2021-01-15 05:15:11
Descend Into A Hidden World Discover two worlds at Wind Cave National Park — 155 miles of known underground passages and 28,295 acres of aboveground wilderness and wildlife to explore. ABOUT THE PARK President Theodore Roosevelt established the park in 1903. It was the eighth national park to be designated and the first to protect a cave. It is currently the seventh longest cave in the world. Named for barometric winds at its entrance, Wind Cave is an incredible maze of passages adorned with complex boxwork — a unique formation rarely found elsewhere. VISITOR CENTER The visitor center is a great place to begin your trip, located 11 miles north of the town of Hot Springs, just west of U.S. 385. Learn more about the park’s history, geology and wildlife by exploring interactive exhibits and watching the educational film. The facility is open year round and features a park store and a snack area. To learn more about Wind Cave National Park, visit nps.gov/wica. Things to Do Hiking Above ground, Wind Cave offers incredible hiking opportunities on over 30 miles of trails. This includes the Centennial Trail that stretches 111 miles across the region from the park to Bear Butte State Park in the Northern Black Hills. Experienced hikers can camp in Wind Cave’s thousands of acres of scenic backcountry. Camping Elk Mountain Campground straddles the edge of a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering unique opportunities to view the Southern Black Hills’ diverse flora and fauna. During the summer, rangers present fascinating evening campfire programs about the park’s history, geology, wildlife and the surrounding prairie ecosystem in the amphitheater. Wildlife Viewing The mixed-grass prairie in the park is one of few remaining in the nation. The grasslands are home to wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule and whitetail deer, coyotes and prairie dogs. The park’s herd of 400 bison is one of only four free-roaming herds on North America’s public lands with no evidence of cattle genes in their DNA. Cave Tours For cave tour information and tour availability, visit nps.gov/wica.
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