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On this page you'll find information on the state and federal campgrounds in the Black Hills area. You are allowed to set up you own campsite away from developed fee sites almost anywhere in the National Forest. Areas around reservoirs and campgrounds allow camping only in designated areas. Open campfires outside of developed campgrounds are not permitted in the Black Hills. Please note that in the campgrounds listed below which offer winter camping there are no services available and roads to the campgrounds may be closed because of snow. For a map of National Forest Service Campground locations, please click on the link below:
For information on private campgrounds and their amenities, please search our advertisers under Where to Stay.
Campgrounds Near LakesBISMARK LAKE CAMPGROUND Bismark Lake Campground is located in a pine forest next to Bismark Lake and Custer State Park. It is open May 19 through September 11. There are 22 camp sites (spur length -55') with picnic tables and grills. Some sites overlook the lake and give easy access for canoes. There is also a boat ramp at the campground for power boats (electric motors only). Bismark Lake Campground has drinking water and vault toilets. There are no showers available.
Bismark Lake Campground is open mid-May through mid-September with a few sites open in the winter months. Please check first for winter camping. Reservations can be made by call 1-887-444-6777 or by visiting Recreation.gov.
To get to Bismark Lake Campground, take Hwy. 16A east out of Custer for 3.7 miles (past the Custer State Park Entrance). Turn left at the Bismark Lake Campground sign.
CENTER LAKECenter Lake is located in Custer State Park and has 71 campsites that will accomodate tents or smaller campers.The campground is in a open pine forest at the edge of Center Lake. A few of the sites are right on the lake. There are vault toiltes and showers, but no electricity. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. The campground has a swimming beach and a boat dock, but there is a no wake rule for boats.
The campground is open from May 15 through September 30. Campsites are available on a same day reservation basis. Reservations can be made by visiting www.campsd.com or by calling 1-800-710-2267.
From Rapid City take Highway 79 south for 17 miles to South Dakota Highway 36, then go west for nine miles to the campground.
COOK LAKEThe campground at Cook Lake a very quiet and peaceful. It is located at an elevation of 4,400 in the Wyoming Black Hills near Sundance, WY. There are 33 sites with grills and picnic tables. Sites on loop A are in an open setting on the lake, while loop B sites are higher and in a pine and mixed hardwood forest. The spurs are 45' in length with no pull through sites.
Boating is allowed for electric motors only and there is carry down access to the lake. There is also a handicapped accessible fishing pier and toilet between loops A and B.
Cook Lake Campground is open mid-May through mid-September with some sites open year-round depending upon snow conditions. Please check before making your winter plans. Rservations can be made by calling 1-877-444-6777 or visiting Recreation.gov.
To get to Cook Lake, take I-90 west to Exit 185 at Sundance. Take US Rt. 14 for 1.4 miles to a Cook Lake Recreational Area sign. Turn right (Forest Rt. 838) and go 12.9 miles to another Cook Lake Recreational Area sign. Make another right (Forest Rt. 843) at the next Cook Lake Recreational Area sign for 5.4 miles, which will take you to another sign, which is at the campground.
DEERFIELD LAKE
There are three campgrounds located at Deerfield Lake. They are Custer Trails, Dutchman, and Whitetail campgrounds. To get to Deerfield Lake, take Deerfield Road (County Road 308) out of Hill City. Go west for 17.6 miles to South Rochford Road. Make a right hand turn and go 2.4 miles to Forest Service Road 417. Make a right on FS 417 and travel 1.4 miles to Deerfield Lake. Some of the sites at these Deerfield Lake campgrounds can be reserved in advance by going to RECREATION.GOV, while others are on a first come, first served basis.
Custer Trail Campground Custer Trail Campground is located on the south shore of Deerfield Lake. It is at an elevation of 6,000 feet,so nights are cool, even in the summer. There are 16 campsites at Dutchman campground. Eight are walk-in, tent only, and eight are for RVs. The tent only sites are secluded sites in a pine forest, while the RV sites are in the open and on the lake (no pull throughs). The sites have a hand pump for water and vault toilets.
There is a boat ramp, and carry down access to the lake. Power boats are allowed, but are limited to 5 mph.
Dutchman Campground Dutchman Campground is located near Deerfield Lake in the Deerfield Recreational Area, but not actually on the lake. It is at an elevation of 6,200 feet and has pleasant weather even in the hot summer months, nights are cool. This campground is open mid-May through mid-September. There are 44 sites for either tents or RVs. Each has a grill and a picnic table. There are no hook-ups or pull throughs, and each site is in the pine forest. Dutchman Campground has drinking water and vault toilets.
