National Park Service Wind Cave National Park U.S. Department of the Interior The official newspaper Annual 2015 Visitor Guide Park Information and Maps The Best of Both Worlds What Lies Below? From Tipis to Tours Back From the Brink Wind Cave National Park is host to Wind Cave is considered sacred and Many national parks are great places one of the longest and most complex culturally significant to many American to view wildlife. However, that has caves in the world. Currently over 143 Indians, and throughout the centuries, not always been the case. In the early miles of twisting passageways reside many tribes lived and traveled within 1900s, many animal populations neared under only 1.2 square miles of surface what would become Wind Cave extinction because of loss of habitat or area, creating a maze of tunnels deep National Park. Who first discovered hunting pressures. below the park's rolling hills. The cave Wind Cave is lost to time, but in 1881, is famous for a rare formation known Tom and Jesse Bingham rediscovered as boxwork. More boxwork is found in the cave when they were attracted Welcome to Wind Cave than all other caves in the to the entrance by whistling noises Wind Cave National Park! world combined. coming out of the cave. This national park is one of the oldest in Portions of Wind Cave are believed to In 1889, the South Dakota Mining the country. Established in 1903, it was the be over 300 million years old, making Company established a mining eighth national park created and the first set it one of the oldest known caves in the claim at Wind Cave and hired J.D. aside to protect a cave. world. The cave has undergone many McDonald to manage it. The mining geological changes and those processes was unsuccessful, but McDonald While Wind Cave is the major attraction continue today. Geologists have many realized the cave's potential as a tourist With the establishment of the Wind with its unique boxwork and significant questions yet to answer before we can destination. One of J.D.'s sons, Alvin, Cave National Game Preserve in 1912, underground cave passageways, the surface fully understand the rich, incredible only 16 years old, spent much of his wildlife that once flourished in the area resources, including both natural and world below our feet. time exploring the cave. were reintroduced back to their native cultural resources, are also worth the stop. habitats. Because of this and continuing The buildings around the visitor center date Where Does that Hole Go? back to the 1930's Civilian Conservation On January 3, 1903, President efforts, such as the 2007 reintroduction What tempted the first explorers of Corps. The wildlife such as bison, elk, mule Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill of the black-footed ferret, Wind Cave deer, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, Wind Cave to leave behind their safe, creating Wind Cave National Park. It National Park is home to ferrets, elk, and black-footed ferrets are also exciting to familiar world, and venture into the was the eighth national park created bison, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and an view. dark, unknown depths of Wind Cave? and the first to protect a cave. abundance of other wildlife. Cave exploration continues here for Today, visitors from around the world come many of the same reasons humans have The Endless Unknown A Sea of Grass to see these two parks in one. Our hope explored since the beginning of time: The park's underground frontier is Wind Cave National Park is a place is that you have a safe and enjoyable visit out of adventure, curiosity, and even the matched by an equally vast wilderness where one can still see a remnant of a to Wind Cave National Park, take plenty of desire for riches. over the prairie every night. The night mixed-grass prairie and imagine the pictures, participate in our programs, and sky is an important part of the Wind scene that greeted westward-bound leave nothing but footprints. Cave National Park experience. The 19th century pioneers – not farms Travel Safe, park's exceptionally clean air brings and cities, as today, but open plains stars and planets shimmering to life as stretching across the middle of the Vidal Dávila day fades into night. Even for those continent. A piece of that prairie is Superintendent with limited knowledge of astronomy, preserved here in its natural state. the night sky is a memorable part of the park experience. Within Wind Cave National Park you Call 911 for Emergencies can find an excellent example of a Experiencing the prairie while mixed-grass prairie. A mixed-grass surrounded by the inky blackness prairie is a meeting point - or ecotone - Table of Contents After more than 100 years of exploration of the night, interrupted only by the where species of the eastern tall grass Planning Your Visit .............................. 