Wind Cave National Park
With one of the world’s largest cave systems and rolling prairies teeming with wildlife, Wind Cave National Park offers two distinct worlds to explore. Located in South Dakota’s Black Hills, it’s also surrounded by popular attractions such as Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, and Custer State Park.
Take a guided tour into Wind Cave to see its intricate boxwork, hike through forests of ponderosa pine, and go for a scenic drive while on the lookout for bison and elk. In this guide, we hope to introduce you to the beauty of this national park and help you plan your trip.
Wind Cave National Park Stats
Founded: January 9, 1903
Annual Visitors: 490,000 visitors in 2024
Size: 34,000 acres
Location: South Dakota
Entrance Fee: Free
Top Experiences in Wind Cave National Park
6 Great Things to Do in Wind Cave National Park
In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Wind Cave National Park, plus essential things to know to have the best experience.
Take a Cave Tour. Touring the cave is the best thing to do within the park. These tours last just over an hour, range from easy to strenuous, and are all ranger-guided.
Go for a Scenic Drive. Look out your window or pull over to take a picture of these incredible South Dakota landscapes. Two main roads travel through the west side of the park, and we’ve frequently seen bison right along the road.
See the Natural Entrance of Wind Cave. Take a short trip along the Prairie Vista Nature Trail to see where the cave “breathes”.
Rankin Ridge Trail. This wonderful, short hike within Wind Cave National Park makes a loop around the top of Rankin Ridge. You’ll have 360-degree views of the area and can even see Badlands National Park on a clear day.
The Best Hike in Wind Cave National Park
Lookout Point Trail & Centennial Trail Loop | Wind Cave National Park
This hike combines two trails, the Lookout Point Trail and the Centennial Trail Loop, into one large loop. This was our favorite hike in Wind Cave National Park. A little under 5 miles, walk through prairie fields and ponderosa forests, and stay on the lookout for prairie dogs and bison.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Wind Cave?
For the best experience, plan on spending one day in Wind Cave National Park. This gives you plenty of time for a cave tour and to hike the Lookout Point Trail Loop and/or the Rankin Ridge Trail.
Here we’ve provided an example one day itinerary to vist Wind Cave National Park. This itinerary is for the summer months, where its best to do the longer hike earlier in the day.
One Day Itinerary
8:30 am: Hike the Lookout Point Trail and Centennial Trail Loop
11:30 am: Picnic Lunch
1:00 pm: Cave Tour
2:30 pm: Rankin Ridge Hike
3:30 pm: Drive the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park
When to Visit Wind Cave National Park
Spring and fall are great times to visit Wind Cave National Park. Daily highs range from the 50’s to the 70’s. You’ll have pleasant temperatures for exploring the cave as well as hiking.
The most popular time to visit Wind Cave National Park is during the summer. On average, daily highs range from 85 to 90°F with cooler temperatures at night.
May, June, and July are the wettest months of the year and the winter months are the driest. During the winter, daily high temperatures are in the high 30’s to low 40’s and light snowfall is possible. Snowfall can temporarily close the park roads.
The graphs below depict the average monthly temperatures and precipitation for the nearby Rapid City, which will help you plan your trip.
Wind Cave National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in May and October.
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Did You Know?
As of 2023, Wind Cave is the seventh largest cave system in the world and the third longest cave in the United States.
Wind Cave contains approximately 95% of the world’s discovered boxwork. Boxwork is made of calcite, which has formed in thin blades and creates a box-like pattern.
Wind Cave was one of the first national parks to be established. It officially became a national park January 3, 1903, making it the seventh US national park. It was also the first cave to be designated as a national park.
Road Trips Including Wind Cave National Park
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This is one of the best road trips in the USA. With 10 days, you can visit Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore, but that’s not all. You also have enough time to visit the highlights of Grand Teton, day trip out to Badlands National Park, spend some time at Wind Cave National Park, and cruise the scenic drives and spot wildlife at Custer State Park.
Wind Cave National Park Map
Wind Cave National Park Photos
US National Parks List
In our US National Parks List, get information on all of the US national parks, including interesting facts, the most and least visited national parks, and a FREE printable national parks checklist with map.
Ultimate US National Parks List for 2026 (+ Printable Checklist)
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