Jewel Cave National Monument

Target Room

The target room inside Jewel Cave.

Campsite C 70

Campsite C-70

Immerse yourself within the third longest cave in the world. With over 210 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 lure explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

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

Red Squirrel

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

Fall Season Foliage in Fog

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

Winter in the Pines

Although a "slower" time of year, the winter season offers some of the best scenery of the ponderosa pine forest.

Canyons Trail Descending toward the Historic Entrance

A portion of the Canyons Trail passes the historic entrance of Jewel Cave, with breathtaking views of nearby Hell Canyon.

Theodore Roosevelt Addresses an Audience

The monument hosts special events each summer, such as living history presentations of President Theodore Roosevelt.

The Ranger Cabin at Jewel Cave

The original park ranger cabin, built during the 1930s, is available for public access during the summer and early fall seasons.

Visitor Center Exhibit Area

The visitor center provides several engaging exhibits and displays about the resources within the monument.

Bats at Jewel Cave

Nine species of bats live within Jewel Cave National Monument. At times, visitors may see bats outside the historic entrance.

Pasque Flowers in Bloom

Jewel Cave is home to several species of wildflowers, such as the South Dakota State Flower - the pasque flower.

Hourglass Lake

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

Inner Sanctum

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

The Brain Drain

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

The Heavenly Room

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

Nailhead Spar

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

Campsite C-70

RecAreaDirections

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.

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Facilities

Jewel Cave National Monument - Visitor Center 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 for school field trips and special events, with large windows facing to the south toward Lithograph Canyon. A park store connects the classroom to the exhibits and is operated by the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association. Ask to view our award winning film about the park. Restrooms are available at the visitor center too.

Jewel Cave National Monument Tours Ticket Facility

Discover One of the Last Frontiers in the World Immerse yourself within the third longest cave in the world. With over 208 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 lure explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service. You must join a ranger-guided tour to enter Jewel Cave. Advance reservations are recommended. The surface areas do not require a reservation and consist of a ponderosa pine forest, interspersed with open meadows and fire-scarred landscapes. Lithograph and Hell Canyons offer rocky terrain, with cliffs, shelter caves, and spectacular views of the southern Black Hills. Two hiking trails are available, along with numerous picnic areas at the visitor center and Jewel Cave Historic Cabin Area. Surface recreation is available year-round, with snowshoes being available for loan during the off-season. Wildlife in the monument consist of elk, white-tail deer, mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, wild turkeys, birds of prey, and numerous species of songbirds. The diversity of flora is prevalent during the spring and early summer seasons. The visitor center provides engaging and interactive displays, and the park film shares the natural and cultural history of the monument. For kids, a Junior Ranger and Pee Wee Ranger Program are available.

Recreation Areas and Campground Database