20 Unique Things to do in Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park is the first National Park in the world to protect a cave. Designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, it’s one of America’s oldest National Parks. Experience a small portion of the 154.2 miles underground passageways and the 10,522 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest. There are many unique things to do in Wind Cave National Park. 

Let’s take a look at the 20 different experiences Wind Cave National Park has to offer. We’ll start with cave tours, dip into hikes, and then cover everything else the park has to offer.  Read until the end for an epic one day itinerary!

Wind Cave National Park’s 6 Cave Tours

You can’t visit Wind Cave National Park without touring the first cave to be named a National Park. There are a variety of cave tours available to explorers of all abilities!

Be sure to plan accordingly so you can book the experience that best suits your needs. Tours are available on a first come, first-served basis.  

Here is some import information you need to know before booking your cave tour:

• Cave Tours Are Suspended May 2024 through Fall 2024 for construction
• Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour
• The cave is a constant 54°F (12°C), dress warm!
• Handheld flash photography is allowed in cave
• No Walking sticks, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks.
• Food and drinks, including: candy, gum, water, etc. not permitted
• No Bags of any kind, including: backpacks, purses, fanny packs, etc.
• Baby back carriers are not permitted: Children may be carried in arms or in a front carrier.
• Use the restroom prior to your tour, there are none in the cave

1. Garden of Eden Tour

This tour enters and leaves the cave by elevator. You’ll traverse 150 steps over .3 easy-paced miles as you explore frostwork, popcorn, and boxwork. 

This is the easiest tour available making it perfect for families with small children and less mobile seniors. If you have more time and stamina, we recommend choosing a different tour. 

Book your tour here! Additional tickets are available for same day purchase at the visitor center.

2. Natural Entrance Tour

The Natural Entrance Tour is one of the most sought out experiences in the park. It’s one of the most unique things to do in Wind Cave National Park because you enter the cave through a walk-in entrance as opposed to an elevator ride. 

Experience an abundance of boxwork formations on this .6-mile tour. After traversing 300 steps, visitors will exit the cave via elevator.

Snag a Natural Entrance tour ticket here! Additional tickets are available for same day purchase at the visitor center.

3. Fairgrounds Tour

Explore the upper and middle levels of the cave with the Fairgrounds Tour. As one of the longers tours available to the general public, it’s a great opportunity to see a lot of the cave.

This is considered a more strenuous tour containing 450 steps with one flight boasting 89 steps in a row. We loved the Fairgrounds Tour and felt it really allowed us to experience the cave and get a true feel for its depth.

Purchase your ticket ahead of time here! Additional tickets are available for same day purchase at the visitor center.

4. Accessibility Tour

Limited areas of the cave are accessible to individuals who utilize wheelchairs and/or have limited mobility. Guests will ride the elevator into and out of the cave. 

This tour allows visitors to learn about the cave and experience its signature feature, box work! Sign language interpreters are also available for this tour with two weeks notice.  

Accessibility Tours are scheduled the day of or up to one day in advance. Call the visitor center at 605-745-4600 for availability.

5. Candlelight Tour

Experience the cave as the first explorers did centuries ago. This is one of the most unique things to do in Wind Cave National Park and many park visitors don’t get a chance to do it.

Carry a candle bucket to a part of the cave void of lights and learn about the unique formations of the Blue Grotto route. This tour is limited to 10 people and includes many steps, narrow passages, and slick footing.  

Reservations for the Candlelight Tour are taken by phone no more than one month in advance (605-745-4600). Tours are limited to ten people you and all youth groups must have an adult sponsor responsible for the group’s conduct accompanying them.

6. Wild Cave Tour

The Wild Cave tour is the most unique way to experience Wind Cave National Park. You’re truly going caving, which includes continual bending, crawling, climbing, and exposure to drop-offs. 

This tour is open to anyone 16 years and older who is willing to dirty clothing and get a sweat on. All participants must be able to fit through a 10 inch tall and three foot wide opening; helmets, lights, and passing are provided by the park service. 

Wild Cave Tours provide an introduction to safe caving before exploring an undeveloped part of the cave.

6 Best Hikes in Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park is known for having one of the longest caves in the world. The 28,295 acres of prairie and pine forest are easily forgotten, but they’re home to a number of respectable hiking trails. 

1. Elk Mountain Nature Loop

Parking for this trailhead can be found in the Elk Mountain Campground area of the park.

The grassy prairie and forest come together to form a nice little loop around the Elk Mountain Campground. There are plenty of beautiful little wild flowers throughout the hike to enjoy!

It’s certainly not an incredibly exciting trail, but it’s perfect to stretch your legs or to take the whole family for a scenic stroll. 

2. Rankin’ Ridge

Just off of Route 87 is a short, paved road to the parking area of Rankin’ Ridge.

An easy, clockwise loop that begins with meandering through the ponderosas will bring you to the highest point in the park. Although the Historic Fire tower is closed, you can see the Badlands and Buffalo Gap on a clear day from its base!

It’s a simple hike with expansive views. Its gentle grade makes it a hike with elevated views that is absolutely adequate for families. 

