Black Hills Parks & Forests Association

@blackhillsparks

The official non-profit partner of Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Agate Fossil Beds, and Scotts Bluff National Park Service sites; Black Hills National Forest; and Nebraska Forests and Grasslands. We support "Wonder & Exploration" in our public lands.

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Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· 10d

Meet Tess, an education intern at Jewel Cave National Monument. Her position is funded by park store purchases. Buy a t-shirt, fund a future ranger. It's really that simple. #PublicLands #NationalParks

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· 10d

Stretch your arms out as wide as you can. A golden eagle still beats you by about two feet. The new Bird Wingspans display at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, SD lets you compare. BHPFA funded it through your purchases, memberships, and donations. It's what we do. #PublicLands

Four grassland bird silhouettes cut from flat panel and layered largest to smallest on a cream wall. A dark brown golden eagle sits at the back, a cream red-tailed hawk next, then a dusty rose prairie falcon, with a small dark burrowing owl in front. A printed sign to the right reads Bird Wingspans and lists each span. A kids book rack and a prairie dog mount sit below.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· 12d

That pile of shredded pine cones on the trail is not a crime scene. It's a midden. Red squirrels strip cones for the seeds and pile the scraps in the same spot for years. The damp layers underneath keep whole cones fresh until winter. It's no more a crime scene than your kitchen. Oh, wait...

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· 12d

Turn the new Scotts Bluff tote around and the back is a different scene entirely. Original art, made for this bag, so it exists nowhere else! The other carries Jim Yellowhawk's Wind Cave artwork, and part of each sale funds Native artists. blackhillsparks.org/product-cate...

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· 17d

Fall weekends in the Hills fill up fast, so here's your two-month warning: Cascade Falls needs about 35 volunteers on Saturday, September 26. Painting shelters, new day-use signs, raking gravel paths. 10a to 3p, or a two-hour shift. www.neefusa.org/npld/cascade... #NPLD #BlackHills

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· 18d

No campfires in Black Hills National Forest, including developed campground fire rings! Stage 2 restrictions started 12:01 a.m. July 27 in SD and WY. Gas and liquid stoves are still OK. No charcoal, no wood. No driving off Forest Service roads. fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/alerts #BlackHills

Black Hills National Forest - Stage 2 Fire Restrictions - No campfires, charcoal or grills, including in developed campgrounds. Propane and liquid gas stoves are still allowed.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· 24d

Need a free Saturday plan? Junior Caver Day at Jewel Cave, July 25, 10 to 2. Kids get to do hands-on cave science with real rangers and researchers, then come home worn out, proud, and a brain-full of bat facts! #JewelCave #BlackHills

A ranger and young child sit beneath trees, both holding up a paperback storybook with a bat illustration. They smile at each other. Text reads "Junior Caver Day - Saturday July 25th, 10am - 2pm"

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Jun 28

This spring six volunteers spent a week at Jewel Cave clearing old concrete, building a retaining wall, clearing culverts, and prepping 600 feet of the Canyons Trail for repairs. Work by a Wilderness Volunteers crew and the park's facilities team keeps it walkable. #JewelCave #PublicLands

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Jun 26

Meet Bark, a Black Hills beaver moved from Rapid Creek to Willow Creek who slowly rebuilds a wetland. She is also a new local kids' book. Matching plush too! Author Eric Zimmer and illustrator Ellen Devine sign copies Sat 6/27 in Custer, Sun 6/28 in Rapid City. blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/...

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Jun 23

Agate Fossil Beds turned 61! The reason it's protected? A pig the size of a bison, named Dinohyus, from 20 mil years ago, along with other amazing creatures. Agate also features an amazing collection of Lakota gifts from Red Cloud to the rancher who lived here. blackhillsparks.org/agate-fossil...

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Jun 1

It's National Forest Week, and our store inside Pactola Visitor Center is open for the season! Maps, field guides, kids' books, plush, gifts, and Black Hills National Forest motor vehicle use permits. Open 7 days, 9 to 4:30, through Labor Day weekend. blackhillsparks.org #NationalForestWeek

Pactola Visitor Center Store open for the season, with three images of the store interior and expansive views.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· May 27

One more retail spot at Wind Cave's park store. Part or full time, $14-15/hr, weekends required, seasonal through October. Immediate start! Apply: hthompson@blackhillsparks.org / 605-745-7020 or learn more at blackhillsparks.org/employment #WindCave #BHPFA #ParkJobs

BHPFA hiring graphic for Wind Cave park store retail associate. Weekends required, $14-15/hr, seasonal through October.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· May 20

Never been on a Moon Walk? This summer is the year. The 2026 Black Hills NF schedule is out: four free guided night hikes, one Saturday a month June through September. $5 collector pin only sold on the trail, while they last. fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills #BHPFA #PublicLands

Hand-illustrated night-forest poster announcing the 2026 Black Hills NF Moon Walk schedule with pin inset.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· May 13

Who is Bark? You'll find out this week. (Spoiler: he's a beaver.) BHPFA's newest children's book and matching plush hit park stores in a few days. Picture book, plush version, and the full origin story of one very determined dam-builder. bhpfa.org/bark

Cartoon beaver peeks from a pond at dusk with striped tail visible above water. 'SOON' glows in the water reflection.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· May 11

