Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park

Situated under the Black Hills are two massive caves, claiming to be the third and fourth largest caves in the world. Jewel Cave, at more than 145 miles long, and Wind Cave, at more than 130 miles long, are located less than 18 geographic miles apart, but are completely different in size and structure. Jewel Cave is about 7 square miles big and Wind Cave is 1 square mile. Jewel Cave is a National Monument, while Wind Cave is a National Park, surrounded by 28000 acres of roaming buffalo, deer, birds, and antelope. Jewel Cave is mostly covered in popcorn and dogtooth spar formations, while Wind Cave has 98% of the world’s Boxwork formation, an intricate pattern that can often resemble spiderwebs. Both offer a variety of tours ranging from introductory 20-minute tours that are easy on the knees, to 1 1/2 hour-long tours that take you up and down stairs and ramps, to spelunking tours that require you to crawl on your hands and knees through spaces no wider than a microwave.

Jewel Cave "Popcorn" Formations

Jewel Cave "Dogtooth Spar" Formations

Hiking the Trails of Wind Cave National Park

"Boxwork" Formation


© Cara Parker, 2009.  Photos and text may not be reproduced without the written consent of Cara Parker.