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Horseback Riding in Wind Cave - Wind Cave National Park

a group of people on horses riding into the prairie
Horse Trekking

Horseback Riding in Wind Cave

Wind Cave National Park
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

41°F 5°C · 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

The sprawling prairies and open ponderosa woodlands of Wind Cave give horseback riders thousands of acres to explore. Though there are no facilities within the park that provide horses, visitors may fill out a free day permit to bring their own horses into the park.

Wind Cave National Park offers a variety of activities for visitors, including horseback riding opportunities. Although there are no facilities in the park that provide horses, the park’s 33,000 acres of rolling prairie and ponderosa pine forest are ideal spots for horse owners to ride their own horses.

All horseback riders must obtain a free permit at the visitor center. These permits are used by park managers to monitor use.

Activity details

Duration
Not available
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Time of day
Day
Pets
No
Fees
No
Accessibility

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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.
Tonight
41°F5°C
Clear
W 12 mph19 km/h
Saturday
72°F22°C
Sunny
W 14 mph22 km/h
Saturday Night
50°F10°C
Mostly Clear
W 11 mph17 km/h
Sunday
64°F18°C
Sunny
N 11 mph18 km/h
Sunday Night
42°F6°C
Mostly Clear
NE 6 mph10 km/h
Monday
61°F16°C
Sunny
E 6 mph9 km/h
Forecast data provided by the National Weather Service.
Last updated: Oct 16, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Official forecast
Forecasts can change and local conditions may vary. Check official weather alerts and park guidance before your visit.

More weather details

Tonight
41°F5°C
Clear

Clear. Low around 41, with temperatures rising to around 46 overnight. West wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

W 12 mph19 km/h
Saturday
72°F22°C
Sunny

Sunny. High near 72, with temperatures falling to around 65 in the afternoon. West wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

W 14 mph22 km/h
Saturday Night
50°F10°C
Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 50. West wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

W 11 mph17 km/h
Sunday
64°F18°C
Sunny

Sunny. High near 64, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. North wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

N 11 mph18 km/h
Sunday Night
42°F6°C
Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Northeast wind 3 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

NE 6 mph10 km/h
Monday
61°F16°C
Sunny

Sunny. High near 61, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. East wind 3 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.

E 6 mph9 km/h
Monday Night
46°F8°C
Clear

Clear, with a low around 46.

N 3 mph5 km/h
Tuesday
70°F21°C
Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 70.

SW 6 mph9 km/h
Tuesday Night
52°F11°C
Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

SW 5 mph8 km/h
Wednesday
71°F22°C
Sunny

Sunny, with a high near 71.

SW 6 mph9 km/h Rain: 1%
Wednesday Night
51°F11°C
Mostly Clear

Mostly clear, with a low around 51.

N 5 mph8 km/h Rain: 2%
Thursday
71°F22°C
Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

W 7 mph10 km/h Rain: 12%
Thursday Night
54°F12°C
Chance Light Rain

A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.

SW 7 mph11 km/h Rain: 44%
Friday
66°F19°C
Chance Light Rain

A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.

W 12 mph19 km/h Rain: 34%

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

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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
a ranger showing two children an antler
Junior Ranger Program

Become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger

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.
20-45 Minutes
Source: NPS
More Things To Do at Wind Cave National Park

Information & Disclaimer

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