Filled with caves and caverns to explore, South Dakota is a cavers dream. The abundance of underground cave status is due in part to its geology.
A geological history that includes years of submergence under warm, early Cretaceous seas, with a large layer of Paha Sapa limestone running through the state makes it ripe for the formation of rare crystalline caves.
In fact, limestone caves are so rare that there are only seventy-two of them in the world today, sixty-eight of which are located in South Dakota.
Of those caves, seven monsters are believed to be caves that are open to public traffic. Two of them are within the National Park and the other five are privately owned and operated.
Visitors wishing to explore the lesser-known caves should use the services of local experts, such as “Expense Tours”.
Violent Tours
If you are a big fan of shows like “Mission Impossible” or “Man vs. Wild” and you have a quick mind to boot, “Expensive Tours” is the tour operator for you.
Visitors take little-explored, off-the-beaten-path paths in hollowed-out areas for a hands-on experience that one won’t soon forget. “Expense Tours” offers two types of guided tours that last an average of four or more hours depending on the patience of the visitor.
The number one option route is an active trek that makes adventurous cavers in the little known areas of Custer State Park. As part of the private tour there is an exploration of smaller well-known caves, hidden pioneer monuments and significant historical landmarks, such as the old school house at “French Creek”. All of these are not seen by regular visitors to the park, so they make for a truly special day trip.
Those who participate in the day tour use special equipment such as helmets, knee pads, shoulder straps and 30×125 mm binoculars. There should be snacks and drinks too.
Itinerary option number two is a night trip that overlooks the wildlife areas and the night time sky. Visitors who participate in a binary number tour can expect a less strenuous journey than those who take the single number option as it is primarily done by night-vision equipment such as digital intensifiers, night vision goggles and hand-held imaging devices will be available to those on the evening tour.
“Expense Tours” conducts excursions year-round and it should be noted that they keep the number of people who go on each trip to a minimum. So it’s best to call the development of one of the roads to get a place on what is of course the most unique road cave in the Badlands of South Dakota.
Vigorous Tour
3213 West Main Street #16
Rapid City, SD 57702
605-431-5863
National Geographic Monuments
With one natural entrance and over 151,000 tunnels, the “Jewel Cave” is the second longest cave system in the world. The entire cave and its width and depth must be fully explored at this time.
The natural entrance to the cave is located within “Hell’s Canyon” and is within miles of both the “Jewel Cavenational and nearby “Black Hills National Forest .”
Now the elevation inside the cave ranges from 4,771 feet to 5,408 feet above sea level, with the deepest known section a whopping 749 feet below ground.
Sure to satisfy any spelunker’s appetite for crystals, at least temporarily, the “Jew’s Cave” contains a variety of rare and unusual cave formations such as the fragile and silver one-inch round orbs known as hydro-magnetic fish. These iridescent and ethereal orbs look like christmas ornaments.
In addition to the balloons, the “Jewel Cave” is known for the “Lun Lac” which, on closer inspection, has a funny shape that resembles cheese cottages. Unlike mineral deposits in caves, “Moon Milk” does not harden and tends to one of three forms.
The first form is a cottage cheese-like form. The second form is a thick, viscous fluid that flows like a surreal torrent. The final well-known form occurs when the “Moon Milk” becomes dry, which results in a substance similar to powdered milk or talcum powder Dust
Note that some sections of the cave are only for serious cavers and require courage to push themselves into the dark and diminutive holes. These sections are not part of the regular cave tour.
There should be a minimum number of people for the cave tour. This is usually not a problem because they tend to sell out of tours. Such tickets are sold as much as seven days before each tour.
Park rangers offer four types of tours year-round with route types, hours and availability varying by season. There are four types of guided tours; discovery, scenery, lamps and cave animals.
The 20-minute discovery tour is the easiest and best value for those who are curious about caves but do not have the physical capacity for deeper exploration. The discovery tour includes the use of an elevator in the visitor center and a 15-step climb. The tour takes place in one place of the cave as well as a gentle physical excursion.
For 2010 the admission fee for the discovery is $4.00 per person age 16 and older. Children under the age of 16 and are admitted free.
The 80-minute scenic tour is the more moderate of the three tours, but it involves miles of walking including a lot of stair climbing, requiring 732 steps.
The cost of stage admission is $8.00 per person age 17 and $4.00 per child between the ages of six and 16. Children under 5 years of age are admitted to the stage tour for free. There are also tickets for senior citizens pass holders.
105-minute guided tour by lantern to explore the caves for the first time. The strenuous 1,000-mile evening tour begins at the entrance to “Hell’s Canyon” and involves a lot of hiking and physical dexterity.
Due to the nature of the lateral tour, children under the age of 6, and those who are in good health, are not allowed to participate.
Admission to the side tour is $8.00 per person over the age of 17 and $4.00 per person between the ages of 6 to 16 years.