2 is there anything new to discover in glow of the northern lights or a distant prairie mingle with the short grass Wind Cave Seasons ............................. 3 Wind Cave? Amazingly, the cave still lightning storm, is a tie to our past. It species of the western high plains. Cave Tour Information ........................ 4 offers opportunities to venture where gives us a place and time to sit back and The convergence provides a home Learning More About the Park ........... 6 no one has gone before, making it one of enjoy what our ancestors would have for a diversity of plants and animals the last frontiers on Earth. National Park Neighbors ..................... 7 experienced, peering into the endless and allows us to step back in time and Hiking Trails & Map ............................. 8 unknown. glimpse the immensity of what was once the Great Plains. Planning Your Visit National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Visitor Center Backcountry Camping Bicycling The Wind Cave Visitor Center is a great Wind Cave National Park's Bicycling is limited to roads which place to start your park visit. The visitor backcountry offers an excellent are open to public motor vehicle Wind Cave National Park center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. opportunity to experience and enjoy access. Bicycling off road, on trails, daily, with extended hours during the the abundant resources of the park. or in the backcountry is prohibited. Located in the southern Black Hills of summer. The visitor center is closed on Backcountry camping is permitted When bicycling, be aware that animals South Dakota, Wind Cave National Park Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New in the northwestern part of the park. roam freely through the park. Keep encompasses 33,851 acres of mixed- Year’s Day. All cave tours begin at the Backcountry campers must have a a safe distance from bison and all grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest, visitor center and are offered daily. permit. Permits are free and can be wild animals. Traveling the park’s as well as one of the longest, oldest, Exhibits, maps, book sales, backcountry obtained at the visitor center. backcountry roads, NPS 5 and 6, and most complex cave systems in the permits, horse permits, information provides a great opportunity to see the world. about cave tours and ranger programs, prairie area of the park. lost-and-found services, and Federal Superintendent Vidal Dávila Picnicking Wind Cave National Park Recreational Lands Passes are all The park’s picnic area is located ¼ 26611 US Hwy 385 available here. Hot Springs, SD 57747-0129 USA mile north of the visitor center and Ranger Programs is open year-round. The picnic area Park Phone When visiting the park, plan to attend contains tables, fire grates, and pit (605) 745-4600 a ranger-led program. Cave tours are toilets. Drinking water is available in offered year-round while other ranger- the summer months. Website lead programs vary seasonally. See page 4 www.nps.gov/wica for more information. Restrooms Restrooms are available year-round Email at the visitor center and in the For your safety, and for the protection [email protected] summer months at the Elk Mountain of park resources, follow all regulations Campground. Pit toilets are available during your stay. Leave no trace of your at both the picnic area and the visit. campground year round. Hiking Trash and Recycling When hiking park trails make sure to Trash receptacles are available at Campground carry plenty of water; temperatures in the visitor center, the picnic area, The Elk Mountain Campground is the summer can exceed 100°F (38°C). and the Elk Mountain Campground. This Visitor Guide is published by the located one mile north of the visitor Water is not readily available along Recycling facilities are also available Black Hills Parks and Forests Association, center. Campsites are available on a the trails and any water found in the a not-for-profit organization that at these areas. The park recycles glass, first-come, first-served basis;generally backcountry should be treated or boiled assists the National Park Service in its aluminum cans, steel cans, and plastic the campground does not fill. Each before drinking. Flies, mosquitoes, and educational, interpretive, and scientific containers with PETE 1 or HDPE 2 site accommodates up to eight people wood ticks can be found in the wetter programs. For more information, see markings. Please rinse recyclables and two vehicles. Two accessible sites areas of the park. Be watchful for page (7). before placing them in containers. are available. The fee for camping is $18 rattlesnakes throughout the prairie. The National Park Service cares for the per night, per site. In the off-season, Area Services Horseback Riding special places saved by the American when facilities are limited, the fee is $9 There are no lodging, gasoline, grocery, Horseback riding is a wonderful way to people so that all may experience our per night.