The Cave Guide
A tour group inside Jewel Cave National Monument, South DakotaPhoto: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0

Jewel Cave National Monument

Custer, SD
49°F
inside, all year
734
steps on the tour
1 hr
on the main tour
$16
adult ticket

A national monument protecting a cave with over 220 miles of known passages, the fifth longest in the world, seen only on guided tours.

The story

Gold prospectors Frank and Albert Michaud are credited with finding Jewel Cave in 1900. They enlarged the entrance and filed a mining claim, and when mining failed they turned to tourism and ran cave tours, with other locals, until the National Park Service took over in the late 1930s. In 1908 Jewel Cave became the first cave protected as a national monument. Until 1959 it was thought to be about 2 miles long; Herb and Jan Conn then explored it with geologist Dwight Deal until 1981, finding over 65 miles and mapping the route of today's tours.

Found
1900

History source: nps.gov/jeca.

What you'll see

  • Target Room
  • Hourglass Lake
  • Inner Sanctum
  • Torture Room
  • Brain Drain
  • Heavenly Room
  • Historic Cave Entrance

Tickets and timing

Adults
$16 Scenic Tour; $6 Discovery Tour (16+)
Kids
$8 / $3 (ages 6–15), free for 5 and under
How long it takes
1 hour 20 minutes (Scenic Tour); Discovery Tour 20 minutes
Hours
Visitor Center, Park Store, surface trails, and picnic areas open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time; summer (Aug 9–Sep 7, 2026) open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1
Booking
Guided tours only. Reserve on Recreation.gov ($1 fee per ticket), closing at noon the day before; same-day tickets on site if available.

Getting around underground

The walk
Scenic Tour: half a mile with 734 stairs. Historic Lantern Tour: about 600 steep, narrow stairs (summer, 8+).
Wheelchairs
Some cave tours may not be fully accessible; accessible opportunities information available
Strollers
Surface trails (Roof Trail, Canyons Trail, Hell Canyon Trail) are not accessible for strollers

Dogs, weather and what to wear

Temperature
49°F or 9°C year round

Good to know

Minimum age
Historic Lantern Tour: must be at least age 8; Wild Caving Tour: must be at least 16; Scenic Tour: children five and under recommended for Discovery Tour instead
Best time to go
Reserve in advance; tours often sell out by mid to late morning during summer (May through September); arrive first thing in the morning for same-day tickets
Elevator
Yes; Discovery and Scenic tours enter and exit the cave by elevator in the visitor center
Wildlife
Nine species of bats live within the monument; visitors may see bats outside the historic entrance; unlikely to see bats on tours except the Historic Lantern Tour; Lantern Tour participants walk across a White Nose Syndrome decontamination mat
On site
Visitor Center, Park Store, picnic areas, surface trails, Junior Ranger and Pee Wee Ranger Programs, exhibits and displays

Special tours and events

Historic Lantern Tour and Wild Caving Tour ($45, 16+, 3–4 hours) in summer.

Getting there

Rapid City

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

Directions in Google Maps

Distances are straight-line from each city center.

Questions people ask

How long does a visit to Jewel Cave National Monument take?

1 hour 20 minutes (Scenic Tour); Discovery Tour 20 minutes

How cold is it inside Jewel Cave National Monument?

49°F or 9°C year round.

Can you visit Jewel Cave National Monument in a wheelchair?

Some cave tours may not be fully accessible; accessible opportunities information available

Do you need to book Jewel Cave National Monument in advance?

Guided tours only. Reserve on Recreation.gov ($1 fee per ticket), closing at noon the day before; same-day tickets on site if available.

When was Jewel Cave National Monument discovered?

1900, according to the cave's own history.

Is there a minimum age for Jewel Cave National Monument?

Historic Lantern Tour: must be at least age 8; Wild Caving Tour: must be at least 16; Scenic Tour: children five and under recommended for Discovery Tour instead

Where is Jewel Cave National Monument?

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

Listed in: lantern and flashlight tours, wild caving tours, caves with an elevator

Checked on 2026-10-22 against nps.gov/jeca (plan your visit and fees pages). Prices and hours change, so confirm on the official site before you drive out.

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