Parking
Use the Elk Mountain Campground parking area across from the amphitheater; the trailhead is nearby. A campground reservation is not required for the hike. A vault toilet is available in the campground.
Overview
About Elk Mountain Nature Trail
Why go
- A compact loop with nine interpretive stops and a grassland-to-pine habitat change.
Heads up
- Short rolling climbs and open, lightly shaded prairie stretches.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Wind Cave map
Full mapElevation4,278–4,367 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
1 active Wind Cave alert
- ClosureNatural Entrance Tour Route closed for winterThe Natural Entrance Tour Route is closed for its annual winter season beginning October 1, 2026.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Wind Cave Tour Guide
Your drive to Elk Mountain Nature Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Wind Cave National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Elk Mountain Campground0:00 / 0:30
“You're coming up on the Elk Mountain Campground area, a simple overnight base near the cave tours.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Wind Cave Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Rock Between the Fins
- Following Alvin’s String
- Wind Cave and Visitor Center
- Beaver Creek Bridge
- 28 audio storiesacross Wind Cave’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bison, Elk, Pronghorn, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 11 trails, 14 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Elk Mountain Nature Trail
A short loop through two habitatsElk Mountain Nature Trail is an easy loop around Elk Mountain Campground, crossing between open…
Elk Mountain Nature Trail is an easy loop around Elk Mountain Campground, crossing between open grassland and ponderosa pines. The mapped circuit is 0.73 mile; the park lists it as one mile, while other measurements land around 0.7–0.8. Plan on 30 to 60 minutes for the rolling path and its nine numbered nature stops. Start across from the campground amphitheater and return to the same access.
Short climbs, open stretchesThe trail climbs soon after leaving the low trailhead, then rolls over several short rises.
The trail climbs soon after leaving the low trailhead, then rolls over several short rises. It makes a brief walk feel more varied than a flat campground stroll, but it is not a summit hike or a long backcountry outing. At the far side, stay on the named path instead of taking the spur toward the wildlife fence or the social path back toward the campground.
Listen in fallThe loop follows the edge of grassland and pine forest.
The loop follows the edge of grassland and pine forest. Elk may bugle nearby around dawn and dusk in September and October, though hearing one is never guaranteed. Leashed pets are allowed. There is no drinking water along the trail, and the open prairie sections have little shade.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Wind Cave
600 sightingsBisonMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
59 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
258 sightingsPronghornMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
14 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
131 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
26 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around noonSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Wind Cave. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
