US Park Finder
The target room inside Jewel Cave. Photo: NPS Staff Photo

Jewel Cave National Monument

National Monument · South Dakota

Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world.

Plan your visit Directions
  • LocationCuster, SD
  • Entrance No fee listed
  • HoursToday: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
  • Weather now56°F Sunny
  • Alerts 2 active alerts

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.

Topics
  • Animals
  • Birds
  • Cats (wild)
  • Caves, Caverns and Karst
  • Elk
  • Explorers and Expeditions
  • Fire
  • Geology
1 more topics
  • Trails
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

Alerts (2)

InformationCave Tour Reservations Advance cave tour reservations up until October 31st are available. November reservations will become available on Octob… Read more

Advance cave tour reservations up until October 31st are available. November reservations will become available on October 1st. Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations full? Choose a day to come to the park early in the day to purchase a same day cave tour ticket.

More on NPS.gov
InformationAppropriate Footwear Required for Cave Tours Visitors are required to wear completely enclosed shoes if participating in a cave tour, like tennis shoes, sneakers or… Read more

Visitors are required to wear completely enclosed shoes if participating in a cave tour, like tennis shoes, sneakers or hiking boots. Any type of sandals or shoes with any openings are NOT acceptable.

Things to Do

10 activities. Pick one to find other parks that offer it.

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. — NPS Photo / Dan Austin

Facilities & Services

Visitor centers, permits and reservations listed on Recreation.gov. Check current hours and availability before you go.

Tours & Tickets

  • 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…

    Book tickets on Recreation.gov 11149 US Highway 16, Bldg B12, Custer, SD 605-673-8300

    Details
    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.

Visitor Centers

  • Wowing our Visitors One Mile at a Time

    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…

    (605) 673-8300 Directions

    Details
    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.

Plan Your Visit

Hours

Today: 8:30AM - 4:30PM · Jewel Cave National Monument

Hours details
  • Jewel Cave National MonumentToday: 8:30AM - 4:30PM

    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.

    MondayClosed
    Tuesday8:30AM - 4:30PM
    Wednesday8:30AM - 4:30PM
    Thursday8:30AM - 4:30PM
    Friday8:30AM - 4:30PM
    Saturday8:30AM - 4:30PM
    SundayClosed

Entrance fees

No entrance fees listed.

Weather

56°F
Sunny · feels like 48°
  • Today 56° 43°
    Sunny
    5% rain
  • Tomorrow 74° 43°
    Sunny
    2% rain
  • Saturday 70° 46°
    Sunny
    3% rain

Updated 3 hr ago

What to expect by season

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.

Contact the park

Photos

  • 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. — NPS Photo
  • A park ranger stands as a silhouette in a large room in Jewel Cave.
  • White-colored crystals with blunt tips sparkle against a black background.
  • A bighorn sheep ram stands in the highway, with a camper stopped in the other lane.
  • A small red squirrel stands on a dead pine branch.
2 more photos

Getting There

11149 U.S. Hwy. 16, Building B12
Custer, SD 57730

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.

Full directions

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.

Get directions NPS directions Official NPS site

Mailing address: 11149 U.S. Hwy. 16, Custer, SD 57730

Map loads when you scroll here