Wind Cave National Park
Trailie
Build your Wind Cave itinerary
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Wind Cave National Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Wind Cave at a glance
- Best time
- March–May, September–October
- Trip length
- 3–5 days
- Don't miss
- Visit Wind Cave's Natural Entrance
- Nearby city
- Hot Springs, SD
Explore this park
Alerts(3)
Wind Cave Canyon Trail Closed for Repair and Improvement
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.
Centennial Trailhead Parking
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.
Wind Cave moves to cashless fee collection
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.
Common questions
Planning Wind Cave
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
TrailVerse lists 8 reservation types on the Permits tab, including Wind Cave National Park Tours and Accessibility Tour. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.
