2019-12-20 04:26:51
EXPLORE ONE OF THE LAST FRONTIERS IN THE WORLD Beneath the Black Hills lies the fascinating underground world of Jewel Cave National Monument. The cave was discovered in 1900 and designated as a national monument in 1908. Today, Jewel Cave is ranked as the third longest cave in the world. Immerse yourself in this underground wilderness that has over 208 miles of mapped and surveyed passages. Most of the cave’s chambers are decorated with calcite crystals and other beautiful, colorful and rare formations. The Visitor Center is open year-round and offers a variety of daily-guided cave tours, including the Scenic Tour and Discovery Tour. TOURS The Scenic Tour is the most popular guided tour. The moderately strenuous route journeys up and down 723 stairs throughout the hour and a half tour. The tour showcases two types of calcite crystals, stalactites, stalagmites and a variety of other formations. The Historic Lantern Tour, for ages six and up, is available June through August. Your Park Ranger will be outfitted in a 1900s uniform, and the only light in the cave will be from the lanterns you and other participants will carry. The half-mile tour lasts about one hour and 45 minutes and includes 600 steep wooden steps. The Discovery Tour, which is both handicap and wheelchair accessible, is a 20-minute interpretive talk with exposure to one of the cave’s largest rooms. For those ages 16 and older, the Wild Caving Tour leads guests into the underground on their hands and knees to see rare cave formations. Note that lace-up, lug-soled hiking boots and elbow and knee pads are required for this adventure. Reservations must be made in advance, as there are limited tours and dates. ON THE SURFACE In addition to cave tours, you can also enjoy hiking one of the self-guided surface trails where you are likely to spot local wildlife including deer, bighorn sheep and many diverse birds depending on the season. There are three trails on the surface of Jewel Cave, all ranging from a quarter mile to five and a half miles long. The various trails are great for leisurely hikes with spectacular views of Hell Canyon, wildflowers, wildlife and more. Both the cave and the surface will delight birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and explorers. For more information, visit blackhillsbadlands.com/jeca.
©South-Dakota. View All Articles.