Wind Cave or Jewel Cave? Choosing a cave tour near Custer

Custer sits between two of the longest caves in the world. Jewel Cave is a short drive west of town, and Wind Cave is a short drive to the south-east. Both have ranger-led tours, but they are very different underground. If you only have time for one, this guide will help you choose.

The two caves at a glance

• Jewel Cave National Monument: about 13 miles west of Custer on US 16. More than 200 miles of passages have been mapped, making it one of the longest caves in the world. It is named for the calcite crystals that line many of its walls.
• Wind Cave National Park: about 25 miles south-east of Custer, north of Hot Springs. It became a national park in 1903, the first cave in the world to be protected that way, and it is famous for its boxwork. Above ground, the park protects a large area of prairie and forest.

Jewel Cave: crystals and big rooms

Jewel Cave is the one to choose for sparkle. Its walls are covered in calcite crystals, and its passages open into larger rooms. The main Scenic Tour follows paved paths and metal stairs, with hundreds of steps in total, so it is moderately strenuous. In summer, a historic lantern tour takes you through the older part of the cave by lamplight, and experienced visitors can book a wild caving trip, crawling through tight passages.

Jewel Cave stays about 49 °F (9 °C) all year, so bring a jacket, even in July.

Wind Cave: boxwork and prairie

Wind Cave is known for boxwork, thin fins of calcite that form a honeycomb pattern. Most of the world’s known boxwork is found here. The cave is named for the wind that blows in or out of its natural entrance as the air pressure changes outside.

Tours range from short, easy walks to longer routes with more stairs, and candlelight and wild cave tours are offered in some seasons. The cave is about 54 °F (12 °C). Save time for the park above ground too: bison, elk, pronghorn and prairie dogs live on the grasslands, and the scenic drive north into Custer State Park is one of the best wildlife routes in the Black Hills.

Which one should you choose?

• Choose Jewel Cave if you want crystals, a shorter drive from Custer, or an adventurous wild caving trip.
• Choose Wind Cave if you want the unusual boxwork, an easier tour for young children, or a day that combines a cave with wildlife on the prairie.
• Do both if you have a free day: they are less than an hour apart by road, with Custer in the middle.

Tickets and tips

• Book or arrive early: tour sizes are limited, and summer tours often sell out. Some tours can be booked ahead on Recreation.gov, and the rest are sold on the day at the visitor centres.
• Check the schedule: tour times change with the season and with maintenance work, so check each park’s website before you go.
• Wear good shoes: paths underground are often wet and uneven.
• Make a day of it: near Wind Cave, visit the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, or drive the Wildlife Loop on the way back to Custer.