Jewel Cave is undeniably the Star of the Show at this national monument in South Dakota. And, rightfully so. Not only is it one of the longest caves in the world, at 220 mapped miles (354 km), but the variety of speleothems (cave formations) you will see on one of the park’s guided cave tours is pretty astounding.

Sparkling dog tooth spar - one of the "jewels" of Jewel Cave National Monument / Rebecca Latson

To explore this cave and see those speleothems, you must reserve a spot on one of the park’s guided tours. Just what kind of tours are there and what do they entail?

For 2024, there are two cave tours offered: The Discovery Tour and the Scenic Tour.

Inside the Target Room on the Discovery Tour, Jewel Cave National Monument / Rebecca Latson

If you do not have much time to spend at Jewel Cave, then the 20-minute Discovery Tour should be your choice. On this wheelchair accessible guided tour, you will receive an introduction to the cave’s natural and cultural histories. You’ll be able to view examples of the beautiful calcite spars - the “jewels” to which this cave owes its name – from different platforms within the large “Target Room.” You will learn how Jewel Cave formed and the geology of the cave and national monument overall.

The Scenic Tour route involves 734 stair steps along the route, Jewel Cave National Monument / NPS-Neil Heller

If you have a longer time to spend at Jewel Cave, you are encouraged to join the guided Scenic Tour through various cave chambers and passages. This 1-hour-and-20-minute tour will introduce you to more speleothems, including two types of calcite crystals known as nailhead spar and dogtooth spar, boxwork, cave popcorn, flowstone, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and a long ribbon drapery called cave bacon. You’ll also learn in greater detail the history and geology of the cave.

The Scenic Tour is considered moderately strenuous due to the 734 stair steps along a ½-mile (0.8 km) route.

Advance reservations through recreation.gov are highly recommended for both of these tours, as same-day reservations are not guaranteed and these tours are extremely popular.

Preparing For A Cave Tour

Prior to embarking on either tour, you should know what to expect and what you can and cannot take with you.

Per Jewel Cave staff:

• Wear tennis shoes, sneakers, or hiking boots to participate in a cave tour. No hiking sandals with openings or any type of shoes with any openings (other than the one your foot goes into) are acceptable. If questionable, park rangers may ask that you change your footwear before taking part in the tour. If the visitor does not have appropriate footwear, they will be denied access to the cave tour.
  
  
• There are NO REFUNDS for missed tours or late arrivals. Visitors are encouraged to plan their schedules carefully and be on-site at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled tour time.
  
  
• Know Your Limits! All cave tour participants (of all ages) must be able to navigate the tour routes unassisted. Cave tours are moderately strenuous and not recommended for anyone with health conditions, poor balance, mobility concerns, or those with physical limitations (i.e., climbing stairs, recent surgery, and illness).
  
  
• The temperature inside Jewel Cave is 49°F / 9°C year-round. Visitors are encouraged to wear long pants and a sweatshirt, sweater, or light jacket.
  
  
• Photography is permitted along the Scenic Tour and during Discovery Tours; however, visitors are encouraged to use small cameras and/or cell phones to avoid large lenses, bags, etc. Pictures are not allowed on any stairs within the cave.
  
  
• To prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome (WNS), which is a fungal disease that impacts bats. all visitors exiting Jewel Cave are required to walk through a decontamination tray to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS), which is a fungal disease that impacts bats. All shoes, clothes, or gear worn in Jewel Cave may not be allowed in any other caves or mines. This includes private caves and mines within South Dakota and around the world. Furthermore, clothing and footwear used in Jewel Cave will NOT be allowed on the Candlelight Tour or the Wild Cave Tour at nearby Wind Cave National Park.

What Not To Bring

• Do not wear shoes with any openings, such as hiking sandals (like Chacos, Keens, Tevas), crocs, flip flops, etc - as these are not allowed on any cave tour.
  
  
• Backpacks, purses, handbags, diaper bags, weapons, hiking sticks, and walking poles are not allowed inside Jewel Cave. For your safety, as well as the protection of the cave resources, these items need to be left in the security of a personal vehicle.
  
  
• Food, gum, candy, drinks, tobacco products, monopods, tripods, Go-Pro sticks, large flashlights, and pets are not allowed inside Jewel Cave. These items need to be left in the security of a personal vehicle.

Information Regarding Children

• Children may NOT be carried on any portion of the cave tours. Furthermore - diaper bags and backpack carriers are not allowed in Jewel Cave. For this reason, the Discovery Tour is recommended for those with infants, toddlers, and young children (which does allow strollers).
  
  
• Infants and toddlers can participate in the Scenic Tour only if in a front-carrier attached to their adult, and the child must remain in the carrier throughout the duration of the cave tour.
  
  
• Children 15 years of age and younger must be accompanied by an adult while in the park and on a cave tour.
  
  
• If you are unsure of the cave tours, the monument also provides a Junior Ranger and Pee Wee Ranger Program for kids of all ages, along with with other ranger-guided activities during the summer months.