3. Wind Cave Canyon

The Trailhead is located just off route 385, after the intersection for the Visitor Center.

Wind Cave Canyon trail follows an old road through limestone cliffs. The hike itself is fairly simple but the cliffs provide nesting areas for cliff swallows, canyon wrens, and great horned owls. Be on the lookout for Red-headed and Lewis’s woodpeckers among the snap trees of forested hillsides. 

This mild hike is good for families waiting for their cave tour as it shows visitors what the landscape looks like outside of the cave. 

4. Lookout Point

The parking area for Lookout Point is located off of route 87. We recommend hiking this trail counter clockwise, hiking the Lookout Point Trail and reaching Lookout Point first.

Lookout Point is one of the most popular trails in Wind Cave National Park. Most hikers combine it with the Centennial Trail to create a loop but your could hike it as an out and back.

A fairly easy prairie walk with a few rocky up and downs lead to stunning views and a prairie dog town. You’ll want to stay vigilant on this trail. You’ll see bison from afar but you might just stumble upon prairie rattlesnakes. 

5. Boland Ridge 

The trail begins one mile north of the junction at NP5, at a small parking area on NPS 6.

A trail for those serious about hiking, a series of climbs offer panoramic views of the Black Hills, Red Valley, and the plains beyond. If you’re looking for panoramic views of the prairie, the Boland Ridge Trail is for you!

It is also highly likely that you’ll encounter Elk, Bison and other wildlife along the trail. Always keep your distance from wildlife as they are unpredictable!  

6. Centennial Trail

The full Centennial Trail trail starts at Bear Butte State Park and ends at Wind Cave National Park. The portion of the trail that lies within the park begins at the parking lot on 87 and is 6 mile one way hike to NP5. 

Centennial Trail crosses through prairies, ponderosa forests, and winds along Beaver Creek. Be on the lookout for wildlife including Bison, Elk, Prairie Dogs, and rattle snakes.

If backcountry camping is your thing, this is a great trail to do it on. Free backcountry permits are available for overnights in the northern areas of the park. 

Things to Do in Wind Cave National Park

If you take cave tours and hiking out of the picture, there’s still a handful of epic ways to experience Wind Cave National Park.

Elk Mountain Campground

Spend the night in Wind Cave National Park. Elk Mountain Campground sits among ponderosa pines at the edge of an open prairie. 

There are 62 open and forested sites available all year round! Drinking water and flush toilets are available through the summer months.

The campground amphitheater offers two different programs, an evening program the focuses on Wind Cave’s cultural and natural history and another that is an Elk Bugling program. 

Hangout with Prairie Dogs

All 5 ecosystems of Wind Cave National Park are home to Prairie Dogs. Prairie Dogs are adorable, social animals who are a joy to watch. 

Dog Town can be found out a ways on the Lookout Point Trail. It does require some hiking, however, you’ll see prairie dogs in their most natural form.

There are a few spots in Wind Cave National Park where you’re guaranteed to see Prairie Dogs. The Boland Ridge Trail and along Highway 385 have multiple Prairie Dog towns where you will see active Prairie Dogs and other wildlife. Venture onto NP5 and 6 for

Bison Viewing

Wind Cave National Park is home to between 250-400 Bison. It is one of two genetically pure bison herds that have not been blended with cattle. 

You can find Bison throughout the park, Highway 385 is prone to Bison jams making it a great place to see these large, charismatic mammals. Remember to give all wildlife, but especially bison, adequate space. 

The wildlife viewing at Wind Caves is great! National Park Route 5 and 6 are both great places to see wild animals. In these more remote areas of the park, you’re bound to see pronghorn antelope and mule deer in grassy areas.

Check Out the Cave Entrance

You have to check out the natural, and original, entrance into Wind Cave. It’s a 10-inch hole with constant air flow. The air flow is due to the barometric pressure between the cave and outside air.

For being such a large cave system, Wind Cave has very few natural entrances. This one can be accessed via the visitor center and/or the picnic area about 1/4 mile down the road. A short walk on pavement/gravel will lead you to the Natural Entrance.  

This is a deeply spiritual place for many different native people as it is considered the birthplace of the Lakota Nation. At least 20 different native nations have ties to this place and many tribes still utilize the park for traditional ceremonies. 

Cruise NPS 5

Also known as Highland Ridge Road, NPS 5 is a gravel road that travels through the East side of the park. Travel this road by bike or in your vehicle to experience Wind Cave’s beauty.

This road brings you into the less-developed parts of the park. Travel slowly as you’re more likely too experience wildlife along this route. We recommend fueling up and having a map available before you cruise NPS 5 as there is no cell service in this remote area of the park. 

NPS 5 is well-maintained and suitable for standard passenger vehicles. Road conditions may vary after heavy rain and storms. NPS 5 & NPS 6 are not maintained during the winter months.

Drive Wind Cave Geology Tour

Learn about the geology of Wind Cave National Park with a driving tour. One of the most unique things to do in Wind Cave National Park is to examine the rock record!

