CUSTER, SD – Jewel Cave National Monument will offer final cave tours this season on Saturday, October 9.
The monument had success in leading both Historic Lantern Tours and modified Discovery Tours over the summer months. The Historic Lantern Tours finished for the season back in midSeptember to make way for hibernating bats. The final modified Discovery Tours for the seasonwill be available on Saturday, October 9 on a first-come, first-serve basis. With the elevator project continuing, the steep hiking route down into the modified Discovery Tour would not be feasible to lead tours into the winter season.
Though cave tours will cease until further notice, Jewel Cave is also a wonderful place to visit on the surface to enjoy a picnic or go on a scenic hike. The visitor center, park store, and surface trails will continue to be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed Sundays through Tuesdays.
Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted at www.nps.gov/jeca, as well as on social media through Facebook at www.facebook.com/JewelCaveNPS/ and Instagram at www.instagram.com/jewelcavenps.