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A smartphone displaying a map with a winding dirt road, surrounded by grass and trees. 1
A wooden post with a trail sign listing trails and distances. 2
A white bus on a wide, open field with a cloudy sky. 3
A cave interior with rock formations and a warm light source. 4
A bison standing in a grassy field with a mountainous background. 5
By Shaka Guide Apps

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
Free cancellation available
Price is AU$14 per traveller* *Get a lower price by selecting multiple travellers
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 7h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Explore the surface of Wind Cave National Park at your own pace on a self-guided GPS audio driving tour through open prairie, pine forest, wildlife habitat, historic sites, scenic overlooks, and hiking trails.

    IMPORTANT: This Shaka Guide tour does not enter Wind Cave and does not include a cave tour. All access inside Wind Cave is available only through separate ranger-guided tours operated by the National Park Service. Cave-tour tickets are purchased separately, and advance reservations are strongly recommended.

    Follow turn-by-turn directions to highlights including scenic trails, prairie dog communities, historic sites, wildlife areas, and the Wind Cave Visitor Centre while hearing stories about the park’s geology, wildlife, history, and the remarkable cave system beneath the landscape.

    One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle. Download the Shaka Guide app and tour before you go; once downloaded, the audio and map work offline.

Activity location

  • Cold Springs School Road
    • Cold Springs School Road
    • 57730, West Custer, South Dakota, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Custer
    • 57730, Custer, South Dakota, United States

Check availability

Wind Cave National Park GPS Driving Tour — Cave Tour Not Included in English

  • Activity duration is 7 hours7h
    7h
  • Opening hours: Fri 12:00 am-11:30 pm
  • English
Language options: English
Price details
AU$14.04 x 1 TravellerAU$14.04
Total
Price is AU$14.04

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Tours NEVER expire
  • Inclusions
    Freedom to explore at your own pace
  • Inclusions
    Offline map (no wifi or data needed)
  • Inclusions
    Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
  • Inclusions
    Self-guided GPS audio driving and above-ground walking tour of Wind Cave National Park
  • Inclusions
    Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
  • Inclusions
    Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
  • Exclusions
    Private Transport
  • Exclusions
    Parking Fees
  • Exclusions
    Meals & Refreshments
  • Exclusions
    National Park Service ranger-guided cave tour

Know before you book

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Service animals allowed
    • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • IMPORTANT: This Shaka Guide experience does not include entry into Wind Cave or a guided cave tour.
    • Wind Cave can only be entered on a separate ranger-guided tour operated by the National Park Service. A separate cave-tour ticket is required. Advance reservations are strongly recommended because tours can sell out. Book here: www.Recreation.gov
    • Your Viator booking provides access to the Shaka Guide GPS audio tour. It is not a National Park Service cave-tour ticket or cave reservation.
    • Additional Starting Point: Hot Springs, South Dakota
    • Travellers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
    • The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
    • Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
    • Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
    • Park no longer accepts cash — bring a card or digital payment
    • Best visited spring and fall — ideal temperatures (mid-60s to 70s°F); winter may cause trail and cave tour closures
    • Cave is 54°F — dress in layers; closed-toe, low-heeled shoes required inside
    • No bags of any kind allowed in the cave — don't touch formations or cave walls
    • Consider skipping the cave tour if you have claustrophobia, heart or respiratory conditions, recent surgery, or knee/back problems — a wheelchair-accessible tour is available
    • Bison roam freely — keep your distance; they can be dangerous if threatened

Activity itinerary

Cold Springs School Road

  • 1h
Built in 1887, the Cold Springs Schoolhouse is among South Dakota's oldest log school buildings. This historic structure once served as a school, dance hall, church, and community centre. After closing in 1949 following a major blizzard, it faced demolition but was restored by the Cold Springs Historical Society. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the schoolhouse stands beside the Cold Springs Cemetery. Visitors can explore the site, especially during monthly open houses from May to October, and reflect on the area's rich educational and communal heritage

Sanctuary Trail

  • 2h
The Sanctuary Trail is a 3.6-mile (5.8 km) one-way hike through Wind Cave's rolling prairies. Starting about a mile north of the Rankin Ridge fire tower turnoff, the trail meanders through open grasslands and a large prairie dog town, offering hikers a chance to observe these lively creatures in their natural habitat. The path gently undulates across the landscape, providing expansive views and opportunities to spot wildlife like bison and elk. The trail concludes at its junction with the Highland Creek Trail, allowing for extended hikes or a return trip through the serene prairie environment.

Rankin Ridge Nature Trail

  • 45m
The Rankin Ridge Trail is a scenic 1-mile loop leading to Wind Cave National Park's highest point at 5,013 feet. The trail ascends through ponderosa pine forests to a historic fire lookout tower (closed to the public), offering panoramic views of the Black Hills and, on clear days, the distant Badlands. Along the way, hikers can explore 14 interpretive sites detailing the area's natural and cultural history. The descent follows a gentle gravel road, making the trail accessible for most visitors. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as bison and prairie dogs near the trailhead.

West Meets East (Bird & Habitat Display)

  • 15m
Located near the crossroads of US Highway 385 and the southern end of the visitor centre road, the Bird Habitat Display aoffers visitors a glimpse into the park's avian diversity. During wet years, a seasonal pond forms here, attracting waterfowl and migrating birds like ducks and geese. This spot provides an excellent opportunity for birdwatching, especially during spring and fall migrations. The display highlights the importance of preserving and managing habitats within the park to maintain its diverse bird community. Visitors can enjoy observing various bird species in this accessible and informative location.

Lookout Point Trail

  • 2h
The Lookout Point Trail offers a 4.5-mile loop through Wind Cave National Park's diverse landscapes. Traversing rolling prairies and following Beaver Creek, hikers can enjoy expansive views and potential wildlife sightings, including bison and elk. A side trip up Lookout Point provides a vantage point to observe areas affected by the 2010 American Elk Prescribed Fire. This moderately challenging trail can be combined with sections of the Highland Creek and Centennial Trails for extended hikes, showcasing the park's unique mix of grasslands and forests. It's an ideal route for those seeking solitude and a deeper connection with the park's natural beauty.

Wind Cave National Park Visitor Center

  • 30m
The Wind Cave National Park Visitor Centre serves as the gateway to exploring the park's unique underground and surface features. Visitors can obtain information, maps, and backcountry permits, and purchase passes for cave tours, which depart from here. The centre features exhibits on the park's geology, wildlife, and cultural history, including displays on the Civilian Conservation Corps and early cave explorer Alvin McDonald. A film, Wind Cave: Two Worlds, provides an overview of the cave and prairie ecosystems.

Prairie Trail Trailhead

  • 20m
The Prairie Vista Trail is a 1-mile loop located behind the Wind Cave Visitor Centre. This easy, family-friendly path meanders through rolling grasslands and offers interpretive signs highlighting the park's diverse flora and fauna. Along the way, hikers can view the natural entrance to Wind Cave, a sacred site in Lakota tradition. The trail is one of the few in the park that permits leashed pets, making it accessible for visitors with dogs. Wildlife sightings, including prairie dogs and bison, are common. With minimal elevation gain, it's an ideal introduction to the park's prairie ecosystem.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Cold Springs School Road
    • Cold Springs School Road
    • 57730, West Custer, South Dakota, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Custer
    • 57730, Custer, South Dakota, United States

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