These caves offer views of some of the oldest, most intricate limestone formations in the Northwest. Get your fill of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites all in a guided tour departing the visitor’s center every 20-30 minutes May-September.
On a roadtrip to South Dakota this summer, we were lucky to stop along the way to check out these caves. The natural air conditioning was a nice way to cool down on a hot day driving cross-country!
To get to the caverns, you'll hike about half a mile up a slope to the entrance.
It’s easy, and relatively accessible for most hikers I would say. However - there are a LOT of steps and tight squeezes in the caverns themselves. It’s said that the Lewis & Clark expedition camped close to the caverns in 1805 - but they weren’t officially discovered by non-native people’s until 1882.
As we entered the caves, our guide told us that Native people’s used to tell their children that the entrance of the cave led to the underworld.
As we journeyed through, it made sense. The caves are dark, deep, and difficult to navigate. The national park service has added handrails and electric lights throughout, and yet it is still a space that requires caution. I imagine that in olden times it would have been incredibly dangerous for young people to venture inside unattended!
Here are some of those steps leading down!
There were about 700 steps leading along a trail that was about 3/4 of a mile, and 300 feet of elevation in descent. Not difficult from a cardio perspective, but a challenge on slippery walks and dimly lit surfaces. Definitely wear your hiking boots and also bring a jacket - temps are in the 50’s inside the caves.
A little perspective of how big these formations are!
This is actually one of the smaller formations we encountered throughout. Many were in the 12-20 foot range, and there were some incredible cascading formations that were much larger than that. It is immensely important to touch the limestone as little as possible. It is essentially a living substance, and human touch will kill it off and stop its future growth!
Here is a beautiful cascade of limestone, probably about 10’ in length.
And here, an amazing column with beautiful architecture throughout.
And here, a garden of living limestone.
This photo shows a space that is easily 30’ deep, with columns stretching from floor to ceiling. I wish my photos were able to capture some of these even better - because the real life experience is pretty magical!
At the end of the trail, we found ourselves in the largest cavern yet, filled with formation and lit with this lovely purple light.
I’ll be honest and say I’m still not entirely clear whether this light is partially caused by a chemical reaction in the stone. I think it is. Regardless, it’s an interesting lens through which to see these beautiful structures.
More purple limestone!
And finally, our best attempt at a selfie inside of a dark cave!
I’ve been trying to get better at snapping a shot of our faces on these trips to keep around. I imagine it’ll be nice to have someday. :)
Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love sharing the adventures that make life wonderful with you. <3
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