2021-01-15 02:02:49
Explore One Of The Last Frontiers In The World Beneath the Southern Black Hills lies the underground world of Jewel Cave National Monument. The cave was discovered in 1900 and designated as a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. ABOUT THE PARK This treasured resource is the third-longest cave in the world, with over 200 miles of mapped and surveyed passages. Sparkling calcite crystals, strands of gypsum, delicate frostwork, popcorn, flowstone and other colorful and rare formations decorate the cave’s chambers. The cave contains large rooms strewn with boulders, tight crawlways and dark fissures leading into the unknown. VISITOR CENTER The visitor center is located 13 miles west of the town of Custer. Park staff are available to answer your questions and orient you to the monument. Immerse yourself in the interactive exhibits that showcase the surface and subsurface features, cave explorations and geological history. The facility is open year round, with schedules based on seasonal visitation. A park store is also available through the monument’s non-profit cooperative partner — Black Hills Parks & Forests Association. To learn more about Jewel Cave, updated schedules, tour times and ticket information, visit nps.gov/jeca. Things to Do Hiking Three trails invite visitors to explore the ponderosa pine forest, open meadows and rocky terrain on the park’s surface. The trails range from a quarter mile to over 5.5 miles, from level to steep and rugged and everything in between. Historic Area The Jewel Cave Historic Area has picnic tables, a ranger cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and a one-quarter-mile paved trail to the Historic Entrance. Park staff are available during the summer to answer questions and provide Lantern Tours. Ranger Programs Rangers lead free talks, demonstrations and guided nature hikes. For those waiting for a cave tour, various activities are scheduled at the visitor center throughout the day from June through early September. Wildlife Viewing You can spot an array of wildlife at the monument, including elk, bighorn sheep, deer, coyotes and numerous songbirds and raptors. The Jewel Cave Historic Entrance is a hibernaculum for bats during the winter. It is one of the largest bat hibernation sites in the Great Plains. Guided Cave Tours Ranger-guided cave tours are available during the summer, with tours often filling by late morning. Please note that tour availability may be limited due to construction projects, inclement weather, pandemic restrictions and staffing levels. For updated information, visit the monument online.
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