Reservations for Jewel Cave tours, including the Scenic Tour (pictured), can be made via recreation.gov/Kurt Repanshek file

Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota is changing its operations to prepare for visitors this summer season. Beginning Wednesday, May 8, the visitor center will be open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Extended hours of 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. will begin on Sunday, May 19. These hours will then continue until Labor Day.

Jewel Cave’s Wild Caving Tours will begin for the season on Saturday, May 25, and the Historic Lantern Tours on Saturday, June 1. The park plans to offer the Historic Lantern Tours daily 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 walk-up tours available daily.

Advance reservations are required for the Wild Caving Tour and will be by phone. Information on booking this tour is on the park's website and recreation.gov.

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.