Blacktail Picnic Area
The Blacktail Picnic Area provides a peaceful prairie setting ideal for families, travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts exploring the Grand River National Grassland. The site includes three picnic tables with covered shelters, fire rings, a vault toilet, interpretive panels, and a stocked fishing pond with a dock. A designated rainbow trout fishing area makes the pond a popular spot for anglers of all ages.
A convenient parking area provides access to the 7‑mile, gravel‑surfaced, non-motorized Blacktail Trail, offering opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. Visitors often spot prairie dogs, raptors, deer, and other native species in the surrounding mixed‑grass prairie.
Whether used as a quiet lunch stop, a fishing destination, or a starting point for trail exploration, the Blacktail Picnic Area highlights the wide‑open views, solitude, and natural beauty that define the region.
Blacktail Picnic Area
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Active Alerts
General Information
- Pack-in, Pack-out rules apply. If you bring it in with you, please take it out. Please do not put any trash in the vault toilets.
- No electrical hook-ups are available.
- Convenient access to Blacktail Trail.
- Picnic area rules and information are posted on the kiosk.
Contact the Grand River Ranger District Office for specific questions or details.
Year-round
Day use only.
- Fire Restrictions may be in effect. Visitors are responsible for monitoring current conditions on the Alerts and Fire Danger Status page and NDResponse.gov
- The Blacktail Trail is intended for non-motorized travel only. Therefore, all motorized vehicles, including E-bikes, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), and snowmobiles are prohibited.
No fees are required for this site
No fees at this site.
Contact Name: Grand River Ranger District
Contact Phone: 605-374-3592
Address: 1005 5th Ave W., Lemmon, SD 57638
Phone: (605) 374-3592
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Mountain Time (Closed on federal holidays)
Office Email: Grand-River.RD@usda.gov
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 45.71888889
Longitude: -102.1597222
Directions
Located 16 miles South of Lemmon, SD on SD-73, turn East on Forest Road 5626 for a half mile, then turn North on Forest Road 5740 for one mile into the trailhead parking area.
Parking
Ample parking available for various vehicles, including cars, trucks, and trailers.
Facility and Amenity Information
Restrooms
Vault toilet(s)Water
Potable water is not available at this site.
No water on site. Please come prepared.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
Three sheltered picnic sites.
Nearby Trails
Recreation Opportunities
Fishing - Lake & Pond
Fishing - IceFishing - Lake & Pond Info
Located in northwestern South Dakota, the Blacktail Picnic Area and the Blacktail Trailhead, features a small fishing dock and lake stocked with rainbow trout and bass.
Fishing dam locations in the area are listed in the South Dakota National Grassland Fishing Booklet.
Fishing - Ice Info
Located in northwestern South Dakota, the Blacktail Picnic Area and the Blacktail Trailhead, features a small fishing dock and lake stocked with rainbow trout and bass.
Fishing dam locations in the area are listed in the South Dakota National Grassland Fishing Booklet.
Viewing Scenery Info
Plant enthusiasts and sightseers alike will marvel at the wide diversity found in the area.
Before you go, visit the Animals and Plants page to download the Plant and Wildlife Checklist and keep track of the flora and fauna you may spot in the grasslands. And don't forget to check out the Plants of the Grand River and Cedar River National Grasslands publication available on that page.
Viewing Wildlife Info
Before you go, visit the Animals and Plants page to download the Plant and Wildlife Checklist and keep track of the flora and fauna you may spot in the grasslands. Birders may find the Bird Status and Distribution on the Cedar River and Grand River National Grasslands 2011 helpful in their explorations.
Important note: Prairie rattlesnakes are common throughout the grasslands. If you are bitten, remain calm and call 911 immediately.
Boating - Motorized Info
The Blacktail Picnic Area in South Dakota provides a quiet, scenic spot for boating and fishing. It features a stocked fishing pond with a dock, perfect for anglers and small boats (not suitable for large motorboats).
Amenities include a fishing pond, dock, and picnic area.
Boating - Non-Motorized Info
The Blacktail Picnic Area in South Dakota provides a quiet, scenic spot for boating and fishing. It features a stocked fishing pond with a dock, perfect for anglers and small boats (not suitable for large motorboats).
Amenities include a fishing pond, dock, and picnic area.
Day Hikes Info
Enjoy the scenic Blacktail Trail:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/dpg/recreation/trails/blacktail-trail
Biking - Mountain Info
Enjoy the scenic Blacktail Trail:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/dpg/recreation/trails/blacktail-trail