1,500 wildflower species bloom in the Black Hills, and over 400 in western Nebraska's Wildcat Hills. Two field guides by Connie McKinney organize them by color and bloom season. Black Hills, $15.99. Wildcat Hills, $13.99. blackhillsparks.org/shop/park-st... #Wildflowers #PublicLands

people kneeling on a Black Hills trail, holding the Wildflowers of the Black Hills field guide open beside blooming plants.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· May 8

Need a last-minute Saturday plan? Find out why that squirrel is yelling at you. Tomorrow at Wind Cave: 4-hr workshop on alarm calls, wildlife communication, reading the forest by ear. Registration open through tonight. May 9 | 9 AM | $40 blackhillsparks.org/nature-workshops #WindCave

Red squirrel perched on lichen-covered pine branch, looking directly at camera.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· May 4

Thought extinct in 1981. Back from the brink. The National Grasslands Visitor Center is running a K-12 poster contest for 30 years of black-footed ferret recovery. Deadline June 22. BHPFA prize baskets! www.fs.usda.gov/r02/nebraska...

Close-up of a black-footed ferret in prairie grass. Poster contest celebrating 30 years of recovery, BHPFA prize baskets.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Apr 23

1,348 visitor interactions in 2025. Up 45% from 2024. That's our great Wind Cave Ambassadors! They're BHPFA volunteers who track trail conditions and answer the real questions hikers have on Wind Cave trails. 2026 season kicks off in May. Thank you, Ambassadors! #NationalVolunteerWeek #WindCave

2025 Wind Cave Ambassador stats, 1,348 visitor interactions, up 45%. Volunteer smiles in green BHPFA shirt on trail.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Apr 23

Can confirm. #parkchat

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Apr 23

a6: Visit #1 for two of the people in this shot, #10 or so for another, #730 for the guy in the cool hat. #parkchat

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Apr 21

Saturday closes out National Volunteer Week. If you're near the Black Hills and want to spend it doing something real, Camp Bob Marshall has a work day April 25, 9am-4pm. Raking, brush clearing, chainsaw work (bring gloves). Lunch provided. campbob1@gwtc.net #NationalVolunteerWeek

Volunteers at Camp Bob Marshall in the Black Hills: group shot by the camp sign, and work scenes with rakes at log cabins

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Apr 21

Native prairie doesn't come back on its own. BHPFA volunteers are out there with buckets and seeds making it happen. It's National Volunteer Week. We're sharing their stories all week! #NationalVolunteerWeek #Volunteers #PublicLands

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Apr 16

Only 10 spots for Saturday's animal premium tracking workshop at Wind Cave. Six hours of hands-on field work. Lean to read tracks, scat, bones, rubs. $40/adult | $20/child | $100/family Register in advance. blackhillsparks.org/bhpfa-event/... #WindCave #OutdoorEducation #NationalParks

Collage of animal skulls, tracks in snow, elk antlers, and field photos with text: Nature's Clues workshop

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Mar 31

Free educator workshop, April 24-26 in Custer. Project WILD, AIS, and PLT training for K-12 teachers, homeschoolers, and youth leaders. Walk away with full activity guides. Registration closes April 17. Email bradley.block@usda.gov #EnvironmentalEducation #BlackHills #SouthDakota

Illustrated promotional graphic for a free educator workshop at Black Hills National Forest, April 24 to 26. Two children sit at a table using markers to write messages on leaf-shaped paper cutouts beside pine sprigs. Visible messages include “Save the Pines,” “Learn & Protect,” “Respect Nature,” and “My Forest Pledge.” Large white text on a light blue background reads “Free educator workshop,” with smaller text below reading “Black Hills National Forest April 24 - 26.”

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Mar 26

A1: Not the parks, but rather the forests and grasslands side of the shop: Smokey's birthday at the National Grasslands Visitor Center got pretty crazy #parkchat

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Mar 26

Black Hills Parks & Forests is here! And it's our Big Eight-Zero this year, so this is a fun one. #parkchat

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Mar 23

2026 Black Hills National Forest motor vehicle use permits are on sale. They're the ultimate after-market accessory for your quads and side-by-sides. 📦 Online for mail: blackhillsbadlands.square.site 🏪 Our Custer store starting 3/30 Physical stickers only. No print-at-home.

Silhouette illustration of a side-by-side UTV on a forested trail among pine trees

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Mar 21

One paid intern spot left at Jewel Cave National Monument this summer. Lead Scenic and Discovery cave tours, staff the visitor center, help run Junior Caver Day. $16/hr + housing (18+) + uniform allowance Resume to aimee_murillo@nps.gov by April 13. #JewelCave #BHPFA #ParkJobs

Jewel Cave summer internship graphic: lead cave tours, $16/hr plus housing, apply by April 13

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Mar 16

4 positions for people who'd rather be in the Black Hills than a cubicle! Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Pactola + Custer HQ. Weekend availability required. $13-15/hr. Come meet us at the job fair April 8 in Hot Springs. blackhillsparks.org/employment/ #NowHiring #SDJobs #PublicLands

Hiring graphic: four associate positions at Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Pactola, and BHPFA HQ. Job fair April 8.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association @blackhillsparks· Mar 13

BHPFA stores and partner sites are currently open, but the NPS, USFS, and our operations staff are closely monitoring. Staff and visitor safety is all our top priority. Check SD Game, Fish & Parks resources for status of Custer State Park. #custersd #WindCaveNationalPark #QuryFire #DeerFire