wind-cave | SD | Find park

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.

Physical Address:

26611 US Highway 385

Hot Springs, SD 57747

Mailing Address:

26611 US Highway 385

Hot Springs, SD 57747

contact-details

Phone Number: 6057454600 Voice
Phone Number: 6057454207 Fax

Email Address: WICA_interpretation@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

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.

park designation:National Park

Directions:

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.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Wind Cave National Park

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.

Weather Information:

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 common and can produce large hail and lightning. Fall: Generally dry with warm days and cool nights. Highs 50-60°F. Lows below freezing are common. Winter: Highs are in the high 30s with lows around 10°F. Snowfall averages 30 inches annually, periodically closing park roads.