Wind Cave was the first cave designated as a national park anywhere in the world (1903) and remains one of the most complex cave systems on earth — over 165 mapped miles of passages packed into one cubic mile of rock, making it the densest cave system known. Wind Cave is famous for boxwork, a rare honeycomb-like calcite formation found in greater concentration here than anywhere else on the planet. Above ground, 33,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie support free-roaming bison, prairie dogs, elk, and pronghorn — one of the few places in North America to see the original short-grass / mixed-grass prairie ecosystem largely intact. From I-90 the access is Exit 61 in Rapid City, then 60 mi south through the Black Hills via US-16 and US-385. Cave entry is by ranger-led tour only — no self-guided cave access.
- World's first cave national park (designated 1903)
- Densest cave system known on earth — 165+ miles of passages in one cubic mile of rock
- Largest known concentration of boxwork formations in the world
- Park entry is free; cave tours require paid tickets
- Above ground: 33,000 acres of intact mixed-grass prairie with bison, prairie dogs, and elk
