In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com
In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com
This will be a very small web page because I want to go canoeing.
Some important items for your canoeing trip.
| STRING | Of you don't have any string with you, you could end up in some trouble. String is good for all sorts of things such as trapping animals, making fish traps, fixing broken gear to name a few. | |
| TARP | If you don't bring a tarp you'll regret it. | |
| COOKING POT | You should carry a small metal container for boiling water even if you're not planning to use it (in case of an emergency). | |
| CAMPSTOVE | The perfect stove for wilderness camping is without a doubt the Trailstove. It burns wood instead of gas or liquid fuel. It's crazy to bring fuel to a place that is full of wood that you can burn. | |
| FLASH LIGHT | Bring a good flashlight or two and maybe a few tub candles in worst case. | |
| MULTI PURPOSE TOOL | Whether you're a Swiss army knife or Leatherman tool type of person you need to have a multi purpose tool with you. |
HOW TO MAKE A GOOD CAMP FIRE
1. COLLECT WOOD. You should have about 20 to 30 very thin twigs, and 10 to 15 small sticks to get the fire started and as many larger pieces you need to keep the fire going for as long as you need it.
2. BOTTOM BRANCHES. If the ground is covered with snow you can break dry branches off the bottom of a tree.
3. STARTER MATERIAL. You will need some material that ignites very easily to start the fire. There are a number of things you can use for this. Dry leaves, dry grass, bark, or chips from a dry semi-decomposed dead tree. Paper works fine too if you have some with you.
4. FIRE RING. Find a good location for your fire, there should be nothing nearby that could catch fire such as dry vegetation. Make a ring on the ground with rocks.
5. STARTER MATERIAL. Place the starter material in the center of the fire ring. Make sure there's plenty of air around each piece of material.
6. TWIGS. Make a teepee around the starter material using the thin twigs you collected earlier.
7. STICKS. Put the larger sticks around your twig teepee. Finish off with some more massive pieces.
8. LIGHT. Light the starter material.
9. WAIT. In about a minute the starter material has started to ignite the small twigs.
10. FIRE. After a few minutes your fire will be in full flame. Soon the
teepee will collapse into a shapeless collection of burning wood, don't worry
this is all normal and good. By now you fire is stable and will keep burning for
as long as you feed it wood.
Hot Springs, SD
One of the world's longest and most complex caves and 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and associated wildlife are the main features of the park. The cave is well known for its outstanding display of boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs. The park's mixed grass prairie is one of the few remaining and is home to native wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs.
CONTACTS
Email - phyllis_cremonini@nps.gov
Fax- 605-745-4207
Write to
RR 1 Box 190
Hot Springs, SD 57747-9430
Phone
Visitor Information - 605-745-4600
TRAVEL BASICS
Operating Hours,
Seasons
Park open year-round. Visitor center open daily except
Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Visitor center hours: January 1 to April
7, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; April 8 to May 6, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; May 7
to June 3, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; June 4 to August 19, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30
p.m.; August 20 to September 23, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; September 24 to
October 7, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; October 8 to Spring 2002, 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
Getting There
PLANE - Nearest commerical airport is in Rapid
City, SD.
CAR - Visitors traveling on I-90: At Rapid City, SD, exit onto U.S. Route 79 south. Follow Route 79 south approximately 50 miles to U.S. Route 18. Turn right onto U.S. Route 385 North, which will take you through Hot Springs and into Wind Cave National Park. Follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park information. Visitors can also reach the park by following U.S. Route 16 west out of Rapid City onto U.S. Route 385 south. Visitors traveling from Nebraska can follow U.S. Route 385 north to the park. Please note that S.D. Route 87 south from Custer State Park into Wind Cave National Park is closed because of construction in Custer State Park.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - No public transportation serves the park.
Weather & Climate
Spring and fall weather are the most
variable with cool, damp days alternating with dry, warm ones. Summers are
generally sunny, hot, and dry. Winters are generally mild with little
snow, but occasional sub-zero temperatures can be expected. Dress
appropriately for the season. Persons touring the cave should wear
low-heeled walking shoes with nonskid soles and a lightweight jacket or
sweater. The cave is 53? Fahrenheit (12? Celsius).
Accessibility
The visitor center, including two exhibit rooms
and restrooms, is accessible. Campground restrooms and one campsite are
accessible. Limited areas of the cave are accessible to wheelchairs.
