Jewel Cave National Monument - National Park Directory

The target room inside Jewel Cave.

A cave explorer sits on some rocks and looks at a clear blue lake in Jewel Cave.

Volunteer cave explorers discovered Hourglass Lake in October 2015, the first sizable body of water found within Jewel Cave.

A park ranger is standing on a metal platform within a long passageway with a vaulted ceiling.

The Inner Sanctum is one of the longest and largest passageways along the Scenic Tour route, located near the Torture Room.

A caver squeezes through a very small and tight opening, surrounded by multi-colored rocks.

The Brain Drain is approximately eight inches high by 24 inches wide and is the tightest passage on the Wild Caving Tour.

A park ranger stands as a silhouette in a large room in Jewel Cave.

The Heavenly Room is a large room along the Historic Lantern Tour within the historic entrance of Jewel Cave.

White-colored crystals with blunt tips sparkle against a black background.

Calcite crystals, such as nailhead spar, cover most of the walls, ceilings, and floors within Jewel Cave.

A bighorn sheep ram stands in the highway, with a camper stopped in the other lane.

Rocky mountain bighorn sheep are commonly seen within the monument, usually along Highway 16.

A small red squirrel stands on a dead pine branch.

Red squirrels are commonly observed along the Roof Trail near the visitor center.

Fog filters through a stand of pine trees, with red and yellow foliage on the forest floor.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year to visit the monument. The colors of fall are often the best during mid to late September.

Photos: National Park Service

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.

Quick Facts

State South Dakota

Designation National Monument

State Code SD

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…

Location & Map

Jewel Cave National Monument is located in South Dakota.

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Operating Hours

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.

Wednesday 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Monday 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Thursday 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Sunday Closed

Tuesday 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Friday 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Saturday 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Activities

Caving Guided Tours Hiking Junior Ranger Program Snowshoeing Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Park Film Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

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.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 11149 U.S. Hwy. 16, Custer, SD, 57730

Phone 6056738300

Email jeca_information@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Explorers and Expeditions Animals Birds Cats (wild) Elk Caves, Caverns and Karst Fire Geology Trails

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…

Jewel Cave Ranger Programs

A variety of talks, demonstrations and guided nature hikes are offered on the surface. Program topics include cave exploration, wildlife,…

The Ranger Programs are fun for all ages! However, at least one Ranger Program is required for Junior Rangers to…

Hiking Trails

There are many opportunities for exploring on the surface at Jewel Cave National Monument. The 1,279 acre park is located…

There are two self-guided trails at Jewel Cave National Monument, and one U.S. Forest Service trail, which begins approximately 1…

Wildflower Viewing

There are 393 documented plant species at Jewel Cave National Monument. Wildflowers are commonly seen in bloom near the Visitor…

Historic Area

The Historic Area has a picnic area, the Historic Cabin built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and…

Visitors can hike to the Historic Entrance or the Historic Cabin. If hiking is not for you, enjoy the quiet…

Wildlife Viewing

Jewel Cave National Monument sits in a zone between Eastern and Western wildlife species. Due to this, there is a…

Visitor Centers

Jewel Cave National Monument - Visitor Center

The visitor center offers two rooms of interactive exhibits and engaging displays, featuring the surface and sub-surface resources. A large classroom area is also available…

Hours: The visitor center hours vary based on the season. Due to reduced staff, limited hours of operation are available in the off-season. Please call the Visitor Center at (605) 673-8300 with any questions.

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