National Park · South Dakota, United States
Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park is a national park in South Dakota, United States, covering 33,971 acres (13,748 ha), established in 1903; it recorded 606,258 visits in 2025.
Photo: National Park Service of the United States of America via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | South Dakota, United States |
| Area | 33,971 acres (13,748 ha) |
| Established | 1903 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 606,258 |
| Coordinates | 43.5700° N, 103.4800° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park is a national park of the United States located 10 miles (16 km) north of the town of Hot Springs in western South Dakota. Established on January 3, 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, it was the sixth national park in the U.S. and the first cave to be designated a national park anywhere in the world. The cave has calcite formations known as boxwork, as well as frostwork. Approximately 95 percent of the world's discovered boxwork formations are found in Wind Cave. Wind Cave is one of the best known examples of a breathing cave.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
May to September — warm days; winters are cold
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Hot Springs, South Dakota |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Rapid City Regional Airport |
| Getting there | Wind Cave National Park is a national park of the United States located 10 miles (16 km) north of the town of Hot Springs in western South Dakota. |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|
Famous trails
- Rankin Ridge Trail — 1.0 miles (1.6 km) — Moderate
Like Wind Cave National Park? Visit Wind Cave National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) · Rapid City, United States · 39.0 miles away
- Chadron Municipal Airport (CDR) · Chadron, United States · 54.2 miles away
- Alliance Municipal Airport (AIA) · Alliance, United States · 110.3 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in South Dakota
Frequently asked questions
Where is Wind Cave National Park?
Wind Cave National Park is in South Dakota, United States (43.5700° N, 103.4800° W).
When was Wind Cave National Park established?
Wind Cave National Park was established in 1903, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Wind Cave National Park?
Wind Cave National Park covers 33,971 acres (13,748 ha).
How many people visit Wind Cave National Park each year?
It recorded 606,258 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Wind Cave National Park?
May to September — warm days; winters are cold.
Does Wind Cave National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Wind Cave National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Wind Cave National Park?
The nearest town is Hot Springs, South Dakota. The nearest airport is Rapid City Regional Airport. Wind Cave National Park is a national park of the United States located 10 miles (16 km) north of the town of Hot Springs in western South Dakota.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_Cave_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/wica/ — Official park page.
- https://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/hiking.htm — Named trails, as stated by the source.