Ranger guided tours of Wind Cave are offered on a scheduled basis year-round. Fees are charged. The cave is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Cave tour tickets and information are available at the visitor center, where all tours begin.
Three cave tours are available—two tours are 1/2 mile; one tour is 1/4 mile—that follow paved, lighted walkways through underground passages decorated with boxwork and other fascinating cave formations. The Natural Entrance Tour and the Fairgrounds Tour last 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours and require traversing 300 to 450 stairs. The shorter Garden of Eden Tour is about 3/4 of an hour and includes 150 stairs.
Two special tours are offered from mid-June to mid-August. A one-mile candlelight tour allows visitors to experience Wind Cave as early visitors may have. Most of the tour route follows passages where the only light comes from handheld candle lanterns. Bending, stooping and stair climbing are required on this two-hour tour. Another special tour, the caving tour, lets visitors experience what is was like to explore a wild 3,000-foot passage of Wind Cave. Participants must be physically fit because much crawling is required on this three- to four-hour trip. Reservations for both tours may be not be made earlier than one month in advance. Contact the park for reservations or information about proper clothing, caving gear, and age restrictions.
A short tour for visitors with special needs may be arranged at the visitor center.
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