Jewel Cave Benchmark Hiking Medallion by L.W. Bristol Classics
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Enameled metal hiking medallion with a bat and USGS benchmark design, made specifically for Jewel Cave National Monument. The “Benchmark” style uses the hexagonal geo marker shape with colored enamel on the front and a brushed metal reverse. Made by L.W. Bristol Classics.
- 1 3/4″ x 1 1/2″ die-cut enameled metal with colored enamel and gold-tone raised details
- Benchmark (geo marker) design featuring a bat inside a hexagonal USGS-style frame
- Three metal nails included for attaching to a hiking stick or walking staff
- Gently shapeable to curve onto a round staff; can also be glued to flat surfaces
- Proceeds support Jewel Cave National Monument and other BHPFA partner parks and forests
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Jewel Cave Benchmark Hiking Medallion by L.W. Bristol Classics
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Enameled metal hiking medallion with a bat and USGS benchmark design, made specifically for Jewel Cave National Monument. The “Benchmark” style uses the hexagonal geo marker shape with colored enamel on the front and a brushed metal reverse. Made by L.W. Bristol Classics.
- 1 3/4″ x 1 1/2″ die-cut enameled metal with colored enamel and gold-tone raised details
- Benchmark (geo marker) design featuring a bat inside a hexagonal USGS-style frame
- Three metal nails included for attaching to a hiking stick or walking staff
- Gently shapeable to curve onto a round staff; can also be glued to flat surfaces
- Proceeds support Jewel Cave National Monument and other BHPFA partner parks and forests
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Description
What is this hiking medallion?
An enameled metal medallion for Jewel Cave National Monument, shaped like a USGS geodetic survey benchmark. The benchmark shape is a hexagonal metal disc, the kind the US Geological Survey has been setting in the ground since the 1800s to mark survey reference points. The hiking medallion version takes that familiar form and puts park artwork on it: here, a bat inside the hexagonal frame with “Jewel Cave National Monument” around the border.
Made by L.W. Bristol Classics, a family-owned manufacturer in Bristol, Tennessee that has made custom souvenirs for parks, trails, and historic sites across the country for decades. The design is approved for sale at Jewel Cave and is available through BHPFA.
The bat is a natural choice for Jewel Cave. The cave is home to nine species of bats, including one of the largest colonies of Townsend’s big-eared bats in the region. Wind coming from the cave entrance is what led to the cave’s 1900 discovery, but the bats are what many visitors remember.
About Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave is 220+ miles of surveyed passages in the Black Hills of South Dakota, making it the third-longest cave in the world. Only Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (about 426 miles) and the underwater Sistema Sac Actun in Mexico (about 230 miles) are longer.
The cave was discovered in 1900 by prospectors Frank and Albert Michaud, who noticed wind rushing from a small opening. For most of the following century, it stayed under 2 miles of mapped passage. The systematic exploration that changed the cave’s story came from Jan and Herb Conn, a husband-and-wife climbing team who mapped more than 60 miles of new passage through the 1960s and 1970s. The survey has continued since, and the cave has grown by miles nearly every active survey year. A single night in December 2018 pushed the total past 200 miles.
The walls are covered in calcite crystals: dogtooth spar (sharp, pointed) and nailhead spar (flat, blunt). You’ll also find cave popcorn, flowstone, boxwork, and a ribbon of calcite known as cave bacon. The crystals are what gives the cave its name.
What’s in the box
- One enameled metal hiking medallion, approximately 1 3/4″ x 1 1/2″, benchmark/hexagonal shape
- Three metal nails for attaching to a wooden hiking stick or staff
- Mounted on a display card
How to attach it
Pre-drill three small holes in your walking stick where you want the medallion, then press the nails through the medallion holes and into the drilled holes. The medallion is slightly flexible and can be curved to match the round shape of a staff. For flat surfaces (bike frames, RV panels, scrapbook boards), flatten it and use a strong adhesive.
