Welcome
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK
Known for its whistling sound that echoes in its chambers whenever the wind blows, the Wind Cave National Park is certainly a sight to behold. One of the longest caves in the world, Wind Cave National Park is 11 miles north of Hot Springs, South Dakota, west of Highway 385. Outside of the cave, the park is home to varied wilderness on the vast American prairie. The cave, according to the National Park Service, has more caves than any other cave in the world.
Though most visitors come to see the cave, Wind Cave has many surface activities, including hiking. Over 30 miles of hiking trails meander through pristine mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest. Mileages listed below are one-way unless otherwise noted.
Information
On January 3, 1903, US President Theodore Roosevelt signed the law that gave us the Cave of the Winds National Park. The Cave of the Winds was the eighth national park established in the country, and the very first to protect the cave formation. The Cave of the Winds, named after the park, is a geological wonder. It has 130 miles of explored passages, making it one of the longest caves in the world. When a strong wind enters and leaves it, a characteristic whistling sound is heard.
Cave tours are offered all year round with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. The Visitor Center, from where the cave tours begin, has showrooms with information on cave exploration, cave formations, early cave history, park wildlife, and natural resource management. An 18-minute film about the Cave of the Winds is also screened throughout the day. Wind Cave National Park has three nature trails that hikers can take to hike. Tourists can also camp at Elk Mountain, which is open all year round. The campsite offers great views of the diverse plants and animals of the southern Black Hills.
Official name - WIND CAVE National Park
Mailing Address: 26611 US Highway 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747
Area: 33,847 acres
Coordinates: 43°33′23″N 103°28′43″W
Established - January 9, 1903
Attendance - 656,397 people per year
