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Camping & Cabins

The Forest has 30 campgrounds with more than 682 individual camp sites. A majority of the campgrounds are operated by a concessionaire, Forest Recreation Management, Inc. About half of the campgrounds have on-site hosts. Electricity, sewer, and water hook-ups and showers are not available. Most campgrounds have potable water (during the peak season only) and vault toilets. 

View off-season campground information.

Campground Reservations

Flag - Off Season Camping

Campground reservations may be made through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 . Due to high demand, reservations are recommended.

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Dispersed Camping

Dispersed Camping

Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed on most of the Forest for a maximum of 14 days in any 60-day period. However, around developed reservoirs, lakes, and campgrounds, camping is allowed only in designated areas. 

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Showing: 1 - 10 of 33 results

Bear Gulch (Group Site)
Site Closed
Picnicking
This private access group campsite is isolated among the forested Black Hills of South Dakota, overlooking a private bay on the Pactola Reservoir. Great for group events with up to 40 people, there…

Bearlodge Campground
Site Open
Bearlodge Campground near Devils Tower offers eight sites and reduced fees during the off-season. First-come, first-served.

Beaver Creek Campground
Site Open
Beaver Creek Campground has 8 campsites (1 accessible), 1 vault toilet, and is remote and quiet. The campground is on the Wyoming/South Dakota border NW of Hill City, SD. Beaver Creek runs…

Bismark Lake Campground
Site Open
Outdoor Science and Learning Hiking Fishing Water Activities
Peaceful camping at Bismark Lake in the Black Hills. Reserve your site and enjoy lake views, privacy, and easy access through Custer State Park.

Black Fox Campground
Site Open
The Black Fox Campground has nine camp sites.  Restroom facilities are available. The campground is in a remote location within a spruce forest on South Fork Rapid Creek.  The Black Fox Botanical…

Boxelder Forks Campground
Site Open
Boxelder Forks Campground has 14 sites, fishing nearby, and trail access to Centennial Trail. First-come, first-served—no reservations.

Castle Peak Campground
Site Open
Castle Peak Campground offers nine first-come sites in a quiet canyon along Castle Creek. No reservations.

Comanche Park Campground
Site Open
Comanche Park Campground near Custer offers spacious, shaded sites and is the closest campground to Jewel Cave National Monument.

Cook Lake Recreation Area
Site Open
Water Activities Fishing Hiking Picnicking Biking
Cook Lake offers camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and picnics in a quiet Black Hills setting. Reserve campsites at Recreation.gov.

Custer Trail Campground
Site Open
Hiking
The Custer Trail Campground is located on the north side of Deerfield Reservoir. The campground has a boat launch and a trailhead for the Deerfield Trail. Reservations are not available for Custer…
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