Jewel Cave NM Open For Summer With Limited Tours As Elevator Repairs Progress

        Jewel Cave National Monument’s elevator renovation project has advanced to the point that limited walk-in/walk-out tours of the cave resumed yesterday while repair work continues on the elevator. 

      Tickets for a modified version of the popular Discovery Tour are offered first-come, first-serve. Participants will need to hike from the Jewel Cave visitor center down a moderately-strenuous ½-mile trail to a man-made cave entrance. 

      This lightly-maintained trail includes rocks, uneven terrain, and steep grades. Rangers will lead tours into the cave’s first large room for a 20-minute talk before returning to the surface. 

     Participants will then hike up the ½-mile trail to return to the visitor center. Sturdy shoes for the hike are strongly recommended, as well as a light jacket for the cave.  

Cost is $4 per person; children 15 and under are free. Tickets will be first-come, first-serve at Jewel the day of the tour.  

     With the transition to summer operations the monument will also move to credit or debit card-only transactions for all cave tours and fee-related sales to free up staff and reduce the cost of collecting fees. 

       It also complies with the recommendation from the Dept of Treasury to accept credit cards in lieu of cash to improve accountability and reduce potential for errors. Cash and checks will still be accepted in the Jewel Cave giftshop for merchandise.