Wind Cave National Park
Boxwork below, bison above
Wind Cave is one of the oldest national parks in the country and one of the longest, most complex caves in the world. Its ceilings hold rare calcite boxwork, while several hundred bison graze the intact prairie overhead. Drive time and distance are routing estimates from OSRM; allow extra for season, traffic and road work.
Highlights
- Boxwork: Thin calcite fins forming box-shaped openings, a rare cave feature.
- Prairie and bison: A remnant island of intact prairie above the cave.
Stops along the way
- Crazy Horse Memorial: On US 385 on the way south.
- Wind Cave Visitor Center: Cave entry is with a ranger guide only. Tickets can sell out, especially in summer, so reserve ahead at Recreation.gov, and check the park site for current alerts and the seasonal schedule.