EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPES. ENDURING STORIES.

Jewel Cave National Monument

A world beneath the Black Hills
South Dakota
Scenic header: The target room inside Jewel Cave. · NPS Staff Photo · Photo credits
TAKE TIME TO DISCOVER

A world beneath the Black Hills

Guided cave tours reveal sparkling mineral formations and the scale of an extraordinary underground system. Above ground, forest trails offer a different Black Hills experience.

The target room inside Jewel Cave.
The target room inside Jewel Cave.
NPS Staff Photo · Photo credits
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.
NPS Photo / Dan Austin · Photo credits
BUILD A MEMORABLE VISIT

What to explore

  • 01Guided cave tour
  • 02Visitor-center exhibits
  • 03Surface nature trails

Before you go

Reserve the appropriate tour and check its stairs, walking demands and current availability. The cave cannot be explored independently.

Give the place time

Choose a manageable walk, viewpoint or tour, and allow time for interpretation. Gateway areas help orient the visit; they are not exact entrance directions.

Make the details easy

Confirm the specific facilities, walking surfaces and vehicle access your group needs. Tours, transport and special access may require separate arrangements.

Official visitor information ↗Plan your visit →

Check the official source for current access, hours, fees, reservations, permits and alerts. Photos may show earlier conditions. Suggested highlights are visit ideas, not a guarantee that every area is currently open.