The last of the four tours, the jungle cave, is expressly for those over the age of 16, who are healthy and can withstand the rigors of the experience. Not for the faint-hearted, this four-hour 2/3-mile trek involves climbing over rocky debris, using ropes to pull up steep vertical inclines and belly-sliding through 8-by-24-inch vents.
Those who take on the challenges of wild caving will need to provide some of their own caving equipment such as boots, knee pads, and other forms of protective clothing< /a>. The park provides an expert guide, a head lamp and an iron hat for this route, but that’s all.
Admission to the jungle cave is $27.00 per person. Additional information about each of the four tours, including a list of equipment platforms for the major trail extremes, can be found on the National Park website.
Advance reservations for any of the four tours can be made between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Mountain Standard Time by calling 605-673-8300.
It should be noted that due to the extreme nature of the road cage, advance reservations must be made at least one month in advance and require information from the customer’s ticket.
Jewel Cave National Monument
Road 16 Building B12
Custodian, SD 57730
605-673-8300
Wind CaveNational Park
Considered the fourth largest and most diverse cave in the world, the “Cave of the Wind” is filled with distinctive cave formations such as frost, popcorn, and a work box or honeycomb.
Located in the middle is the “Old CaveNational Park” which holds the distinction of being the first national park in the world created to cave to protect Opened for seven years, it is also the oldest park in the National Park.
“Wind Cave” is so aptly named for the mysterious, hissing winds that escape from it. It was actually the distinct sound of the cave wind that early 1881 explorers encountered. Before that time, the cave was only believed by the inhabitants of the ancient regions Native.
The park offers a whopping six different types of cave tours that vary in availability, price, duration and skill level. Six different caves have been discovered; natural entrance, paradise of pleasure, fairgrounds, lamp light, wild and special.
There is a special price for the disabled or those who are otherwise limited in their physical strength. A fee allows visitors to wheelchair accessible areas of the cave.
Admission at a special price for those ages 17 to 61 is $5.00 per person. People between the ages of 6 to 16 are admitted at a special price of $2.50 per person. There is no charge for children 5 and under.
After a special tour, the 1/4 mile long 1 hour walk from Eden is one of the easiest tours. Navigation includes 150 steps and gentle work.
Admission to the Garden of Eden is $7.00 per adult and $3.50 for children between the ages of 6 to 16. Children. under 5 years are admitted free.
The 1 hour, 1,000 mile long natural entrance is worth it for those people who are reasonably fit and feel they can safely manage the 300 stairs.
Admission to the Natural History Tour is $9.00 for adults and $4.50 for children 6 to 16. Admission includes admission to at least six unique chambers, such as “Devil’s View,” “Cathedral” and “Perfla Hole.”
Admission to the two-hour, 1-mile candlelight is $9.00 for those between the ages of 17 to 61 and $4.50 per child between the ages of 8 to 16. Due to the quality of the candlelight tour, no one under the age of 8 will be admitted. may participate.
Itineraries, both forest and plain roads, are more intense 6 tours and vary in length from 1 to 4 hours. No one under 16 years of age or with limited mobility and health health problems will be allowed to participate. the wild price of the cave.
Admission to the wild caves is $23.00 per person and admission to the grounds is $9.00 for adults and $4.50 for ages 6 to 16.
Detailed information about each of the six famous “Cave of the Winds” is available on the National Park website.
Wind Cave National Park
US Route 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747
605-745-4600
Hail Land of Wonders
Believed to contain the largest array of various cave formations in the Midwest, the privately owned and operated “Wonderland Cave” is open daily for tours from October 1st to October 15th. Tours run daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A total of 16 types of formations are called within the “Wonderful Cage”. Formations specific to “Wonderland Cave” include the most famous formation that has countless “bird baths”. eye-pleasing, awe-inspiring crystal and fossil caves embedded with natural beauty;
Lasting for about 40 minutes, an expert tour guide leads visitors through a myriad of natural caves under temperatures that tend to hover at a brisk 47 degrees Fahrenheit.
Next, there is an on-site gift shop, rock shop, eatery and a series of hiking trails guests. can be enjoyed
Tour prices may vary and advance reservations are suggested. Those wishing to make reservations may do so by calling the tour operator at 605-578-1728. Callers should note that the telephone reservation line is only open during the summer months.
Wonderful Cage
P.O. Box 83 – Vanocker Canyon
None, SD 57759
605-578-1728
Black Hills Cave
Perhaps one of the more subtle features of the “Black Hills Caverns” is that it consists of two different types of limestone that originate from two separate periods. The two distinct types of lime are manlius and coeymanus.
Calx manlius is said to have been formed in the Pre-Devonian age and in sea-creatures is said to have been formed and contained in a previous age. such as bones and corals.
The Coeyman Limestone is from early Devonian times and contains buried remains of corals, fossils, brachiopods, flora and fauna.
