jewel-cave | SD | Find park

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.

Snow covers the ground and flocks pine trees.

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

A paved path with steps heads down a hillside, with rock overhangs and pine trees nearby.

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

A look-alike Theodore Roosevelt speaks to visitors on the patio of the visitor center.

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

A small, dark-brown cabin sits on top of a hill with a walking path leading to its front porch.

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

A wall mural showing red-colored rock transitions into a room with a large cave map on the wall.

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

White to light purple flowers with yellow centers poke through pine needles.

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

A small brown bat rests on a red-orange colored rock.

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

Physical Address:

11149 U.S. Hwy. 16

Building B12

Custer, SD 57730

Mailing Address:

11149 U.S. Hwy. 16

Building B12

Custer, SD 57730

contact-details

Phone Number: 6056738300 Voice
Phone Number: 6056738397 Fax

Email Address: jeca_information@nps.gov
Description: This email address connects online guests with staff at the visitor center. Every effort is made to respond to common questions and requests for information within 48 hours. However, some questions or requests for assistance may require input from other staff. In these instances, requests will be forwarded to the appropriate individual for a direct response.

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

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.

park designation:National Monument

Directions:

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.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Jewel Cave National Monument

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.

Exceptions:

Summer Hours (May 25, 2025 - September 2, 2025)

Holiday Closures - Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2025 - November 27, 2025)

Holiday Closures - Christmas Day (December 25, 2025 - December 25, 2025)

Holiday Closures - New Year's Day (January 1, 2026 - January 1, 2026)

Weather Information:

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.