Discovery Tour at Jewel Cave

The Discovery Tour is a 20-minute ranger talk and a brief introduction to Jewel Cave National Monument's natural and cultural histories.

Guests view a large room of the cave known as the Target Room. This tour enters and exits the cave through an elevator located in the Visitor Center that leads to a series of stairs.

The Discovery Tour is wheelchair accessible and limited to 20 guests.

There are two types of calcite crystals which can be viewed on the Discovery Tour. These "jewels" of Jewel Cave are commonly known as nailhead spar and dogtooth spar.

Guests will also see manganese and paleofill, which are not cave formations, but are important to the geology features of Jewel Cave.

The tour will also learn how Jewel Cave formed as well as the cave's discoverey in 1900.

Program Fees:

Cave tours will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, October 15, 2018. The visitor center and surface trails will remain OPEN for guests. The cave tours will be suspended until mid-April 2019.

Tickets are required to enter the cave, and are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Monument. Tickets must be purchased ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled tour time. Teachers may call the Visitor Center to inquire about educational programs and academic fee waivers.

$4.00 - Adult age 17 & over
Free - Youth & Children ages 16 & under
Free - Golden Age/Senior/Access pass holder and 3 adults
Free - Annual Pass / Military Pass / Volunteer Pass owner plus 3 adults

Spring Schedule:

mid-March, 2016 - early May, 2016
9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m.

Late Spring:

early May - late May, 2016
Daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m.

Early Summer Schedule:

May 25 - June 11, 2016
Daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 4:25 p.m.

Summer Schedule:

June 12 - August 20, 2016
Daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., 3:35 p.m., and 4:35 p.m.

Late Summer Schedule:

August 21 - September 6, 2016
Daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., 3:35 p.m., and 4:35 p.m.

Early Fall Schedule:

September 7 - October 2, 2016
Daily at 9:35 a.m. and 11:35 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 3:35 p.m.

Fall Schedule:

October 3 - 23, 2016
Daily at 9:35 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 1:35 a.m., and 3:35 p.m.

Winter Schedule:

December 6, 2015 - mid-March 2016
Thursday - Saturday at 9:05 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3:45 p.m.

Cave tours will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, October 15, 2018. The visitor center and surface trails will remain OPEN for guests. The cave tours will be suspended until mid-April 2019.

Late Spring:

Early Summer Schedule:

Late Summer Schedule:

Early Fall Schedule:

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Discovery Tour at Jewel Cave

Cave tours will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, October 15, 2018. The visitor center and surface trails will remain OPEN for guests. The cave tours will be suspended until mid-April 2019.

Late Spring:

Early Summer Schedule:

Late Summer Schedule:

Early Fall Schedule:

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