WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Holiday events this year at Wind Cave National Park begin Sunday, December 11,with the park’s annual Christmas Bird Count followed by a holiday open house on Monday, December 19.  

The bird count begins at 7:30 a.m. in front of the visitor center. Staff will distribute hiking and driving routes and datasheet packets. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch, warm clothes, and if you have them, binoculars, field guides, and spotting scopes.

The count ends at 2 p.m. but it is not required to attend the whole day. Smaller hiking and driving units are available. To request specific units or for questions, please contact Angela Jarding at 605-745-1157 or via email at [email protected].

The count is patterned after the nationwide National Audubon Society effort to document trends in wintering birdlife throughout the United States.

The count will cover all of Wind Cave NP and areas of the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park. Information from the count will be provided to the South Dakota Ornithological Union.

Festivities move inside on Monday, December 19, when the park hosts its annual holiday open house. It will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the visitor center. Light refreshments will be served, and students from the Hot Springs’ third grade will present their Christmas program at 1:15 p.m.

During the open house, the public will be able to view park exhibits and browse through the park store operated by the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association.

The visitor center and cave will close on Christmas and New Year’s Day to allow staff to celebrate the holidays with their families. Throughout the remainder of the winter, the visitor center will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with cave tours at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.

Photo Caption: The annual Wind Cave National Park Christmas Bird Count will be held on Sunday, December 11. (NPS Photo)

[Alt Text: In the lower left corner of the photo is a woman wearing a green winter coat and stocking cap. She is sitting on the ground holding a black camera to her face pointing toward some pine trees on the photo’s right. A feathery frost coats the plants around her. In the background is a slight snow-covered ridge with green pine trees on it.]

www.nps.gov/wica