Are you looking for something new and exciting to do around SoDak this weekend? While the options are virtually endless, we recommend taking a journey deep inside the earth via the incredible Jewel Cave: One of the Mount Rushmore State’s most historically significant and fascinating places!

Located near Custer, Jewel Cave is arguably the crown jewel of South Dakota (see what we did there?), thanks to its many incredible formations and passages.
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Billed as being the broadest and deepest cave in South Dakota, Jewel Cave is also considered to be the third largest in the world, housing some 200 miles worth of mapped passages.
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While the public can only access a few miles of the Cave, there is still plenty to see, do, and discover during your visit, beginning with their famous Scenic Tour! 
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Offered daily, the Scenic Tour lasts just under 1 1/2 hours and gives visitors the chance to see chambers adorned with calcite crystals, as well as explore other parts of the Cave. 
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Please note: The Scenic Tour is considered to be moderately strenuous and features some 723 stairsteps.
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Are you looking for something shorter and sweeter? Jewel Cave also offers a Discovery Talk complete with a 20-minute tour of one of the larger rooms. 
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If adventure is your middle name, the Wild Cave Tour might be your game, as it lasts 3 to 4 hours and allows guests to see even more hidden parts of this National Monument! 
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The Jewel Cave's Scenic Tour costs $12 for adults 17 and up, and $8 for guests ages 6 to 16.
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To learn more about the Jewel Cave and its different tours, please visit the National Park Service's website.
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Note: As of this publication, Jewel Cave is still closed due to Covid-19, so keep an eye on their website for updates and other important information. 

Have you explored Jewel Cave? Share your stories and photos in the comments! For even more caves to explore, click on Going Into These 5 Caves In South Dakota Is Like Entering Another World.

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Featured Addresses
Jewel Cave National Monument, 11149 US-16 B-12, Custer, SD 57730, USA