Getting Around
There are 30 miles of hiking trails in the
park. U.S. Route 385, S.D. Route 87 and two backcountry roads make much of
the park accessible to motor vehicles. Two trails, the Rankin Ridge Trail
and the Elk Mountain Trail are self-guiding nature trails with trail
booklets.
FEES/PERMITS
Activity Fee
CANDLELIGHT
CAVE TOUR
$9.00 for One Time
Experience the cave by
candlelight. This tour takes place in a less developed, unlighted part of
the cave. Each participant will carry a candle bucket. Shoes with non-slip
soles are required. No sandals! This tour is limited to 10 people and the
minimum age is 8. This strenuous tour covers one mile of rugged trail and
lasts 2 hours. Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations may
only be made by telephone, up to 30 days in advance of the tour - (605)
745-4600.
FAIRGROUNDS CAVE TOUR
$8.00 for One Time
This tour includes some of the larger rooms found in the developed
area of the cave. Visitors will see examples of many cave formations,
including Wind Cave boxwork. The tour enters and exits the cave by
elevator. This moderately strenuous tour has 450 stairs and last 1? hours.
GARDEN OF EDEN CAVE TOUR
$6.00 for One Time
Representative features of Wind Cave are seen on this tour which
enters and leaves the cave by elevator. This one hour tour is our least
strenuous with 150 stairs.
NATURAL ENTRANCE CAVE TOUR
$8.00
for One Time
Visitors walk through the middle level of the cave
where boxwork is abundant. This tour begins at the walk-in entrance and
exits by elevator. This moderately strenuous, 1? hour tour has 300 stairs
(mostly down).
WILD CAVE TOUR
$20.00 for One Time
Explore the cave away from the developed trails. On this 4-hour tour
visitors will be introduced to basic, safe caving. Wear old clothes and
gloves, as much of the trip will be crawling. Long pants, long sleeved
shirts and sturdy, lace up boots or shoes with non-slip soles are
required. The park provides hard hats, lights and kneepads. Please do no
bring jewelry, watches and other valuables on the tour. This tour is
limited to 10 people and the minimum age is 16. We require a signed
consent form for those 17 and under. Reservations are required.
Reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations may only be made by
telephone, up to 30 days in advance of the tour - (605) 745-4600.
Permits
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING
Free!
All backcountry
campers must have a backcountry use permit in their possession. These
permits are free and can be obtained at the Wind Cave visitor center
information desk or at the Centennial trailheads. Permits help park
managers gather information needed to make wise resource management
decisions. Because the mission of the park service is to preserve and
protect the natural resources, a variety of needs must be considered.
CAMPING
$10.00 for Day
Elk Mountain Campground
offers campers a unique opportunity to view the plants and animals of the
southern Black Hills. Campers, whether in a tent or a motor home, are
responsible for maintaining the natural state of these habitats. After
camping, leave a site you would like to visit again.
CAMPING
Elk Mountain Campground
Elk
Mountain Campground, with 75 campsites, is located one mile from the
visitor center. The campground has flush toilets and running water during
the summer months. There are no showers, dump stations, or electrical
hookups. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served
basis.
FACILITIES
Visitor
Centers
WIND CAVE VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year
Phone
- 605-745-4600
Location - Visitors traveling on I-90: At Rapid
City, SD, exit onto U.S. Route 79 south. Follow Route 79 south
approximately 50 miles to U.S. Route 18. Turn right onto U.S. Route 385
North, which will take you through Hot Springs and into Wind Cave National
Park. Follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park
information. Visitors can also reach the park by following U.S. Route 16
west out of Rapid City onto U.S. Route 385 south. Visitors traveling from
Nebraska can follow U.S. Route 385 north to the park.
Closures -
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Special Programs - Park
open year-round. Visitor center open daily except Thanksgiving and
Christmas Days. Visitor center hours: January 1 to April 7, 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.; April 8 to May 6, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; May 7 to June 3, 8:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; June 4 to August 19, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; August 20
to September 23, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; September 24 to October 7, 8:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; October 8 to Spring 2002, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
Exhibits - The Visitor Center contains three exhibit rooms
featuring cave exploration, cave formations, early cave history, the
Civilian Conservation Corps, park wildlife, and resource
management.
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