Wind Cave National Park • South Dakota

Thin fins of calcite forming box-shaped openings, called boxwork, on a cave ceiling.

a bison cow and calf on the prairie

criss-cross-patterned calcite fins of the cave feature boxwork

rolling hills of forest and prairie landscape

a caver with pads and helmet crawling in the cave

two prairie dogs watch from their burrow

Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world.

The boxwork on the ceiling of the Elk's Room is a popular photography subject and has been featured on many postcards and other souvenirs.
NPS Photo

Several hundred bison roam the rolling prairie of Wind Cave National Park.
NPS Photo / Dan Roddy

Delicate fins of boxwork, a rare cave feature, in Elk's Room, Wind Cave.
NPS Photo

Wind Cave National Park from Rankin Ridge, the park's highest point.
NPS Photo

Each summer, the Wild Cave Tour offers the chance to get up close and personal with Wind Cave.
NPS Photo

Prairie dog sightings are common throughout the park's prairies.
NPS Photo

A ranger shows visitors Wind Cave

Answers to frequently asked questions about viewing the cave.

Spanning view of forest merging into prairie hills

Wind Cave has a vast surface to explore either with hiking trails, wildlife viewing, or driving loops.

A woman standing next to a bag dispenser with two dogs on leash.

If you're visiting with pets, be sure to know and follow the B.A.R.K. Ranger rules.

bison walking prairie with cavers exploring below

Fascinating stories of the geology, wildlife, and history of Wind Cave.

The entrance sign to the campground which reads "Elk Mountain Campground".

The 62-site Elk Mountain Campground is open year round. Payment is by credit or debit card only.

A bison laying in the grass.

Learn about the park's most iconic animal, the American Bison.

Last updated: March 28, 2026

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

26611 US Highway 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747

Phone:

605 745-4600

Contact Us

Tools

Stay Connected

Health & Safety

Conservation Movement

Cultural Landscapes

Birds & Birding