Jewel Cave Announces Operations for Summer Season

Jewel Cave National Monument News Release

Release Date:  May 21, 2025CUSTER, SD – Jewel Cave National Monument is changing its operations to prepare for visitors this summer season. The monument will be open every day starting Sunday, May 25, with extended hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Jewel Cave’s Wild Caving Tours will begin for the season on Friday, May 30, and the Historic Lantern Tours on Sunday, June 1. The park plans to offer the historic lantern tours regularly until Labor Day, and the Wild Caving Tour on weekends and select weekdays through mid-August. The monument will continue to offer the popular Scenic and Discovery Tours.

Advance reservations for the scenic, discovery and historic lantern tours are strongly recommended and will be available to book on Recreation.gov, with limited first-come, first-serve cave tour tickets available daily. Reservations are required for the Wild Caving Tour. Those interested are recommended to check the park website and recreation.gov for initial steps on obtaining a spot on the Wild Caving Tour.

The monument also partners with the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association, which operates a Park Store inside the visitor center.  The store will be open on the same schedule as the visitor center and provides visitors with multiple products and services to complement their visit.

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted at www.nps.gov/jeca, as well as on social media through Facebook at www.facebook.com/JewelCaveNPS/ and Instagram at www.instagram.com/jewelcavenps.