Overview Of Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave is an epic and is severely underrated National Monument located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It has over 200 miles of mapped passages, with more found each year.
While the nearby Wind Cave is known for its boxwork, Jewel Cave is known for its sparkling, expansive calcite crystals.
Unless you are a national park nerd like me, you have likely never heard of Jewel Cave. If you are planning a trip to the Black Hills, you need to make this one of your stops.
Why Should I Visit Jewel Cave National Monument?
Jewel Cave offers a complementary experience to Wind Cave.
It is one of the longest caves in the world, and it is coated in stunning crystal formations.
If you are too claustrophobic for Wind Cave, Jewel Cave features a more open feel.
There are several options for guided tours, and this cave has fewer crowds than some of the other sights in the area.
If none of the other reasons were good enough, come for the cave bacon.
Our Experience at Jewel Cave
My wife and I went to Jewel Cave the day after Wind Cave National Park. We did not have high expectations, since this is a national monument and Wind Cave is a National Park. This cave blew us out of the water, and I would rank it BETTER than Wind Cave.
There are two tour options: Discovery (20 mins) and Scenic (80 mins). Obviously, we booked the scenic tour. An elevator took us down deep into the mountain, where our tour began.
The first thing we noticed when the tour started was the temperature. It is cold in Jewel Cave! The first room was massive, larger than any room in Wind Cave. We were pleasantly surprised most if not all of the entire cave accessible for the tour had metal staircases and railings. This is a very safe tour led by knowledgeable park rangers.
Much of the cave is covered in calcite crystals. I have never seen anything like it, and these calcite crystals are how Jewel Cave got its name. We saw stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone. The tour even led us to a 10 foot tall piece of cave bacon!
We were very impressed by the tour and this cave is unlike other caves that we have visited. We were surprised to learn that Jewel Cave is the 5th longest cave in the world! It is hard to describe the scale of Jewel Cave, but it is massive, and the tour shows you formation after formation after formation. There was even boxwork, just like we saw at Wind Cave!
Upon completion of our tour, an elevator took us back up to the surface. We were told that this is the fastest elevator in South Dakota.
What We Would Do Differently
What I would do differently on this tour would be to take more pictures. It is hard to go wrong with booking the Scenic Tour, unless you are movement impaired.
If we had more time in our Black Hills Trip, we would have hiked at Jewel Cave. There are two trails that I know of on the surface of this National Monument. Neither is very long, and it would be great to take in the local scenery.
Where To Eat Near Jewel Cave
Jewel Cave is only 13 miles from Custer, SD. Custer has a great food scene and there are ample choices.
Your best bet for good food near Jewel Cave is in Custer, SD. There are several highly recommended restaurants, but our favorite is the Sage Creek Grille. The elk-stuffed mushrooms and Wapiti (elk) burger were delicious, and our waiter was excellent.
Crazy Horse Memorial is around 30 minutes from the Wind Cave visitor center and houses the Laughing Water Restaurant. While the Native American Taco was just ok, the fry bread with Wojapi was very good and a unique way to experience the local culture. It would be a good place to stop for desert and learn about Lakota history.
If you are willing to drive a little further to Hill City, we recommend dining at the Alpine Inn. The steak and wedge salad were great and it was a unique experience with great atmosphere and waitstaff. I would recommend eating here for dinner.
I am told there is good food at Rapid City, but I would not want to drive all the way there from Jewel Cave for a meal.
The food in the Black Hills is great and you really cannot go wrong trying local fare like elk, bison, walleye, quail, and trout.
Lodging Near Jewel Cave
There is plenty of lodging available in the Black Hills. I would recommend picking a location central to all of the Black Hills points of interest on your trip, like Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore. We had a great stay at a fair price at the Everspring hotel in Hill City.
If money is not a problem, stay at one of the lodges within Custer State Park.
Tips For Visiting Jewel Cave
Reserve your ticket ahead of time and be on time to your tour. We recommend the Scenic Tour, but be advised that it is 734 steps and is considered to be moderate intensity.
Use the restroom before your tour and dress warmly.
Wear good shoes as there are a lot of stairs on the tour.
The deer in the Black Hills are plentiful, and half of them have a death wish. Please use extreme caution or avoid driving at night.
Please do not touch cave formations, the oils in your skin will damage them. Let’s leave this National Park great so the next generation can enjoy it too.
When To Visit Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave National Monument is open year-round, though tours vary by season.
We recommend visiting in either May or September for the best balance of tour availability and weather.
Always check the Jewel Cave National Monument website or call for the most up-to-date information.
What To Bring To Jewel Cave National Monument
You do not need to bring much on your tour, but bring at least the following:
- Jacket
- Walking Shoes
- Camera
- Your Reservation
Does Jewel Cave National Monument Have An Entrance Fee Or Require Reservations?
There is no entrance fee to enter Jewel Cave National Monument.
Tickets are required for tours, and fees vary by type of tour. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Itinerary For Jewel Cave National Monument
We recommend that you visit for half a day:
- Arrive early to your tour and use the restroom ahead of time
- Enjoy your ranger-led cave tour
- Explore the Visitor Center
- Hike the 3.5 mile Canyons Trail
Summary
Jewel Cave is huge and exciting and the tours are well-guided. This is an underrated gem, and it offers a completely different experience from nearby parks.
If you have the opportunity, spend a half day here to experience one of the largest caves in the world. Just make sure to do it after your Wind Cave tour, so you are not disappointed there.
Other Sights Near Jewel Cave
Here are our guides to the other parks near the Black Hills:
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site – This is very close to Badlands and is a great place to go to learn about the Cold War and Mutually Assured Destruction.
Badlands National Park – Dramatic landscapes formed by erosion and surrounded by grasslands.
Custer State Park – Bison, Donkeys, National Treasure 2, scenic drives, and access to the highest mountain east of the Rockies.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial – An American classic. You should see Crazy Horse while you are in the area.
Wind Cave National Park – Great for cave tours to see boxwork as well as hiking above ground.
The Black Hills – A national forest sprinkled with awesome small towns and NPS sites.
Devils Tower National Monument – A giant rock in the middle of nowhere, but that you should see on a trip to the Black Hills area.
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