Black Hills Caverns – Rapid City, South Dakota

Black Hills Caverns – Rapid City, South Dakota

Gold seekers found the caves in 1882 but they had been used by the Lakota Indians for years before that.

Black Hills Caverns is a huge cave with a fantastic variety of formations: The walls of Black Hills Caverns near Rapid City, South Dakota consist of two types of limestone (coeymans and manlius) from different periods in the Earth’s early history, as well as a rock known as rondout waterred.

Black Hills Caverns has an astounding variety of formations. You will see stalagmites, stalactites, logomites, helictites, rare frost crystal, purple amethyst, dog tooth spar crystal, boxwork, cave flowers, nailhead spar crystal, popcorn crystal and much more!

* Logomites * Stalagmites * Stalactites * Helictites
* Rare Frost Crystal * Flowstone
* Dogtooth Spar Crystal * Boxwork * Cave Flower
* Soda Straw Stalactites * Columns * Draperies
* Popcorn Crystal * Nailhead Spar Crystal

The walls of Black Hills Caverns consist of two types of limestone (coeymans and manlius) from different periods in the Earth’s early history, as well as a rock known as rondout waterred.

There are bats in the caverns, a little moss growing near the opening but little other life exists in these fabulous creations.

Great care must be taken to protect and preserve these great underground wonders. Caves are non-renewable natural resources which benefit and enrich our lives in many ways, a few of which are: insect control, scientific knowledge, water supply, education and recreation. When touring the caves you must keep your hands to yourself, where ever you touch you distroy the natural progression of the cave. The oil and dirt from your hands will stop the growth and harm the total environment of the cave.

It takes many thousands of years for the underground rooms to be formed. The rain water soaks through the soil, picking up carbon dioxide from the vegetation and soil. Water and carbon dioxide form a mild acid, carbonic acid, which as it seeps through limestone forms calcium carbonate. The calcite is deposited as crystals, stalactites, stalagmites, and many formations found in the caverns.
Scientists believe nature began to slowly craft Black Hills Caverns some six million years ago – long before even the ancient, extinct animal known as the woolly mammoth appeared on Earth. The caverns are unique for more than their age and beauty – they are among a very small number of mineral caves in the world.

Location: Only 4 miles west of Rapid City on Hwy. 44 West
Take exit 57 off I-90.
Go to Omaha St. and go west.
Follow Hwy. 44.
Look for the sign on the right.

The Adventure Tour
The regular price for the 1-hour Adventure Tour:
Adults……………………………..$8.75
Children 6-12……………………$5.50
Children under 6…………………Free

The Crystal Tour
The regular price for the 1/2- hour Crystal Tour:
Adults…………………………$7.00
Children 6-12……………….$4.00
Children under 6…………….Free

Gemstone Mining
Pan without Tour……..$6.00
Pan with Tour…………..$5.00

TELEPHONE
(605) 343-0542
(800) 837-9358

OPEN DAILY May 1st thru June 14th
8:30am to 5:30pm MT

June 15th thru Aug 15th extended hours 8:00am to 7:00pm MT

Aug 16th thru Sept 30th 8:30am to 5:30pm MT