Park Passport

Jewel Cave National Monument SD

Lat, Long: 43.73102945, -103.829994

Designation: National Monument

Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through fragile formations and glimpses of brilliant color. Its maze of passages lures explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service.

Weather:

Weather in the Black Hills varies significantly throughout the year and may be drastically different from the northern hills to the southern hills. The temperatures listed are for average lows to average highs in the location of Custer, South Dakota. Spring ~ Temp. Range of 29°F to 53°F / Summer ~ Temp. Range of 54°F to 80°F / Fall ~ Temp. Range of 33°F to 58°F / Winter ~ Temp. Range of 14°F to 37°F The yearly average rain is 19 in., with May being the wettest month. The yearly average snow is 48 in.

Directions:

By car: Jewel Cave National Monument is located 13 miles west of Custer, South Dakota and 24 miles east of Newcastle, Wyoming on U.S. Highway 16. The monument is about 54 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota via U.S. Highway 16 / 385. By plane: The nearest major airport, Rapid City Regional Airport, is 63 miles away.

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Address/Contact:

11149 U.S. Hwy. 16

Custer, US, 57730

Phone: 6056738300

Email: jeca_information@nps.gov

Entrance Fees:

The target room inside Jewel Cave.A cave explorer sits on some rocks and looks at a clear blue lake in Jewel Cave.A park ranger is standing on a metal platform within a long passageway with a vaulted ceiling.A caver squeezes through a very small and tight opening, surrounded by multi-colored rocks.A park ranger stands as a silhouette in a large room in Jewel Cave.White-colored crystals with blunt tips sparkle against a black background.A bighorn sheep ram stands in the highway, with a camper stopped in the other lane.A small red squirrel stands on a dead pine branch.Fog filters through a stand of pine trees, with red and yellow foliage on the forest floor.Snow covers the ground and flocks pine trees.A paved path with steps heads down a hillside, with rock overhangs and pine trees nearby.A look-alike Theodore Roosevelt speaks to visitors on the patio of the visitor center.A small, dark-brown cabin sits on top of a hill with a walking path leading to its front porch.A wall mural showing red-colored rock transitions into a room with a large cave map on the wall.White to light purple flowers with yellow centers poke through pine needles.A small brown bat rests on a red-orange colored rock.