Check out each of the Geology stops and their GPS coordinates below:

• Stop #1: Pahasapa Limestone
  GPS: 43.557917, -103.479130
• Stop #2: Minnekahta Limestone
  GPS: 43.521279, -103.476528
• Stop #3: Minnelusa Formation
  GPS: 43.554526, -103.459070
• Stop #4: Deadwood Sandstone
  GPS: 43.579946, -103.485369
• Stop #5: Pegmatites
  GPS: 43.592578, -103.487203
• Stop #6: Schists
  GPS: 43.601468, -103.493623
• Stop #7: Spearfish Formation / Inyan Kara Group
  GPS: 43.612048, -103.401745

The 20-mile-long driving tour is presented to visitors in the order that is most convenient for driving. The tour begins at the natural entrance located at the visitor center. From here you’ll travel throughout the park learning about its geology.

Spend Time in the Visitor Center

It’s important that you visit the Park Visitor Center in Wind Cave National Park. It’s important to note that this is the place where visitors purchase cave tours so it can be very busy.

Aside from tour sales, the Visitor Center includes exhibits that display everything about the park. Learn everything from how the Plains Indians used the bison to how the park manages the prairie.

There is also a cave exhibit that explains its development, formations, and colorful history. Tie all the lose ends together with a movie, Wind Cave, Two Worlds, shown in the auditorium. 

Stargazing

Wind Cave National Park has a Class 1 sky. This means its lack of light and air pollution makes it an excellent dark sky site. The National Park is in the process of becoming an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA).

During the summer months, rangers offer free dark sky programs. These programs offer visitors a unique opportunity to learn about light pollution, Lakota Star Knowledge, Full Moon Hikes, and view the night sky at Wind Cave with a telescope. A lot of these hikes take place on the Elk Mountain Trail.

You don’t need to join one of these programs to enjoy the night sky. Sit back and peer into the endless unknown as owls soar overhead and coyotes howl in unison in the distance. No matter where you choose to view the night sky from, it’s a unique way to experience the park and we highly recommend it.  

Wind Cave National Park FAQ

Wind Cave National Park is a unique beauty nestled into the amazing Black Hills of South Dakota. Before you visit, make sure you have the inside scoop.

1. What is the Best Wind Cave Tour?

The more adventurous visitors should try to book a Candlelight ranger-led tour to explore and learn about the cave. If you’re really extreme, look into a Wild Caving Tour for truly unique experience.

2. What is the Best Wind Cave Tour for Families?

Less mobile groups should look into the Garden of Eden or Natural Entrance tour. They are the shortest tours and require the least amount of steps. 

3. How Big is Wind Cave?

Wind Cave is the third longest Cave in the United States and seventh longest cave system in the world. It holds 154.2 miles of explored passageways and is known as one of the longest and most complex cave systems in the world.

4. What Makes Wind Cave So Unique?

Wind Cave is known for its outstanding display of boxwork. This unusual cave formation is made from thin strips of calcite that protrude from the cave walls creating a honeycomb pattern. Wind Cave has the highest concentration of this rare rock formation.

5. How Much Does it Cost to go to Wind Cave National Park?

Entrance to Wind Cave National Park is free. A cave tour, however, is going to cost you between $14 and $16. There is one, more extreme cave tour that costs $45. 

6. What Towns are closest to Wind Cave National Park?

There are a few towns you can stay in that are near Wind Cave National Park

• Custer is a 20 minute drive from Wind Cave
• Hot Springs is an 11 minute drive from Wind Cave
• Pringle is an 8 minutes drive from Wind Cave
• Rapid City is a 55 minutes drive from Wind Cave

7. How Many Days Do I Need At Wind Cave National Park?

There are so many unique things to do in Wind Cave National Park, however, one full day should be enough for you to see both areas of the park. Explore both the cave and the prairie in one carefully planned day. 

8. When is the Best Time to Visit Wind Cave?

If you’re looking for clear skies, June through October is the best time to visit Wind Cave National Park. As for the cave, it remains the same temperature all year-round so time of year doesn’t matter much.

9. What Do I Wear to Hike in Wind Cave National Park?

We recommend hiking in boots, long pants, and some type of sun protection for your upper body. Although hiking on the prairie can be hot, many of the trails experience overgrown grasses and poison ivy as well as prairie rattle snakes.

10. How Do I Spend One Day in Wind Cave National Park?

Start your day in Wind Cave early with a sunrise hike, followed by a trip to the visitor center for a cave tour. End the day with another hike or a scenic drive down NPS 5 before stargazing from Elk Mountain Campground. 

• Sunrise hike Rankin’ Ridge
• Head to the Visitor Center to schedule your cave tour and learn about the cave
• Go on your cave tour!
• Take a scenic drive down NPS 5 or take a longer hike, like Lookout Point
• Spend the night at Elk Mountain Campground
• Don’t forget to stargaze! Take the Elk Mountain Trail to reach a high point.

South Dakota Road Trip Spots

Southwestern South Dakota has a variety of amazing locations you need to add to your adventure bucket list. Here’s a list of the 3 best places to visit South Dakota:

• Custer State Park
• Jewel Cave National Monument
• Mount Rushmore

Use our South Dakota road trip itinerary post to plan the best vacation! Our blog post includes a 7-day and a long weekend itinerary!