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.
Alerts
- InformationNPS ↗Cave Tour Reservations
Advance cave tour reservations up until October 31st are available. November reservations will become available on October 1st. Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations full? Choose a day to come to the park early in the day to purchase a same day cave tour ticket.
- InformationAppropriate Footwear Required for Cave Tours
Visitors are required to wear completely enclosed shoes if participating in a cave tour, like tennis shoes, sneakers or hiking boots. Any type of sandals or shoes with any openings are NOT acceptable.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
There is no fee to explore the Visitor Center or hike the trails. The only fees are associated with the cave tours.
Hours
| Jewel Cave National Monument | Varies by day ▾
|
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 26, 2026Holiday Closures - Thanksgiving Day | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Holiday Closures - Christmas Day | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027Holiday Closures - New Year's Day | Closed |
| May 24 to Sep 8, 2027Summer Hours | 8:00AM - 5:30PM |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Jewel Cave National Monument - Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
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 for school field trips and special events, with large windows facing to the south toward Lithograph Canyon.
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
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 season. With four different tour options, there is something for all skill levels and interests.
Opens on the Park Service site - Jewel Cave Ranger Programs
A variety of talks, demonstrations and guided nature hikes are offered on the surface. Program topics include cave exploration, wildlife, fire ecology, Jasper Fire, wildflowers and plants of the area, and other subjects.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hiking Trails
There are many opportunities for exploring on the surface at Jewel Cave National Monument. The 1,279 acre park is located in a Ponderosa pine forest, easily seen along the short Roof Trail.
Opens on the Park Service site - Wildflower Viewing
There are 393 documented plant species at Jewel Cave National Monument. Wildflowers are commonly seen in bloom near the Visitor Center, at the Historic Area, and along all surface trails.
Opens on the Park Service site - Historic Area
The Historic Area has a picnic area, the Historic Cabin built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Historic Entrance to Jewel Cave.
Opens on the Park Service site - Wildlife Viewing
Jewel Cave National Monument sits in a zone between Eastern and Western wildlife species. Due to this, there is a huge variety of wildlife to be seen at Jewel Cave.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
News
- Jewel Cave National Monument Hosts Naturalization Ceremony Welcoming 12 New U.S. Citizens ↗2026-09-16
On Sept. 11, 2026, Jewel Cave National Monument hosted a naturalization ceremony for 12 new citizens in partnership with the United States District Court, District of South Dakota and the Denver Field Office of the…
- Jewel Cave Announces Operations for 2026 Winter Season ↗2026-09-01
Jewel Cave National Monument is changing its operations for the winter season. Starting Tuesday, September 8, the monument will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Bat tests positive for rabies at Jewel Cave National Monument ↗2026-08-14
A bat at Jewel Cave National Monument has tested positive for rabies. Trained park personnel collected the live bat along the Historic Lantern Tour route on July 29. No human contact with this bat has been reported.
- Jewel Cave Announces Operations for Summer Season ↗2026-05-08
Jewel Cave National Monument is changing its operations to prepare for visitors this summer season. The monument will be open every day starting Sunday, May 24, with extended hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
On the National Register nearby
- Ranger StationBuilding · Custer · 0.6 mi
- Maria Bauer Homestead RanchHistoric district · Custer · 2.9 mi
- Irene and Walter Mann RanchHistoric district · Custer · 7.6 mi
- William Stearns RanchHistoric district · Custer · 7.6 mi
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Forest Service trails nearby
These trails are outside the park on National Forest land, within 15 miles of Jewel Cave. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured from the park's reference point to the nearer end of the trail.
Guidebooks for South Dakota's national parks and South Dakota
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Local history books for Jewel Cave National Monument
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Full checklist: 85 birds, 29 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsBald Eagle · Cooper's Hawk · Golden Eagle · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Sharp-shinned Hawk · great-horned owl · red-tailed hawk · turkey vulture
Waterfowl & wadersblue-winged teal · great blue heron
Shorebirds & seabirdsFranklin's gull · Spotted Sandpiper · Wilson's phalarope · greater yellowlegs · killdeer · semi-palmated plover · solitary sandpiper
Gamebirds & dovesWild Turkey · mourning dove
WoodpeckersBlack-backed Woodpecker · Lewis' woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-headed Woodpecker · downy woodpecker · hairy woodpecker
Hummingbirds & swiftswhite-throated swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Cliff Swallow · American Robin · American crow · American goldfinch · American kestral · American redstart · Audubon's warbler · Black-capped Chickadee · Brewer's Blackbird · Canada Jay · Canyon Wren · Cassin's finch · Cedar Waxwing · Clark's nutcracker · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Bluebird · Field Sparrow · Indigo Bunting · Lazuli Bunting · Lincoln's sparrow · MacGillivery's warbler · Northern Goshawk · Ovenbird · Plumbeous Vireo · Rock Wren · Swainson's thrush · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Wood Pewee · Yellow-breasted Chat · black-headed grosbeak · blue jay · brown creeper · brown-headed cowbird · chipping sparrow · clay-colored sparrow · common nighthawk · common poorwill · dusky flycatcher · gadwall · house wren · lark sparrow · mallard · mountain bluebird · northern rough-winged swallow · pine siskins · red crossbill · red-breasted nuthatch · red-winged blackbird · ruby-crowned kinglet · spotted towhee · tennessee warbler · townsend's solitaire · vesper sparrow · violet-green swallow · warbling vireo · western tanager · white-breasted nuthatch
Small mammalsEastern Cottontail · Prairie Vole · White-footed Deermouse · Yellow-bellied Marmot · bushy-tailed woodrat · deer mouse · least chipmunk · long-tailed vole · meadow vole · northern pocket gopher · red squirrel · red-backed vole
PredatorsLong-tailed Weasel · bobcat · coyote
Hoofed mammalsMule Deer · White-tailed Deer · elk
BatsEastern red bat · Northern Bat · Small-footed Myotis · Townsend's big-eared bat · big brown bat · fringed myotis · hoary bat · little brown bat · long-legged myotis · silver-haired bat
Also on the checklistCatamount
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
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 to average highs in the location of Custer, South Dakota. Spring ~ Temp. Range of 29°F to 53°F / Summer ~ Temp. Range of 54°F to 80°F / Fall ~ Temp. Range of 33°F to 58°F / Winter ~ Temp. Range of 14°F to 37°F The yearly average rain is 19 in., with May being the wettest month. The yearly average snow is 48 in.
Questions people ask
Does Jewel Cave charge an entrance fee?
No. Jewel Cave is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Jewel Cave?
Standard hours are 8:30AM - 4:30PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is closed on Sunday and Monday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Jewel Cave right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Cave Tour Reservations; Appropriate Footwear Required for Cave Tours.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Jewel Cave?
110,553 recreation visits in 2025, number 210 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Jewel Cave?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE. No reported coverage for Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Jewel Cave?
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 to average highs in the location of Custer, South Dakota.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
