to visit for more than one day, Rifle Pit Campground is a splendid location to camp nearby, and after a long day outdoors Best Western Sundowner Inn is a great location to spend a night or two. Wind Cave National Park is a common place to spend time for the residents of Hot
Springs. A visit to Wind Cave National Park is a great selection when you've gotta get out. The attractiveness of Wind Cave National Park is there for you to get pleasure from.
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.
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