To get to Dutchman Campground take Deerfield Road (FS 17) out of Hill City. Follow it for 13.6 miles until you come to a Black Hills National Forest Recreation Area sign. Make a right on Deerfileld Cove Road, and go 1.4 miles to the campground.
Whitetail Campground Whitetail Campground is next to Deerfield Lake, but not actually on the Lake. It's elevation is 6,100 feet so days are pleasant and nights are cool. There 17 combined tent and RV sites. They are in a pine forest, and some have a view of the lake. Each has a picnic table and a grill. None have electricity, but there is water and there are vault toilets. There are some sites in Whitetail Campground that are open all year long.
To get to Whitetail Campground take Deerfield Road (FS 17) out of Hill City and go west for 15.1 miles to the Whitetail Campground sign. Turn right and travel .9 miles to the campground.
DALTON LAKEDalton Lake Campground is located on the edge of this small fishing lake. There are 10 sites available for tents and RVs on a first come, first served basis. There are rest rooms and water available. Each site has a fire grate and picnic table. Dalton Lake is known for its excellent lake and stream trout fishing. The water is cloudy and therefore, may not be the best for swimming. There is a trailhead to the Centennial trail located at the campground.
Dalton Lake Campground can be reached by taking Hwy. 385 out of Deadwood and go south for 7.8 miles to Nemo Road. Make a left on Forest Service Road 26 (Wonderland Cave Road) and go 3.5 miles to Forest Service Road 244 (Dalton Lake Road). Turn right and go 2.5 miles to Dalton Lake.
HORSETHIEF LAKE
Horsethief Lake Campground has two loops. One is for RVs and tents, while the other is for tents only (seven are walk-in). All sites are located in the pines, and some are right on the bank of Horsethief Lake. There are 36 sites total. Fourteen are tent only and 22 are for either tents or RVs. There are no RV hookups. Each site has a grill and a picnic table. There is drinking water and toilets available. You can put a non-motorized boat in the lake via a carry down ramp. Motor boats are not allowed on the lake.
To get to Horsethief Lake campground, take Hwy. 385 south out of Hill City for three miles. Turn on left Hwy. 244 and go 5.9 miles to the campground which will be on the right hand side of the road. Two miles further up Hwy. 244 will take you to Mount Rushmore.
PACTOLA LAKE
There are three loops in the campground at Pactola. Most are in the pines, with some overlooking the lake. The campground is open one week before Memorial Day until one week after Labor Day. There are a few sites that are open year round. The campground consists of 39 tent only sites and 45 tent or RV sites, seven are pull through. Each site has a grill and a picnic table. There are both flush and vault toilets, some are wheelchair accessible. Drinking water is available. Pactola campground has a boat ramp available for both non-motorized and motorized boats, and jet skiis. There is a pinic area and sandy beach near the campground. Boat rentals are available at the mariana.
Pactola Lake is located on Highway 385 about 2.8 miles south of the junction where Highway 44 out of Rapid City joins it. To get to the campground turn onto Custer Gulch Road just past the Visitor Center (if coming from Rapid City), and go 1.4 miles to the campground sign. Turn right on Rt. 545 and go 0.5 miles to the campground.
Some sites are on a first come, first served basis and some are by reservation only. To make reservations, please call 1-877-444-6777 or go to reserveusa.com.
BEAR GULCH GROUP CAMPGROUND
This campground is located in a pine forest at the end of a quiet gulch on Pactola Lake. It is ideal for family gatherings and can accommodate up to forty people. It can be reached by a winding gravel road, or by boat. It has 45 foot long pull offs, but no electrical hook-ups, and no drinking water. This campground is gated and locked until reservations are made. Bear Gulch Campground is not open during the winter months. For more information please call 1-605-574-4402. Reservations can be made by visiting Recreation.gov.
ROCKY POINT
Rocky Point campground is located on the 8,000 acres Belle Fourche Resevoir, just outside of Belle Fourche. There are 61 campsites with electricity, flush and vault toilets, showers, and drinking water. Most of the sites are open and grassy, some have a few trees but they don't provide much shade, and some are on the lake. Each has a picnic table and a campfire ring. The sites are suitable for tents and RVs; most are back-in, but there are a few pull-throughs.
