Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota – June 2025

Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota – June 2025

by Kim · Published June 30, 2025 · Updated July 24, 2025

Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota – June 2025

Dale and I took a step back in to the past on the Historic Lantern Tour, where our Park Ranger was dressed in a 1930s-style uniform, and the only light was provided by lanterns. We took a step back in time by entering the cave through the historic entrance using an unpaved trail. The tour was advertised as strenuous and it lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

This is the historic entrance. Our tour was the historic tour and entered a different part of the cave.

Park Ranger Briar gives us the history of the cabin and Jewel Cave before the tour starts.

These were the lighting options for the early cave explorers.

Headed toward the cave opening.

Our ranger gave us many safety tips throughout the orientation and before entering.

Just in case we don't come back out!

Many areas with a low ceiling.

This ladder went down many, many feet, and right about the middle it shifted to a ladder to its right.

This was an easier stairway. It was not the bright inside to our eyes. My iPhone really compensated for the darkness.

Half of the group carried an LED lantern. It was really much darker than this.

We went down, down, down. It was very dark. The iPhone makes it seem light.

Our ranger gives explanations of what we are seeing.

More stairways and ladders. Everything was damp and slippery.

Narrow, tight spaces are not my favorite.

Our group had a maximum of 15 people and you had to be somewhat fit, not afraid of tight spaces or the dark.

After the Jewel Cave tour we went on a short walk around the main cave area.

Dale leads the way on our walk through the pines.

A deer is looking at us from down the hill.

Walking the Roof Trail at Jewel Cave National Park.

Beautiful dewy flower along the path.

All of the picnic areas at the cave was taken but the Lord blessed us with a perfect location just a few miles down the road.

We stopped so Dale could get some drone footage of the area.

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