Wind Cave National Park
National Park · SD
3 noticesfrom the National Park Service
Information · Centennial Trailhead Parking
Reminder: Overnight parking without a camping permit is prohibited. Permits are not issued specifically for parking. Shuttles are available in the Black Hills for through hikers on the Centennial Trail.
Information · Natural Entrance Tour Route Closes For Season October 1, 2026
The Natural Entrance Tour Route will be closed for the season beginning October 1st, 2026. The Garden of Eden, Fairgrounds, and Accessibility Tour Routes remain available. This annual closure will last through the winter season.
Information · Wind Cave moves to cashless fee collection
Payments for cave tours, campground fees, as well as Interagency Passes at Wind Cave National Park, will be by credit/ debit cards or digital payments only. Cash and check payments will no longer be accepted.
Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/wica
- Location
- Wind Cave National Park (43.580, -103.439)
Track your visit to Wind Cave National Park
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Wind Cave Visitor Center
Hours
Wind Cave National Parktoday: All Day
- Sat Oct 3All Day
- Sun Oct 4All Day
- Mon Oct 5All Day
- Tue Oct 6All Day
- Wed Oct 7All Day
- Thu Oct 8All Day
- Fri Oct 9All Day
The park is open all day, every day. Snow or severe weather can limit access to some areas of the park, especially in winter. Visitor Center hours and cave tour schedules vary throughout the year. Visit the park website or call 605.745.4600 for current conditions.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
- Wind Cave Visitor Centertoday: 8:00AM - 4:30PMDirections
Self-guided tours
3
Elk Mountain Nature Trail30–60 minutes · 9 stops
This trail encompasses a blend of prairie, forest and riparian areas which together create the beauty of Wind Cave National Park. While hiking the trail and visiting the nine interpretive stops, you will become more familiar with these areas, how they were shaped and how they interact. A fence keeps the bison out of the area, but an occasional prairie rattlesnake may be seen. Pets are permitted on this trail but must be on a leash.
Geology Driving Tour - Self-Guided60–90 minutes · 7 stops
The geology driving tour is a great way to see the park while learning about the rich geologic history of the Black Hills. On this 20 mile long tour, you will travel back in time and view Wind Cave's rock record to get a glimpse into its past.
Rankin Ridge Nature Trail30–90 minutes · 14 stops
The Rankin Ridge trail takes you through a ponderosa pine forest. At several points along the trail you may view the peaks of the Black Hills to the west, and the plains to the east. Rankin Ridge trail is a loop trail, beginning and ending at the parking lot. There are 14 interpretive stops placed at irregular intervals along the path. Your guided tour ends a short distance beyond the fire tower. From the last stop to the parking lot is about a 15 minute walk.
Entrance fees
No entrance fee.