The cave exploration continues today and the cave has been explored 161 miles to date but will continue to “grow” due to the exploration. Most of the people who do exploring are volunteers and these volunteers to just explore but map/chart the cave they are exploring. Just be sure to know that this exploration is not on the nicely paved path that the tours you go on with a ranger. If you explore and find or chart new mileage then you get your name on the wall of fame in the visitor center. The visitor center’s lower level has a map of the entire cave’s current structure with some “?” showing that there are more of the cave to explore potentially but that the area just has not been explored. The cave tours are a variety of different levels of distance, and time. They even have a cave tour that will allow you to explore with a helmet and crawling through the cave. You have to 16 or older to do the Wild Cave Tour. If you want to try your hand at going into a dark cave to explore on your stomach crawling this tour is for you. The Candlelight Tour is a small group tour, 10 people, who explore the cave with only a lighted candle like they used in the late 1800’s when you could explore. The Park Service also has an Accessibility tour that requires no stairs but is limited in the distance and time in the cave. The other three tours are ones that I have taken so you can read about them on the blog.
Elk Mountain Campground – As a creature of habit I not only stayed at the campground in Wind Cave once again but I also stayed in the same site. To be honest it was late at night, I was tired and the site I choose was virtually the first one I came to in the campground. There were a few others in loop B but they had people all around and I wanted to be respectful of their peace and quiet during the night I arrived. The spot worked last year so why not this year. The campground is all first come first served but on the holiday weekend of July 4th the campground had plenty of spaces for campers.
Garden of Eden Tour – The tour is 1 hour long and is 1/4 mile in distance with 150 stairs to navigate. Once you have gone down into the cave you will be able to see a fossil in the rock. Fossils area good in caves as it allows people/scientists to determine how old that rock is and what was around the rock based on the fossil left behind. On this tour the famous box works are not a abundant as with the Natural Entrance or Fairgrounds tours but you can still see them. The Garden of Eden is a room within the cave and within the room you will see cave popcorn, and some box works. The main difference with this tour is the flow stone rock that is not on the two other tours. The tour also had places with water on the path and evidence of water dripping down from the ground causing holes in the concrete walkway. These holes have been formed since the concrete was put into the cave during the late 1990’s. Water is a powerful item but this water also has minerals in it that is acidic assisting in the wearing down of the concrete. The flow stone is interesting in that is is still growing. The stone also looks wet and water leaving behind deposits of minerals is what makes the stone grow.
Rankin Ridge Nature Trail – The Trail is only about 1 mile long and it does have some elevation gain/loss but you will get to the highest point within the park. At the Lookout Tower on a clear day you can see Buffalo Gap and Badlands National Park. The trail from the trail head at the parking area is to the left of the gate blocking the road. The trail is mainly rock and dirt and there are some steps towards the top of the trail. Once you get to the tower you will enjoy wonderful views of the park and the Black Hills. The trail down is a road that the NPS will use to get to the tower and that is gravel. A wonderful short hike if you get to Wind Cave National Park before you have your cave tours or after the cave tours if you have a few minutes to do this trail. The trail head marker says the trail is moderately strenuous but for the most part it is an easy hike, except for the stairs near the top by the tower.
