{"id":"nps-wica","slug":"wind-cave-national-park","name":"Wind Cave National Park","designation":"National Park","category":"national-park","categoryLabel":"National Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"WICA","designation":"National Park","sourceId":"nps-wica"}],"states":["SD"],"stateNames":["South Dakota"],"location":{"lat":43.58012365,"lon":-103.4394709},"bbox":[-103.5506,43.4972,-103.3368,43.6405],"acres":{"value":33912,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"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.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[{"id":"ppl-p-wind-cave-national-park","type":"protected","label":"Protected by T.R.","date":"1903-01-09","then":"Wind Cave National Park","thenKind":"national park","text":"As President, Theodore Roosevelt signed the act creating it (1903-01-09).","note":"The first national park anywhere created to protect a cave. Roosevelt signed the act on January 9, 1903.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.craterlakeinstitute.com/general-natural-history-articles/general-natural-history-articles-index/report-on-crater-lake-and-others-1907/","name":"craterlakeinstitute.com"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/wica/learn/historyculture/birth-of-a-national-park-a-national-park-is-created.htm","name":"nps.gov"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_Cave_National_Park","name":"en.wikipedia.org"},{"name":"Roosevelt’s Public Lands","url":"https://publiclands.labs.trlibrary.com/#place=p-wind-cave-national-park"}],"dataset":"publiclands","reviewed":true}],"trTypes":["protected"],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/wica/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=43.6405&b_tl_lng=-103.5506&b_br_lat=43.4972&b_br_lng=-103.3368","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Wind%20Cave%20National%20Park","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3DDEBDBA-0714-8856-F59E16D2DB6FCB4B.jpg","title":"Boxwork in the Elk's Room","alt":"Thin fins of calcite forming box-shaped openings, called boxwork, on a cave ceiling.","caption":"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.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7ACD12-1DD8-B71B-0BEF13804E4498FF.jpg","title":"Bison cow and calf","alt":"a bison cow and calf on the prairie","caption":"Several hundred bison roam the rolling prairie of Wind Cave National Park.","credit":"NPS Photo / Dan Roddy","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7ACFE9-1DD8-B71B-0BA11E8BB9A0EE0D.jpg","title":"Boxwork","alt":"criss-cross-patterned calcite fins of the cave feature boxwork","caption":"Delicate fins of boxwork, a rare cave feature, in Elk's Room, Wind Cave.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7ACE71-1DD8-B71B-0BBD14BFE8C0C468.jpg","title":"Rankin Ridge view","alt":"rolling hills of forest and prairie landscape","caption":"Wind Cave National Park from Rankin Ridge, the park's highest point.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7AD1AD-1DD8-B71B-0B7C9E1C79DA6F5C.jpg","title":"Wind Cave explorer","alt":"a caver with pads and helmet crawling in the cave","caption":"Each summer, the Wild Cave Tour offers the chance to get up close and personal with Wind Cave.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/7947CCD9-AC9E-CF65-A4B587F2C8185044.jpg","title":"Park View","alt":"View of Wind Cave National Park from a ridge with scattered ponderosa pine trees and open grassland.","caption":"View of Wind Cave National Park from near the southern entrance.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/795A2E27-B049-8843-A778CD863E13D763.jpg","title":"Prairie Dogs on a Mound","alt":"Two prairie dogs stand on a dirt mound surrounded by green grass.","caption":"Two prairie dogs watching for predators from the top of a mound.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/A613F242-D1F1-26F0-EF952D92452BCC23.jpg","title":"Post Office room on the Natural Entrance Cave Tour","alt":"View of a cave room with yellowish-brown rocks and a criss-cross pattern of boxwork on the ceiling.","caption":"View of the Post Office room on the Natural Entrance Cave Tour.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Auto and ATV","Scenic Driving","Biking","Road Biking","Camping","Backcountry Camping","Car or Front Country Camping","Group Camping","RV Camping","Caving","Food","Picnicking","Guided Tours","Self-Guided Tours - Auto","Hiking","Backcountry Hiking","Front-Country Hiking","Horse Trekking","Junior Ranger Program","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching","Park Film","Museum Exhibits","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Farming and Agriculture","Ranches","Native American Heritage","Transportation","Bridges","Westward Expansion","Homesteading","Animals","Birds","Bison","Cats (wild)","Elk","Caves, Caverns and Karst","Fire","Forests and Woodlands","Coniferous Forests","Fossils and Paleontology","Geology","Groundwater","Aquifers","Grasslands","Prairies","Night Sky","Astronomy","Scenic Views","Trails","Unique Species","Endangered"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Wind Cave National Park","description":"The park is open all day, every day. Snow or severe weather can limit access to some areas of the park, especially in winter. Visitor Center hours and cave tour schedules vary throughout the year. \n\nVisit the park website or call 605.745.4600 for current conditions.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"directions":"Wind Cave National Park is located in South Dakota about 11 miles north of Hot Springs, or about 22 miles south of Custer, on US Highway 385. The park Visitor Center, where all cave tours begin, is approximately 1/2 mile west of the highway.","weatherInfo":"Spring: Highs range from 50-70°F with highly variable weather. Spring is the park's wettest season. Summer: Hot and generally dry with daytime temperatures regularly exceeding 80°F (27°C). Strong thunderstorms are common and can produce large hail and lightning. Fall: Generally dry with warm days and cool nights. Highs 50-60°F. Lows below freezing are common. Winter: Highs are in the high 30s with lows around 10°F. Snowfall averages 30 inches annually, periodically closing park roads.","contacts":{"phone":"6057454600","email":"WICA_interpretation@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Wind Cave Visitor Center","description":"The visitor center is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days. All cave tours are ranger-led and leave from the visitor center.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm","lat":43.55656453579452,"lon":-103.47830608593824}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Elk Mountain Campground","description":"This 64-site campground is open year round. Sites can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. Two sites are handicap-accessible. Flush toilets and drinking water are available late May through September. Fees are half-price when water is not available. Payment is by credit or debit card only. Two group campsites are also available through www.recreation.gov.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/246878","sites":64}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"norbeck-wildlife-preserve-national-game-refuge","km":31},{"slug":"mount-rushmore-national-memorial","km":33},{"slug":"jewel-cave-national-monument","km":36},{"slug":"black-hills-national-forest","km":51},{"slug":"oglala-national-grassland","km":76},{"slug":"badlands-national-park","km":78}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=wica"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.625Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Natural Entrance Tour Route Closes For Season October 1, 2026","text":"The Natural Entrance Tour Route will be closed for the season beginning October 1st, 2026. The Garden of Eden, Fairgrounds, and Accessibility Tour Routes remain available. This annual closure will last through the winter season.","url":null,"updated":"2026-09-25 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-973BDD5B-01D0-43BB-8940-53035FAB205F"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Centennial Trailhead Parking","text":"Reminder: Overnight parking without a camping permit is prohibited. Permits are not issued specifically for parking. Shuttles are available in the Black Hills for through hikers on the Centennial Trail.","url":null,"updated":"2024-07-31 12:39:04.0","id":"nps-ED937D2E-21A6-4BBD-9ACF-BFE92F72C0EA"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Wind Cave moves to cashless fee collection","text":"Payments for cave tours, campground fees, as well as Interagency Passes at Wind Cave National Park, will be by credit/ debit cards or digital payments only. Cash and check payments will no longer be accepted.","url":null,"updated":"2023-02-10 17:18:28.0","id":"nps-FC4081DE-FF98-4059-8FD4-F7112A221A1F"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/wind-cave-national-park/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/wind-cave-national-park.geojson"}