game Lodge VA, Custer 18.8 miles away Econo Lodge Custer, Custer 18.8 miles away Days Inn Custer, Custer 18.9 miles away Americas Best Value Inn Cowboy Inn, Custer 18.9 miles away * Distances listed are direct linear distances, actual travel distance may be different.