Scenic Tour

The Scenic Tour route provides an opportunity to visit various cave chambers and passages decorated with calcite crystals and other speleothems. This tour is a modern-day walking tour along a paved trail with electric lighting, entering and leaving the cave by elevator in the visitor center. The Scenic Tour is moderately strenuous and lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes. The route involves walking up and down 734 stair steps along a 1/2-mile (.8 km) loop, equivalent to 40 flights of stairs. During the tour you will see two types of calcite crystals known as nailhead spar and dogtooth spar, which are the "jewels" of Jewel Cave. In addition, you can view boxwork, cave popcorn, flowstone, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and a long ribbon drapery called the cave bacon. With each visit, you will learn more about the cave formations, discovery and continuous exploration. Wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility devices are not allowed on the Scenic Tour.