While there is a charge for cave tours at Wind Cave National Park, there’s no entry fee to enter the park so hiking is free and really quite accessible: several of the trailheads are right off US Highway 385 or South Dakota Highway 87, so it’s easy to hop in the car and drive from Hot Springs to the park and get a quick hike in. (You are staying with us at The Evanston Suites, right?!)
The odds of seeing buffalo and other wildlife at Wind Cave are high, whether you’re hiking or just driving through!
The National Park Service website has a complete description of all the trails at Wind Cave National Park. You can also hike off-trail at Wind Cave National Park.