In addition to the two types of limestone, the caves contain rounded aquatic rock from the upper Silurian age, helictites, logomites and much more.
The cave was first used by the Lakota Indian tribe as a place of great spirituality. They were known as harvesters, and they used the amazing cave crystal in their spiritual ceremonies and rituals. It was almost hidden from European settlers until the year 1882 gold rush.
“Colli Nigri Cavern” is open daily from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm with the last cave tour leaving at 4:30 pm.
There are currently two route options offered at the “Black Hills Caverns.” These are the crystal price and the case price. The price of the adventure adventure is longer than two and it lasts one hour while the crystal tour lasts one hour.
The adventure tour covers all three levels of the cave. The Crystal Tour, on the other hand, covers only 1,500 square feet of the cave’s first level and focuses on the cave’s most prolific crystal formations.
Admission to the Advent Tour is $9.75 for adults and $6.50 for children ages 6 through 12. Admission to the Crystal is $7.50 for adults and $4.50 for children ages 6 through 12. There is no charge for children under 6 for either. two tricks
Visitors can opt to add on the stone mining activity for a discounted price of $5.00 per person. There is also the option of leaving the cave unexplored and just getting involved in the stone mining activity for a price of $7.00 per person.
Black Hills Caverns
Via Cavern
Rapid City, SD 57702
605-343-0542
Crystal Cave
Discovered by early European settlers in the late 1800’s, the “Crystal Cave”, as its name suggests, overflows with crystals. An estimated 80% of cave surfaces are encrusted with them.
Cave tours are traditionally 45 minutes long and are considered most suitable for age groups and skill levels.
Prices are subject to price changes throughout the year so it is best to verify the current price before each trip.
The “Crystal Caves” are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from June through August and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in May, September and October.
Crystal cage
Route 44 – 7700 Nameless Cave Road
Rapid City, SD 57702
605-343-0542
Russian Africa
The “Rushmore Cave” centers around one Walter Jenny. A learned man, Jenny, was said to be inspecting roses in the area when he stumbled upon the entrance to “Rushmore Cave.” Jenny’s discovery was said to be a gold rush in the Keystone area, hence the name “Rushmore”.
Said to have the largest column formation in the Black Mountains region, “Rushmore Cave” is also known as the “Post Office Room “, “Great Room”, “Image Room” and “Floral Room”.
A more relaxed, family-friendly, “Rushmore Cave” tour covers 1,000 miles and takes around 1 hour. It is not considered to be particularly difficult and thus suitable for all skill levels of people .
Admission is at a basic price of $13.00 for adults age 13 and up. Admission for children between the ages of 5 to 12 is $7.50. Children under 4 years of age are admitted without charge.
There is also a more expensive experience to be had, called the “Xpedition Tour.” The “Xpedition Tour” is for more serious cave enthusiasts who are age 14 and older. Participants are also willing and able to find dirty and dark, damp, 10 x 22 inch vents.
The reward for going through such lengths is the chance to watch the stellar “Bookworm Report”, “Rouge Room” and “Arrowhead Room”.
The Tour Provider will provide knee pads, elbow pads, helmets and head lamps for use during the “Xpedition Tour.” The price is offered from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Admission to the “Expedition Tour” is $35.00 per person and is inclusive of a souvenir photo and a 20 percent discount on a souvenir t-shirt.
Rushmore Cave
13622 road 40
Keystone, SD 57751
605-255-4384
Sitting Bull Crystal Cave
Celebrated as the world’s largest cache of spar-cherry dogtooth crystals and oceanic fossil remains, “Sitting Bull Caverns” was in use by the Lakota tribe long before 1876 when the first explorers noticed it.
Notable features of the cave include the original “Diamond Lake” with its crystal laden ceiling and the “French Chandelier Room” filled with crystals dogtooth spar- gules measure 16 feet in length.
In 1929 the caves were named in honor of the famous Saint Hunkpapa man, the “Sitting Bull Prince”, who frequented the area around the cave during the 1800’s.
Hunkpapa, whose name literally means “Head of the Circle”, was one of the seven tribes of the Lakota Sioux recognized as one of the most respected. Duke Sitting Bull was best known for his participation in land battles with European settlers in the 19th century.
“Sitting Bubble Crystal Cave” preserves hours of operation time. It is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from May through September and from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the months of June through August. It is best to call in advance of one’s trip to confirm both the hourly rate and the price.
Cave tours depart every 20 minutes and are 45 minutes in duration. In addition to tours, the site also offers a large gift shop that specializes in Native Americans as well as geology based souvenir items.
Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns
US 16 and Mt. Rushmore Road
Mt. Rushmore, SD 57730
605-255-4384
Additional Information
Those would-be cavers who want to learn more about the amazing caves and caverns of South Dakota should check out the state’s tourism industry.
