![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0138.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
When we were in South Dakota a few years ago we wanted to tour Wind Cave National Park but we ran out of time. We decided to make it a priority this time!
Before our tour, we wandered around the exhibits at the visitor center. Chris spotted this display on root systems. We had no idea roots were SO deep!
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0100.jpg?resize=640%2C699&ssl=1)
I was fascinated by the beautiful handwriting on the hotel register from the 1890s:
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0101.jpg?resize=640%2C689&ssl=1)
We signed up for the Natural Entrance Tour. Near the natural entrance there is a small hole where cool wind flows out from the cave – this is where Wind Cave was discovered. Once inside, you immediately go down a LOT of steps. I think it was around 150 steps down as soon as we entered the cave.
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0102.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0103.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0104.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0105.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
Wind Cave is known for its boxwork formations. Approximately 95 percent of the world’s discovered boxwork formations are found in Wind Cave:
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0110.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)
Time to go down even more! There are approximately 300 steps down on the Natural Entrance Tour (to exit, you take an elevator to the top).
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0111.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0115.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
White-nose syndrome can affect the bats around the Black Hills so we had to decontaminate our shoes when we exited the cave:
![](https://i0.wp.com/ourbigadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220605_IMG_0127.jpg?resize=600%2C800&ssl=1)