Ranger-guided cave tour ticket at Wind Cave: what applies in 2026?

Exact conditions

Status

Required under the listed conditions

Applies to

specific activity

Place or corridor

Wind Cave; all tours depart from the Wind Cave Visitor Center

Effective dates

January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026

Release model

rolling window

Release detail: Recreation.gov reservations for the Garden of Eden, Natural Entrance and Fairgrounds tours open 120 days ahead and close 2 days before the tour date. No specific daily release clock time is published.

Fee detail: Ticket prices vary by tour, from $6 to $45 per adult. Natural Entrance and Fairgrounds $16 adult (16-61) / $8 senior 62+ / $8 child 6-15 / free under 6. Garden of Eden $14 / $7 / $7 / free. Accessibility $6 / $3 / $3 / free. Candlelight $16 (ages 8+). Wild Cave $45 (ages 16+). Interagency passes do not cover these fees. Credit/debit or digital payment only - no cash.

Exceptions and limits

• No ticket is needed to enter the park, hike, drive the park roads or visit the visitor center - only to go into the cave.
• There are no self-guided cave tours.
• Roughly half of all tickets are held back for same-day first-come first-served sale at the visitor center and often sell out soon after the visitor center opens.