Thin fins of calcite forming box-shaped openings, called boxwork, on a cave ceiling.
The boxwork on the ceiling of the Elk's Room is a popular photography subject and has been featured on many postcards and other souvenirs. NPS Photo

Wind Cave National Park

National Park · South Dakota · National Park Service

Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world.

Plan your visit

Trails & hiking

Biking · Hiking

Camping

Camping · Backcountry Camping · Group Camping · RV Camping

Site types & reservations: see the official site.

Know before you go

Phone
6057454600
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Highlights: Farming and Agriculture · Ranches · Native American Heritage · Transportation · Bridges · Westward Expansion · Homesteading · Animals · Birds · Bison · Cats (wild) · Elk · Caves, Caverns and Karst · Fire · Forests and Woodlands · Coniferous Forests · Fossils and Paleontology · Geology · Groundwater · Aquifers · Grasslands · Prairies · Night Sky · Astronomy · Scenic Views · Trails · Unique Species · Endangered

Activities & features: Auto and ATV · Scenic Driving · Road Biking · Car or Front Country Camping · Caving · Food · Picnicking · Guided Tours · Self-Guided Tours - Auto · Backcountry Hiking · Front-Country Hiking · Horse Trekking · Junior Ranger Program · Wildlife Watching · Birdwatching · Park Film · Museum Exhibits · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store

Photos

  • a bison cow and calf on the prairie
    NPS Photo / Dan Roddy
  • criss-cross-patterned calcite fins of the cave feature boxwork
    NPS Photo
  • rolling hills of forest and prairie landscape
    NPS Photo
  • a caver with pads and helmet crawling in the cave
    NPS Photo
  • View of Wind Cave National Park from a ridge with scattered ponderosa pine trees and open grassland.
    NPS Photo
  • Two prairie dogs stand on a dirt mound surrounded by green grass.
    NPS Photo

Nearby parks

Parks of South Dakota

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65 parks mapped in South Dakota

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Guides for the trip

All guides →

Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12