Starting at the base of the Black Hills, the Old Quarry Trails system offers a
wide variety of trails for all skill levels, and includes 50”-wide trails for
adaptive biking. The area offers a mix of scenic views from open grasslands to
dense forests, and the hills are south-facing, making this a great year-round
area ideal for mountain biking and hiking. Big game hunting is also popular
here, and cattle grazing occurs within the recreation area. There is a parking
area with an information kiosk that includes a map of the trails. Dogs are
allowed. Please help us keep the area clean by packing out all trash as
garbage collection is not provided.

Starting at the base of the Black Hills, the Old Quarry Trails system offers a wide variety of trails for all skill levels, and includes 50”-wide trails for adaptive biking. The area offers a mix of scenic views from open grasslands to dense forests, and the hills are south-facing, making this a great year-round area ideal for mountain biking and hiking. Big game hunting is also popular here, and cattle grazing occurs within the recreation area. There is a parking area with an information kiosk that includes a map of the trails. Dogs are allowed. Please help us keep the area clean by packing out all trash as garbage collection is not provided.

Bird's eye view of the park

Old Quarry Trails

Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles
of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human
curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through fragile formations and glimpses of
brilliant color. Its maze of passages lures explorers, and its scientific
wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park
Service.

Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through fragile formations and glimpses of brilliant color. Its maze of passages lures explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service.

Jewel Cave National Monument

Rocky mountain bighorn sheep are commonly seen within the monument, usually along Highway 16.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

Jewel Cave is home to several species of wildflowers, such as the South Dakota State Flower - the pasque flower.

Pasque Flowers in Bloom

The visitor center provides several engaging exhibits and displays about the resources within the monument.

Visitor Center Exhibit Area

Autumn is a beautiful time of year to visit the monument. The colors of fall are often the best during mid to late September.

Fall Season Foliage in Fog

Red squirrels are commonly observed along the Roof Trail near the visitor center.

Red Squirrel

A portion of the Canyons Trail passes the historic entrance of Jewel Cave, with breathtaking views of nearby Hell Canyon.

Canyons Trail Descending toward the Historic Entrance

The monument hosts special events each summer, such as living history presentations of President Theodore Roosevelt.

Theodore Roosevelt Addresses an Audience

Nine species of bats live within Jewel Cave National Monument. At times, visitors may see bats outside the historic entrance.

Bats at Jewel Cave

Although a "slower" time of year, the winter season offers some of the best scenery of the ponderosa pine forest.

Winter in the Pines

The original park ranger cabin, built during the 1930s, is available for public access during the summer and early fall seasons.

The Ranger Cabin at Jewel Cave

The Heavenly Room is a large room along the Historic Lantern Tour within the historic entrance of Jewel Cave.

The Heavenly Room

Volunteer cave explorers discovered Hourglass Lake in October 2015, the first sizable body of water found within Jewel Cave.

Hourglass Lake

The Inner Sanctum is one of the longest and largest passageways along the Scenic Tour route, located near the Torture Room.

Inner Sanctum

The target room inside Jewel Cave.

Target Room

The Brain Drain is approximately eight inches high by 24 inches wide and is the tightest passage on the Wild Caving Tour.

The Brain Drain

Calcite crystals, such as nailhead spar, cover most of the walls, ceilings, and floors within Jewel Cave.

Nailhead Spar

The Mallo Trail is somewhat unique in that it passes through several
vegetative zones including riparian, aspen, spruce/fir, ponderosa pine,
grassland, bare rock, and shrub communities.  
  
Several points along the trail afford vistas of the Black Hills, and wildlife
is abundant. Wildlife species common in the area include mule deer, whitetail
deer, elk, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and a variety of small mammals and
birds. Predators such as coyotes and mountain lions are less common but do
pass through the area.  
  
The Weston County portion of the trail is marked with a variety of fiberglass
or wooden posts and rock cairns. From the trailhead, the trail leads south
along the ridgeline on the Wyoming/South Dakota state line. The trail follows
along a fence line for a distance of approximately one quarter of a mile to a
gate in the fence where the trail re-enters Wyoming and continues onto BLM
administered lands. The trail crosses a prominent two-track road and then
makes a loop (with a cut across for those preferring a shorter hike) before
returning to the gate at the Wyoming/South Dakota line. From there, visitors
will hike back along the same trail they used to enter the loop trail. The
entire trail is more than 3.5 miles.  
  
The Mallo Trail trailhead is located at a small parking area approximately one
mile east of Mallo Camp on Beaver Creek Road. Parking at the trailhead is
limited. Dispersed camping on BLM-administered land is allowed. Organized
groups advertising events on the trail must contact the Newcastle Field Office
to obtain a special recreation permit for activities occurring on BLM
administered lands.

The Mallo Trail is somewhat unique in that it passes through several vegetative zones including riparian, aspen, spruce/fir, ponderosa pine, grassland, bare rock, and shrub communities. Several points along the trail afford vistas of the Black Hills, and wildlife is abundant. Wildlife species common in the area include mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and a variety of small mammals and birds. Predators such as coyotes and mountain lions are less common but do pass through the area. The Weston County portion of the trail is marked with a variety of fiberglass or wooden posts and rock cairns. From the trailhead, the trail leads south along the ridgeline on the Wyoming/South Dakota state line. The trail follows along a fence line for a distance of approximately one quarter of a mile to a gate in the fence where the trail re-enters Wyoming and continues onto BLM administered lands. The trail crosses a prominent two-track road and then makes a loop (with a cut across for those preferring a shorter hike) before returning to the gate at the Wyoming/South Dakota line. From there, visitors will hike back along the same trail they used to enter the loop trail. The entire trail is more than 3.5 miles. The Mallo Trail trailhead is located at a small parking area approximately one mile east of Mallo Camp on Beaver Creek Road. Parking at the trailhead is limited. Dispersed camping on BLM-administered land is allowed. Organized groups advertising events on the trail must contact the Newcastle Field Office to obtain a special recreation permit for activities occurring on BLM administered lands.

Old Quarry Trails

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Jewel Cave National Monument

Mallo Trail