Name: Wind Cave's Natural Entrance
Rating: 2

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United States

South Dakota

Custer County

Wind Cave's Natural Entrance

Discover

Places to see

Caves

United States

South Dakota

Custer County

Wind Cave's Natural Entrance

Recommended by 2 hikers

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Location: Custer County, South Dakota, United States

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Best Hikes to Wind Cave's Natural Entrance

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1. Wind Cave Natural Entrance and Prairie Vista loop — Wind Cave National Park

2.20km

00:35

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Vincent Reboul

February 2, 2024

The natural entrance to Wind Caves is very discreet. It has nothing to do with the gigantic underground caves that can be visited a little further away by going to the very busy Visitor Center. Here, it is the spiritual aspect that prevails. This modest entrance is, in fact, considered the place of emergence of the Lakota nation.

Maka Oniye in Lakota means the earth that breathes. This underground origin is a sacred place for many Native American nations. Nothing stops you from meditating here and then taking the elevator a little further on which allows you to go into the bowels of the earth. The two sites are complementary.

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Jamie S.

May 19, 2023

Seemingly in contradiction with the vast, complicated cave system below, the largest and most well-known natural entrance to Wind Cave is only about 10 inches wide. You can visit this entrance without being a part of an official tour; it is just a few hundred yards from the Visitor Center along a paved path. This is a very spiritual place for over 20 different Native American groups; it is considered the birthplace of the Lakota nation. In modern Lakota, this place is called Maka Oniye or "breathing earth," and is the passageway from where the first humans and bison emerged from deep below the earth. Many tribes utilize the park and this entrance to the Wind Cave for ceremonies. You might see prayer cloths and prayer bundles attached to trees around the natural entrance. Please avoid touching, disturbing, or photographing these cloths; treat this spot like you would a church or any other place of worship.

Lauren & Bailey 🐕🐾

September 4, 2025

Discreet and natural entrance to the wind cave.

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Details

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Elevation 1,260 m

Alerts

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Wind Cave National Park

Weather

Today

Wednesday 17 September

17°C

11°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h

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Location: Custer County, South Dakota, United States

Wind Cave's Natural Entrance

1. Wind Cave Natural Entrance and Prairie Vista loop — Wind Cave National Park

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