What Does Wisconsin Cave Of The Mounds Cost? Is It Worth The Price?

Are you planning to travel to Blue Mound, Wisconsin, to discover this underground hidden gem, Wisconsin Cave of the Mounds, a National Natural Landmark? Are you wondering what Wisconsin Cave of the Mounds cost and if it is worth your time and money?

We will share with you what it costs to visit Cave of the Mounds, additional items you can add to your adventure, what you will experience on your visit, and if we thought it was worth the cost.

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for detail

Wisconsin Cave Of The Mounds

In 1988, Cave of the Mounds earned the National Natural Landmark recognition. Although Cave of the Mounds is privately owned, a public-private partnership with the National Park Service ensures that the cave will be managed & protected for future generations.

This National Natural Wonder is incredible. The variety of minerals in Wisconsin gives the Cave of the Mounds its unique colors. When you hear the story of the cave’s discovery and then step inside, you instantly know why a visit to the Cave of the Mounds needs to be on your bucket list. No pictures or videos can do justice to its beauty. It is something you will want to experience yourself.

Cave of the Mounds is a prime example of the natural hidden gems that Wisconsin is hiding. But what does visiting Cave of the Mounds cost, and is it worth it?

Cave Of The Mounds Cost

Cave of the Mounds tickets can be purchased online or in person.

Timed tickets are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. You can purchase your tour tickets online and pick them up at the cave, or you can buy your tickets when you arrive at the Cave of the Mounds. Ticket availability will depend on the day’s popularity.

Cave admission prices 2024 (accurate at the time of publishing)
Adult admission (ages 13+) $21.99
Childs admission (ages 4-12) $12.99

For what Cave of the Mounds cost, we think it was money well spent to enjoy a day filled with education, wonder, and adventure.

For that cost, you can choose a guided or self-guided tour. If you choose the self-guided tour, tour guides are stationed throughout the cave to answer any questions you may have. We found the guides very friendly and informative.

Cave of the Mounds is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM
Tours depart hourly, starting at 10:00 AM
The last tour entry is at 4 PM

You will enter the cave through the gift shop area.

Add-On’s To Your Cave Experience

You can add additional things to your visit to heighten your cave experience. These things are not necessary but can be fun additions.

Membership

For an additional cost of 6.99, a one-year Keys to the Cave membership can be added to your admission ticket. This membership grants unlimited cave tour admission for one year and a subscription to their newsletter email which includes special offers throughout the year. Your Keys to the Cave membership helps support the conservation of the cave.

Blacklight Experience

Rent a blacklight flashlight to have a whole new cave experience. Use the blacklight on your cave tour to see several formations glow. Calcite is the main mineral in all Cave of the Mounds formations. This mineral, in combination with others, allows the stalactite, stalagmite, and other formations to be seen differently under blacklight.

Cave VIP Experiences

Cave of the Mounds also offers four VIP experiences ideal for a personal tour for you and your group of friends. VIP tours for up to ten people range in price from $250 to $460.

Fun Fact – Cave of the Mounds was accidentally discovered after a routine quarry blast in 1939.

What To Expect When Visiting Cave Of The Mounds

Cave Environment

The cave will be humid, and water may drip from the ceiling if it has rained. Be prepared for water to drip on you or your camera or splash from hitting the cave’s walls.

When it rains, it takes about 20 hours for the rainwater to seep through the ground and into the cave. It had rained the day before our last visit. We found it fun to try and dodge the drips.

Cave Of The Mounds Education

You will have your choice of taking a guided tour in which your party will be shown and guided through the cave by a very knowledgable cave tour guide. Or you can take a self-guided tour without staying with a group.

If you choose to enjoy the self-guided tour, Cave of the Mounds has different signs throughout the cave explaining what each area is and what makes it special. If you have any questions, Cave of the Mounds cave tour guides stationed throughout the cave will happily answer them.

Cave Of The Mounds Highlights

These are just a few highlights of what you will find underground at Cave of the Mounds.

Soda Straws

Soda Straws – Columns in the cave are formed by the limestone and water dripping from the ceiling. This dripping begins the formation of a small tube structure known as the soda straw.

The soda straw is the beginning of a stalactite—a complex lime formation hanging from the ceiling of the Cave of the Mounds.

Stalagmites form as the limestone water drips from the soda straws or stalactite to the ground. As this process continues, the stalactite and the stalagmite might someday reach each other.

Fun Info – The tour guides use a saying to help people remember the difference between stalactite and stalagmite. ‘Stalactite’ hangs ‘tight’ to the ceiling, and a ‘stalagmite’ ‘might’ one day reach the stalactite.

Flowstone

Flowstone – Another type of formation found in the Cave of the Mounds is flowstone. Several areas in The Cave of the Mounds are covered with flowstone.

One of the largest flowstones, known as ‘The Painted Waterfall,’ is incredible. It has a smooth, flowing, and falling appearance and is composed of many different natural colors.

Cave Coral

Cave Coral – Cave of the Mounds has a ‘cave coral’ above a small pond on a lower cave level. A waterline shows where the water level once was.

If you look closely, white specks on the water look like dust. They are tiny insects called ‘spring-tails.’ Spring-tails are the only living creatures living in the Cave of the Mounds.

