Jewel Cave Hours, Tours & Fees

Cave Hours, Tours and Fees
Jewel Cave National Monument is open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day. The monument's surface trails and facilities are available free of charge. Fees are charged for cave tours. Jewel Cave is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jewel Cave National Monument offers cave tours year-round. Sometimes, there are waiting lines for tours, particularly during mid-day in July and August. Tour times & availability may vary, so calling ahead for up-to-date information is strongly recommended. Tickets can be purchased at the visitor center or by phone. Phone reservations can be made one month in advance for the Spelunking Tour and up to seven days in advance for the Scenic and Lantern Tours and the Discovery Talk. For ticket reservations call 1-605-673-2288 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

• The Jewel Cave Discovery Program is an easy, wheelchair accessible, 20 minute introduction to the cave’s cultural and natural histories. The “Discovery Talk” is offered year-round. This easy cave visit enters and exits the cave by elevator and involves walking up and down 15 stair steps. This cave talk takes place in the cave's Target Room which is accessible to visitors with limited mobility. Tickets prices: $4 for adults 16 & over. Free for children 6-15.

• Scenic Tours are moderately strenuous and last 1 hour and 20 minutes. Scenic Tours are offered year-round. The tour enters and leaves the cave by elevator in the Visitor Center. The tour route involves walking up and down 723 stair steps along a 1/2-mile loop. This tour provides an opportunity to visit chambers decorated with calcite crystals and other speleothems as you walk along a paved trail with electric lighting. Ticket prices: $8 for adults 17 & over. $4 for children 6-16 and free for children 5 and under.

• The Lantern Tour follows the original tour route, starting from the historic cave entrance. During this tour visitors will carry lanterns that are provided by the monument. This tour is available from the second full week of June through Labor Day. This tour is considered strenuous and lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes. The tour route is approximately 1/2-mile long and includes steep, narrow wooden steps. Visitors must be in good health and physical condition. The tour requires bending, stooping, duck walking, and navigation of steep wooden ladders. The minimum age allowed on this tour is 6 years old. Ticket prices: $8 for adults 17 & over. $4 for children 6-16.

• Spelunking Tours are designed for visitors who want the thrill of experiencing the cave in its natural state. This tour is available during the summer season from the beginning of June through the middle of August and two Sundays of the month through the winter season. Participants scramble over cave "breakdown," chimney between cave walls, climb semi-vertical rocks (rope-assisted climbs), and belly crawl through tight passages. Participants are required to fit through a passage 8 1/2 inches high by 24 inches wide before attempting this tour. Along a 2/3-mile route, visitors learn about low-impact caving, caving techniques, safety and caving equipment. The tour lasts 3 to 4 hours, and is considered extremely strenuous. Participants must be 16 years of age or older and in good health and physical condition. Participants must provide and wear above-the-ankle, lug-soled, lace-up leather boots; soft elbow and knee pads; gloves; long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. The Monument does not provide this equipment. Clothes and boots may be permanently stained with manganese. The Monument only provides a hard hat and headlamp. Ticket prices: $27 for adults 16 & over.

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