Wind Cave National Park photo

Wind Cave National Park

Location
South Dakota
Formed
9 February, 1903
Area
33,970.84 acres
(137.5 km2)
Visitors in 2017
619,924

Wind Cave National Park is a United States National Park located 10 miles (16 km) north of the town of Hot Springs in western South Dakota. Established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, it was the seventh U.S. National Park and the first cave to be designated a national park anywhere in the world. The cave is notable for its displays of the calcite formation known as boxwork. Approximately 95 percent of the world's discovered boxwork formations are found in Wind Cave. Wind Cave is also known for its frostwork. The cave is also considered a three-dimensional maze cave, recognized as the densest (greatest passage volume per cubic mile) cave system in the world. The cave is currently the sixth-longest in the world with 140.47 miles (226.06 km) of explored cave passageways. Above ground, the park includes the largest remaining natural mixed-grass prairie in the United States.

Learn more on Wikipedia.

Airports Nearby

Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)
Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF)
Casper-Natrona County International Airport (CPR)
Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS)
Laramie Regional Airport (LAR)
Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK)

Visitor Centers

North Unit Visitor Center
Painted Canyon Visitor Center
South Unit Visitor Center

Some centers open seasonally. Check nps.gov for accurate open hours.

* Distances and travel times are calculated to center of the park.