Stalactites and Stalagmites

Stalactites and Stalagmites – The cave has a magnificent large open area with groupings of larger stalactites collectively named the ‘Cathedral Room.’ Using a bit of imagination, the stalactites look like pipes from a pipe organ. Several weddings have taken place in the Cathedral Room.

One of the unique formations in the cave resembles a parrot. It won’t bite, but if you touch it, the oils from your skin could kill it. The oils will repel the falling water thus stopping the growth. The parrot is a ‘stalagmite’ growing on top of a fallen chunk of ‘stalactites.’

Just Fun – A trip to this romantic hidden gem in Wisconsin wouldn’t be complete without a bit of fun. Check out this little video to see some shenanigans!!

End of the Cave? Near the end of the cave, or at least the end as far as anyone can go, is an area where you can see the ceiling’s reflection in the still water.

Past this point, the cave becomes too small for people to travel through, so no one knows how far it goes.

Cave of the Mounds is not the only thing to do in the breathtaking driftless area. To make the most of your road trip, check out these Things to do near Cave of the Mounds and make a weekend trip out of your adventure.

Preparing To Visit Cave Of The Mounds

Preparing for your visit is the best way to ensure everyone has a pleasant and educational time.

• Purchase your tickets online.
• Cave of the Mounds is open daily, rain or shine, all year. The temperature in the cave stays a consistent 50 degrees. Dress appropriately.
• No food or drink is allowed in the cave—fuel up before venturing underground.
• Sorry, pets are not allowed in the cave.
• No smoking or vaping in the cave.
• Photos are the best souvenirs. Plan to use only your phone or simple photo equipment.
• No backpacks, purses, strollers, or framed carriers are allowed. The cave is fragile, and some areas are tight to walk through.
• Caution must be used not to touch any of the cave formations. The oils from your skin will stop the formation’s growth.

Prepare to be amazed as you follow the underground tunnels and explore caverns.

Things To Do When Visiting Cave Of The Mounds

During a visit to the Cave of the Mounds, adults and children of all ages can enjoy several hands-on activities. Some for extra cost.

• Sluicing for gemstones, cracking open ‘geodes,’ or digging for fossils and gems allows you to touch gemstones and experience the thrill of discovery.
• Butterfly Gardens, rock gardens, and hiking and biking trails await the outdoor lover. The beauty of Blue Mound does not start underground. The area around the cave offers an opportunity to get out and enjoy nature.
• A romantic picnic area is available for those wanting to pack a lunch and enjoy a hike after exploring the cave. If you forgot to pack a lunch, don’t worry there is a snack shack available.
• The visitor center at Cave of the Mounds offers fun shopping. Take home a geode and see what beautiful gems are hiding inside. Each geode is different; you won’t know what’s inside until you break it open.

Don’t stop here; there are so many things to do near Cave of the Mounds. You will want to take some extra time and explore some of the many things the area has to offer.

Cave Of The Mounds History

Cave of the Mounds is one of the things that made our list of What is Wisconsin known for. Cave of the Mounds takes its name from the Blue Mounds, two large hills that have long been a Wisconsin landmark. The West Mound is a Wisconsin state park, and Cave of the Mounds lies under the southern slope of the East Mound.

Ebenezer Brigham, a successful lead miner, became Dane County’s first permanent white settler when he settled in the area of the Blue Mounds in 1828.

His house became a trading post, an inn, a stagecoach stop, and Dane County’s first post office.

Colonel Ebenezer Brigham helped build and command Fort Blue Mounds during the Blackhawk War of 1832.

Ebenezer lived a long life on his Bringham farm, mining lead off his property. Unfortunately, he passed away without knowing that a more extraordinary discovery than lead lay deep beneath its surface.

Cave of the Mounds as it is known today, was accidentally discovered on August 4, 1939. Workers removing high-quality limestone from a quarry on the Brigham Farm blasted into the Cave. The blast tore the face off the quarry and revealed a great underground cavern.

All quarrying stopped and never resumed. The dynamite blast revealed a limestone cave more than twenty feet deep, opening into other rooms and galleries, all containing numerous breathtaking mineral formations.

The excitement of the discovery brought so many curiosity seekers that the cave had to be closed off to preserve it while the family decided what to do next.

Lights and wooden walkways were eventually added to preserve the Cave of the Mounds and make it available for the public to view. In May 1940, Cave of the Mounds opened to visitors.

Over 59,000 people visited the cave in the first eight weeks of operation.

The original wooded walkways eventually had to be replaced with concrete. A large stone building was built to replace the original entry building. Since then, a picnic area, walking trails, rock gardens, gift shops, and a visitor center have all been developed.

Wrap-Up – Is Cave Of The Mounds Cost Worth It

I am sure from everything you have read that you already know that “Yes” for the cost of the admission price, we believe Cave of the Mounds Cost is well worth the price. A tour of Cave of the Mounds is one of Wisconsin’s most unique and authentic experiences. Cave of the Mounds is a true natural treasure.

A trip to see Cave of the Mounds makes for an ideal day trip, weekend road trip or an additional stop when visiting Mount Horeb Trolls or House of the Rock. Cave of the Mound is filled with excitement and wonder as you explore underground. Even more is waiting for you above ground.

Start planning your Cave of the Mounds visit and experience it yourself. If you visit the Cave of the Mounds, please tell them you read about them in our blog.