Wind Cave
National Park
Wind Cave National Park, the 7th U.S. national park, holds the title of the world’s first cave system designated as a national park. It’s also one of the densest cave systems on Earth, with about four new miles discovered each year. The cave is famous for its rare calcite formations called boxwork, housing 95% of all known boxwork in the world!
Wind Cave At a Glance
Wind Cave National Park is completely free to visit.
Wind Cave National Park is located in southwestern South Dakota, far from any major cities. If you’re flying here, your best airport to fly into would probably be Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) which serves a handful of major airlines.
Wind Cave National Park is typically warmer and drier than the northern Black Hills. Winters see about 30 inches of snow, while spring and fall bring a mix of sun, rain, and wind. Summers are warm with cool nights, and June–July often bring severe thunderstorms with hail and lightning. We’d suggest visiting in either April, May, September, or October to not only have the best weather, but to also avoid crowds.
Different Areas of the Park
Wind Cave National Park is split up into two main sections, the cave and the surface area. In the cave you can take a guided tour to see the famous Boxwork, and on the surface you can enjoy some of the wonderful hikes.
7 Day South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary: Black Hills to Bad Lands
In this guide we’re sharing a 7 day South Dakota itinerary that takes you from the Black Hills to the Badlands, with some of the best stops along the way.
Wind Cave VIDEO
For our second day in South Dakota, we started the morning by visiting one of the most famous US landmarks, Mount Rushmore! Seeing this iconic sight in real life was surreal and extra special at sunrise. We spent the rest of the day driving the Wildlife Loop (and seeing TONS of Bison!), hiking to Rankin Ridge at Wind Caves National Park, eating an amazing burger at Black Hills Burger & Bun Co, and seeing the Crazy Horse Monument. It was another incredible day in this beautiful state!
