Exploring Wind Cave National Park: Best Tips + Activities

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Podcast Episode Overview

Wind Cave National Park is one of the most underrated stops in the Black Hills, and it is absolutely worth digging a little deeper for. Come with us into the prairies of South Dakota for rare cave beauty, bison sightings, and the kind of quiet that makes you exhale.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Wind Cave is so underrated, and why I recommend it even when people say Jewel Cave is “prettier.”
• How to get cave tour tickets (and why you should not wait until the day of)
• Which three tours to choose from as a first-time visitor, plus options for special tours
• What to expect on your tour (temperature, what you can and cannot bring, and tips if you have kids)
• Easy, high-reward things to do above ground, including wildlife drives, a short scenic hike, and a quick trip to Hot Springs

Your task for today: Have you been to Wind Cave National Park? Tell us what you loved, and share your best photos (because this park is famously hard to photograph!). Head over to our post on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and share with us!

Planning your own Wind Cave National Park adventure?

• Dirt in My Shoes South Dakota Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/south-dakota-itinerary 
• Dirt In My Shoes Wind Cave National Park Planning Resources: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/wind-cave-national-park/ 
• Episode 29: The Black Hills (Wind Cave, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and more!): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/29-the-black-hills-wind-cave-custer-state-park-jewel-cave-and-more/ 
• Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
• National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 
• Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

Exploring Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park sits in the southern Black Hills and looks fairly ordinary from the surface, but underground, it is one of the longest caves in the world, and the best place to see rare boxwork formations you will hardly find anywhere else. This park has become a family favorite for us because it feels like an underdog: a little farther off the main route, quieter than the big Black Hills headliners, and full of stories you only notice when you slow down and look closer.

Wind Cave tours and logistics

Wind Cave does not have any self-guided options, so you must join a ranger-led tour to see the cave. Tickets are sold on recreation.gov, where half of the tour spots are released up to 120 days in advance and can be booked online until two days before your visit. The other half are saved for the day of sales at the visitor center, but those usually go quickly in busy seasons, so plan to be there right when it opens if you need same-day tickets.

For most first-time visitors, the three main tours to look at are the Garden of Eden, the Natural Entrance, and the Fairgrounds. The Garden of Eden is the shortest with the fewest stairs, the Natural Entrance is a good middle option, and the Fairgrounds is the longest with the most stairs. Families with young kids usually do best on Garden of Eden, while groups that can handle more time and steps will likely enjoy Natural Entrance or Fairgrounds more. The park also offers occasional candlelight or squeezing-style tours and an accessible option, which you can ask about at the visitor center.

The cave stays around 53 to 54 degrees all year, so bring a light jacket even in summer. Backpacks, food, drinks, and kid carriers worn on your back are not allowed, and kids are not allowed to touch the walls or formations. Most tours meet at either the visitor center or the nearby elevator building, and your ranger will guide you through the route, point out the boxwork, and share the story of how Wind Cave was discovered and explored.

Above-ground highlights and nearby stops

Right around the visitor center, plan a quick visit to the exhibits and the lower-level learning area, where you can see a sample squeeze box and the original diary of teenage cave explorer Alvin McDonald. Then head out on the short Prairie Vista Trail loop, which passes the Natural Entrance where you can feel the cave breathing and continues on to Alvin McDonald’s grave marker.

Wind Cave is a prairie park with big views and great wildlife watching. Drive through the Bison Flats area along Highway 385 south of the visitor center for a good chance to see bison, pronghorn, elk, coyotes, and prairie dogs. About ten minutes farther south, the town of Hot Springs makes an easy stop for lunch at Two Cows Creamery and a visit to The Mammoth Site, where you can see mammoth fossils still being uncovered.

North of the visitor center, Highway 87 and the short Rankin Ridge Trail give you pretty views, a quick climb of about a mile, and sweeping vistas that can stretch all the way to Badlands on a clear day. 

For even more solitude, check on conditions for dirt roads NP5 and NP6, which wander through Wind Cave backcountry with more chances to see prairie dogs and bison, and can connect you up toward Custer State Park and the rest of the Black Hills, including Jewel Cave National Monument.

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Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

• Wind Cave National Park NPS Site
• Dirt In My Shoes South Dakota Itinerary
• Wind Cave cave tour reservations – Recreation.gov
• Wind Cave visitor center
• Wind Cave National Park Hikes
• Alvin McDonald’s Diary
• The Journey of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History (John’s book recommendation)
• Hot Springs, South Dakota Welcome Magazine
• Two Cows Creamery (Hot Springs)
• The Mammoth Site (Hot Springs)
• NPS dirt roads NP5 and NP6 (Wind Cave backcountry)
• Custer State Park
• Jewel Cave National Monument

While You’re in the Area:

• Episode 26: Exploring Badlands — Best Views, Trails, and Activities
• Episode 27: Exploring Mount Rushmore (and fun facts!)
• Episode 29: The Black Hills (Wind Cave, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and more!)

Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!