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Become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger - Wind Cave National Park

a ranger showing two children an antler
Junior Ranger Program

Become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger

Wind Cave National Park
20-45 Minutes
Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter
Pets: No
Fees: No

Visitor Dashboard

Current Alerts

9 active alerts
View current park alerts

Access Requirements

Unknown
View official access requirements

Weather forecast

52°F 11°C · Mostly Clear
More weather details

Best Time to Visit

Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter
Based on official activity seasons

More Things To Do

Wind Cave National Park
Discover more activities

Current park status

9 active alerts
Information

Natural Entrance Tour Route Closes For Season October 1, 2026

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The Natural Entrance Tour Route will be closed for the season beginning October 1st, 2026. The Garden of Eden, Fairgrounds, and Accessibility Tour Routes remain available. This annual closure will last through the winter season.
Information

Cave Tours Will Resume on September 13, 2026

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Cave tours will resume staring at 12:00 pm mountain time. Tickets for September 13th will be available first come, first served in person only. Reservations made through Recreation.gov for tours beginning on Monday, September 14th, will be honored.
Park Closure

Tours Suspended Due To Emergency Phone System Outage

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All tours Saturday, September 12th, have been suspended due to an emergency phone system outage. This outage has affected all phone lines inside the cave and inside the elevator system, preventing emergency calls to the surface should an incident occur. Once emergency phone service is restored, tours will resume with tickets available on a first-come-first-served basis at the visitor center. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure the safety of our cave tours.
Information

Wind Cave Tour Have Resumed

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As of Saturday, September 12th, guided cave tours have resumed.
Park Closure

All Cave Tours Suspended Beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2026

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As of Thursday, September 10th, all cave tours are suspended until further notice while work is conducted on the elevator system. Cave tour reservations purchased during the closure will be automatically refunded.
Caution

Temporary Emergency Fire Closure

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Open fires of any kind, including charcoal fires, are prohibited until conditions improve. Smoking is prohibited except for in vehicles or buildings where indicated. Use of gas stoves is permitted in areas that are clear of flammable materials.
Park Closure

Wind Cave Canyon Trail Closed for Repair and Improvement

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Wind Cave Canyon Trail is closed so that the trail and adjoining road can be repaired from frequent washouts. Sixteen low water crossings will be hardened and the road resurfaced. The trail could be closed for several weeks. This closure does not affect any cave tours.
Information

Centennial Trailhead Parking

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Reminder: Overnight parking without a camping permit is prohibited. Permits are not issued specifically for parking. Shuttles are available in the Black Hills for through hikers on the Centennial Trail.
Information

Wind Cave moves to cashless fee collection

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Payments for cave tours, campground fees, as well as Interagency Passes at Wind Cave National Park, will be by credit/ debit cards or digital payments only. Cash and check payments will no longer be accepted.

About this activity

Kids of all ages can become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger. Complete the activity book, learn about the park, and take the pledge to earn a Junior Ranger badge.

The Junior Ranger Program is an exciting opportunity for visitors of all ages to learn about the park. Learn about the park's ecosystems, the cave, animals, and how to protect all parts of our environment.

Activity details

Duration
20-45 Minutes
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Pets
No
Fees
No
Accessibility

Guided Experiences

Discover guided tours and memorable experiences near Wind Cave National Park.

Why book a guided experience?

Discover guided tours, tickets and activities available near Wind Cave National Park.

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Access requirement information

Not available

No additional access requirement details are available from the provider.

Official website

Official access information supplied by the provider for this activity. Requirements and availability may change, so always verify the latest details on the official website.
Visit official website

Weather forecast

Check the weather forecast before planning this activity.
Overnight
52°F11°C
Mostly Clear
W 6 mph10 km/h
Wednesday
76°F24°C
Mostly Sunny
N 8 mph13 km/h Rain: 1%
Wednesday Night
52°F11°C
Mostly Cloudy
NE 11 mph18 km/h Rain: 2%
Thursday
64°F18°C
Mostly Sunny
NE 13 mph21 km/h Rain: 2%
Thursday Night
45°F7°C
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
NE 10 mph16 km/h Rain: 17%
Friday
69°F21°C
Mostly Sunny
SE 7 mph10 km/h Rain: 1%
Forecast data provided by the National Weather Service.
Last updated: Sep 30, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Official forecast
Forecasts can change and local conditions may vary. Check official weather alerts and park guidance before your visit.

More weather details

Overnight
52°F11°C
Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 52. West wind around 6 mph.

W 6 mph10 km/h
Wednesday
76°F24°C
Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny. High near 76, with temperatures falling to around 72 in the afternoon. North wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

N 8 mph13 km/h Rain: 1%
Wednesday Night
52°F11°C
Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy. Low around 52, with temperatures rising to around 54 overnight. Northeast wind 5 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

NE 11 mph18 km/h Rain: 2%
Thursday
64°F18°C
Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny. High near 64, with temperatures falling to around 61 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

NE 13 mph21 km/h Rain: 2%
Thursday Night
45°F7°C
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers

A slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northeast wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

NE 10 mph16 km/h Rain: 17%
Friday
69°F21°C
Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 67 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.

SE 7 mph10 km/h Rain: 1%
Friday Night
52°F11°C
Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

N 6 mph10 km/h Rain: 5%
Saturday
71°F22°C
Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 71.

N 9 mph14 km/h Rain: 8%
Saturday Night
47°F8°C
Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

N 7 mph10 km/h Rain: 4%
Sunday
66°F19°C
Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 66.

E 8 mph12 km/h Rain: 1%
Sunday Night
50°F10°C
Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

NE 6 mph10 km/h Rain: 2%
Monday
76°F24°C
Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 76.

SW 6 mph9 km/h Rain: 1%
Monday Night
57°F14°C
Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

W 6 mph9 km/h Rain: 1%
Tuesday
79°F26°C
Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 79.

NW 8 mph13 km/h Rain: 2%

Disclaimer

Check the weather forecast before planning this activity.

Weather, wind, precipitation and temperature can vary by location and time. Prepare appropriate clothing and equipment and check official alerts and park guidance.

Forecasts can change and local conditions may vary. Check official weather alerts and park guidance before your visit.

Location and map

View this park in your preferred navigation app for directions and nearby places.
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More Things To Do at Wind Cave National Park

Explore Things To Do at Wind Cave National Park
a tent in a prairie overlooking the forest
Backcountry Camping

Backcountry Camping at Wind Cave

Experienced hikers may enjoy camping in Wind Cave's scenic backcountry. Thousands of acres of undeveloped forest and prairie provide countless sites...
Source: NPS
two people in biking gear riding bikes on a dirt road in the open prairie
Road Biking

Bike Wind Cave

Explore Wind Cave by bike. Although bikes are limited to established roads, this is a great activity for those who want to take their time to sightsee...
Source: NPS
More Things To Do at Wind Cave National Park

Information & Disclaimer

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