The campground also provides picnic shelters, a playground, a boat ramp, and kayak rentals, and a fish cleaning station. There are some handicapped accessible facilities.
To get to Orman Resevoir, take Highway 212 out of Belle Fourch for eight miles. You'll see the road to the resevoir on your left. Follow this road to the Rocky Point Recreational Area campground.
ROUBAIX LAKEThe campground at Roubaix Lake is made up of four loops. There are 53 sites total; 16 tent only and 37 tent or RV sites. There are no RV hookups and no pull through sites. Roubaix Lake campground is open one week before Memorial Day until one week after Labor Day. Some sites are available all year round. All sites are in the pines, and each have a picnic table and a grill. The lake has a nice sand beach and a wheelchair accessible toilet. Roubaix Lake is at an elevation of 5,500 feet so nights are usually cool even in the summer.
There is a volleyball court on the sand beach at the lake. Swimming and non-motorized boats are permitted.
Roubaix Lake campground is located 13.5 miles south of Deadwood on Highway 385. Turn right at the sign and go 0.5 miles to the campground. Some sites are on a first come, first served basis. Reservations can be made by calling 1-877-444-6777 or by visiting reserveusa.com.
SHERIDAN LAKETo get to the Sheridan Lake campgrounds take Sheridan Lake Road west out of Rapid City and go about 18 miles to Highway 385. Turn south (left) and go about one mile to the lake.
Sheridan Lake North Cove (Group) There are five group camping areas available that range in size from 25 to 100 people. None have electricity. Each group area has a shelter, picnic tables, water, and toilet, and parking area. For more information please call 605-574-4402. To make a reservation, please visit reserveusa.com.
Sheridan Lake Southside Sheridan Lake Southside consists of five loops. The sites are widely spaced and most are in the pines. Some overlook the lake; some are on the lake and you can tie your boat up right at your campsite.
There are 127 combined tent and RV sites, a few are pull through. Each has a picnic table and grill. There are water faucets and toilets available. The Rocky Loop has a wheelchair accessible toilet. The Rocky Loop also has a boat ramp and carry down boat access. Motorized boats, non-motorized boats, sailboats, and jet skiis are permitted. There is also a boat ramp and a sandy beach area here. Boats may also be rented at the marina. Some sites are available year round.
SYLVAN LAKE
Sylvan Lake Campground is located in Custer State Park. While the campground is not actually right on the lake it is just across the road from the lake. Sylvan Lake campground is at an elevation of 6,200 feet, so nights will be cool. The campground has flush toilets, vault toilets, and drinking water. Since the sites are close together and the road through the campground is narrow and winding, large tents and RVs are not recommended. Swimming, non-motorized boating, hiking and rock climbing are some of the activities you can enjoy at Slvan Lake. Paddle boats can be rented at the general store. To find Sylvan Lake Campground take Highway 16 out of Custer, to Highway 89 this will take you to the Sylvan Lake entrance station to Custer State Park. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800- or by visiting www.campsd.com.
CREEKSIDE CAMPING IN THE BLACK HILLS
BEAVER CREEKTake Highway 85 south out of Lead for about 33 miles. Turn left on Mallo Road and go for about 4.4 miles, then make a right to stay on Mallo Rd. Go another 0.4 miles and make a left to stay on Mallo Road. You have now re-enter South Dakota and the road name changes to Beaver Creek Road. Continue for another 0.6 miles and the campground will be on the left.
The campground is in a spruce forest and has 8 tent or RV sites. There are tables and fire rings for each site, but no drinking water. This is a quiet and remote campground. It is at a high elevation so days and evening are cool. Camping at Beaver Creek is on a first come, first served basis.
BOXELDER FORKSBoxelder Forks campground is located on Boxelder Creek in a thick spruce and pine forest. It's quite scenic and very quiet. There are 13 tent and RV sites, each with a picnic table and grill.There are no hook-ups, but there are vault toilets and one water spigot. Trout fishing is a popular pastime at Boxelder Forks.
From Deadwood take Highway 385 south for 3.8 miles to the Nemo Road (Highway 234) and make a left hand turn. Continue for 13.1 miles until you come to Boxelder Forks Road. Make a right on Boxelder Forks Road and drive 1.7 miles to the campground. BLACK FOXNine campsites on upper Rapid Creek. Good trout fishing in the area with spectacular scenery. The elevation is 5900 feet, so nights are cool and days are pleasant even in the summer.
CASTLE PEAK
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