Specifications
- Dimensions: approximately 1 3/4″ x 1 1/2″ (benchmark/hexagonal die-cut shape)
- Weight: 0.1 oz
- Construction: enameled metal with gold-tone raised details
- Reverse: brushed metal finish
- Attachment: three metal nails included
- Manufacturer: L.W. Bristol Classics (Bristol, TN)
Who is this for?
If you’ve been to Jewel Cave and want something to mark the visit that isn’t a magnet or a keychain, this is the option. The benchmark shape is a collector’s piece in its own right. USGS benchmark enthusiasts (yes, they exist) often collect the hiking medallion versions alongside the real brass discs.
For stick collectors who already have the Classic Jewel Cave medallion, the Benchmark is a different design worth adding. Same cave, different artwork.
It’s an easy add to any order from the Jewel Cave store. It also pairs well with the Jewel Cave Bat Geo Marker Pin, which has the same bat-and-benchmark design in a smaller lapel pin format.
Frequently asked questions
What does the design show?
A bat inside a USGS-style hexagonal benchmark frame, with “Jewel Cave National Monument” around the border. Gold-tone raised details on a colored enamel background. The benchmark/geo marker shape distinguishes it from the Classic Jewel Cave Hiking Medallion, which is round.
What is a benchmark hiking medallion?
It’s a hiking medallion shaped like a USGS geodetic survey benchmark: a hexagonal metal disc. The USGS has embedded these brass discs across the country since the 1800s to mark precisely surveyed reference points. The hiking medallion version is an homage to that form. L.W. Bristol Classics has made benchmark-style hiking medallions for parks and trails for many years.
How is this different from the Classic Jewel Cave Hiking Medallion?
The Classic is round (approximately 1 3/4″ diameter) and features the cave’s entrance or the Jewel Cave logo. The Benchmark is hexagonal (approximately 1 3/4″ x 1 1/2″) and features the bat-and-geo-marker design. Both are made by L.W. Bristol Classics and priced at $4.99.
How big is it?
Approximately 1 3/4″ x 1 1/2″, hexagonal benchmark shape. Slightly larger in one direction than a standard round hiking medallion.
Does it come with everything I need to attach it?
Yes. Three metal nails are included. Pre-drill small holes in wood before pressing the nails in. For flat, non-round surfaces, flatten the medallion slightly and use your own adhesive.
Can I put it on something other than a hiking stick?
Yes. Any surface you can nail or glue to works: bike frames, RV panels, scrapbooks, display boards. Flatten it a bit if you’re mounting it on a flat surface.
Is Jewel Cave actually the third-longest cave in the world?
Yes, as of 2026. The surveyed length is 220+ miles, which puts it third behind Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (about 426 miles) and Sistema Sac Actun in Mexico (an underwater cave system, about 230 miles). The Jewel Cave survey is still active and the number grows.
Does buying this support Jewel Cave?
Yes. BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
Is there a matching pin?
Yes. The Jewel Cave Bat Geo Marker Pin uses the same bat-and-benchmark design in a smaller lapel pin format (about 7/8″). Both are $4.99.
More BHPFA hiking medallions
Every Purchase Makes a Difference
When you shop with Black Hills Parks & Forests Association, you are directly funding:
- Education programs — nature workshops, Junior Ranger activities, and homeschool adventures for kids across the Black Hills
- Trail maintenance — keeping hiking trails safe and accessible at Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and the Black Hills National Forest
- Visitor services — park store operations, interpretive programs, and the staff who help millions of visitors each year
- Conservation — supporting the long-term health of public lands in the Black Hills and Nebraska
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service in the Black Hills region. We have supported these public lands since 1946.
Additional information
| Weight | 1 oz |
|---|---|
| Brand | L.W. Bristol Classics |
| Dimensions | approx. 1 3/4" x 1 1/2" (hexagonal benchmark shape) |
| Weight | 0.1 oz |
| Material | Enameled Metal |
Note on International Orders
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