Wind Cave National Park - National Park Directory

Several hundred bison roam the rolling prairie of Wind Cave National Park.

rolling hills of forest and prairie landscape

Wind Cave National Park from Rankin Ridge, the park's highest point.

criss-cross-patterned calcite fins of the cave feature boxwork

Delicate fins of boxwork, a rare cave feature, in Elk's Room, Wind Cave.

a caver with pads and helmet crawling in the cave

Each summer, the Wild Cave Tour offers the chance to get up close and personal with Wind Cave.

two prairie dogs watch from their burrow

Prairie dog sightings are common throughout the park's prairies.

Photos: National Park Service

About Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world.

Quick Facts

State South Dakota

Designation National Park

State Code SD

Weather Spring: Highs range from 50-70°F with highly variable weather. Spring is the park's wettest season. Summer: Hot and generally dry with daytime temperatures regularly exceeding 80°F (27°C). Strong thunderstorms are…

Location & Map

Wind Cave National Park is located in South Dakota.

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Operating Hours

The park is open all day, every day. Snow or severe weather can limit access to some areas of the park, especially in winter. Visitor Center hours and cave tour schedules vary throughout the year. Visit the park website or call 605.745.4600 for current conditions.

Wednesday All Day

Monday All Day

Thursday All Day

Sunday All Day

Tuesday All Day

Friday All Day

Saturday All Day

Activities

Auto and ATV Scenic Driving Biking Road Biking Camping Backcountry Camping Car or Front Country Camping Group Camping RV Camping Caving Food Picnicking Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Auto Hiking Backcountry Hiking Front-Country Hiking Horse Trekking Junior Ranger Program Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Park Film Museum Exhibits Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

Getting There

Wind Cave National Park is located in South Dakota about 11 miles north of Hot Springs, or about 22 miles south of Custer, on US Highway 385. The park Visitor Center, where all cave tours begin, is approximately 1/2 mile west of the highway.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 26611 US Highway 385, Hot Springs, SD, 57747

Phone 6057454600

Email WICA_interpretation@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Farming and Agriculture Ranches Native American Heritage Transportation Bridges Westward Expansion Homesteading Animals Birds Bison Cats (wild) Elk Caves, Caverns and Karst Fire Forests and Woodlands Coniferous Forests Fossils and Paleontology Geology Groundwater Aquifers Grasslands Prairies Night Sky Astronomy Scenic Views Trails Unique Species Endangered

Things To Do

Wind Cave Geology Driving Tour

The geology driving tour is a great way to see the park while learning about the rich geologic history of…

Picnic at Wind Cave

Looking for a quiet place to enjoy a picnic? Whether you're looking for a good picnic spot or just a…

Watch Wind Cave Wildlife

View some of North America's most iconic wildlife while enjoying Black Hills scenery. Wind Cave's combination of prairie and forest…

Visit Wind Cave's Natural Entrance

You can still see the largest natural opening into Wind Cave without going on a tour. This small hole is…

Take a Cave Tour

Visit one of the world's longest and most complex caves.

To go into the cave, you must purchase a tour ticket. All access is by guided tour only and all…

See Prairie Dogs in Their Prairie Dog Towns

Information about the Prairie Dog of Wind Cave National Park.

Visitor Centers

Wind Cave Visitor Center

The visitor center is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days. All cave tours are ranger-led and leave from the visitor center.

Hours: The Visitor Center is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days. Regular hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM with extended hours in the spring, summer, and fall. Note: South Dakota has two time zones. All times listed are Mountain Time.

Campgrounds

Elk Mountain Campground

This 64-site campground is open year round. Sites can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. Two sites are handicap-accessible. Flush toilets and drinking water are available late…

64 Sites

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