Wind Cave National Park in Mount Rushmore National Park

Wind Cave National Park

Forty miles south of Mount Rushmore is Wind Cave National Park, one of the world's longest and most complex cave systems.

Plan Around Wind Cave National Park

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Wind Cave National Park Details

Forty miles south of Mount Rushmore is Wind Cave National Park, one of the world's longest and most complex cave systems, and one of America's oldest national parks, established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Not only was Wind Cave America's eighth National Park, but also the first to be created solely to protect a cave. The cave's unusual calcite formations resembling honeycomb - or boxwork - is what it's best known for, as well as its winds which change direction regularly. When visiting the park, keep an eye out (above ground) for bison, elk, and other wildlife roaming about.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

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Estimated time

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Region

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Nearby Parks Around Wind Cave National Park

Compare nearby parks around Wind Cave National Park when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

74.7 mi away

Badlands

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Yellowstone

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Grand Teton

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413.4 mi away

Black Canyon

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Nearby Points of Interest Around Wind Cave National Park

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Wind Cave National Park while the map context is still fresh.

2.3 mi away

Boland Ridge Trail

Trail features panoramic views of the park as well as Battle Mountain, Red Valley, and the Black Hills.

3.4 mi away

Rankin Ridge Nature Trail

Rankin Ridge Nature Trail is a self-guided hike.

3.4 mi away

Lookout Point Trail

This trail rolls up and over the prairie, climbing past Lookout Point.

3.4 mi away

Centennial Trail

The Centennial Trail is a 111-mile trail that spans nearly the entire state of South Dakota.

3.5 mi away

Sanctuary Trail

This moderate, 3.6-mile (one way) trail connects to the Highland Creek Trail