Wind Cave is world’s fourth-longest cave
Wind Cave National Park, six miles north of Hot Springs, protects a remarkable national park containing two very different worlds. Here you can find one of the last remnants of a mixed-grass prairie and one of the longest, most complex cave systems in the world.
More than 121-2/3 miles long, the cave is the fourth-longest cave in the world. All of the known cave passageways fit underneath an almost 1-square mile of surface area, making this one of the most complex, interconnected, subterranean mazes in the world.
The cave is decorated with a rare formation called boxwork that has dazzled visitors for more than a century.
Tours are offered daily throughout the year. In winter (Oct.15-March), tours are at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Call the park at 745-4600 for exact tour schedules.
In 1912, Congress expanded Wind Cave National Park to create a national game preserve. This was one of the first places in the country to re-establish herds of bison, elk and pronghorn to the American prairie. With the preservation of the wildlife came the preservation of a vanishing prairie. It is this complex prairie ecosystem that allows wildlife to flourish in the park. Visitors can hike any of the 30 miles of trails within the park or simply walk across the open prairie lands to explore on their own.
Campers can enjoy the quiet of Elk Mountain Campground, about a mile from the visitor center, throughout the year.