Campground

Horsethief Lake Campground

Black Hills National Forest
Near Hill City, South Dakota

Facilities

Horsethief Lake Campground has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. There are several tent-only and walk-to tent-only sites.

The campground is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water. Electrical hook-ups are not available.

Roads in the campground are paved.

Natural Features

Located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, Black Hills National Forest encompasses nearly 1.25 million acres of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves.

Derived from the Lakota language, the words "Paha Sapa," meaning "hills that are black," honor the dark, pine-covered hills rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie.

Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate mountainous terrain, while elk, deer and pronghorn gather in forests and prairies. Bald eagles, hawks, osprey, peregrine falcon, and hundreds of other bird species can be found in the forest, especially along streams, lakes and rivers.

Recreation

Black Hills National Forest offers visitors a multitude of recreational opportunites throughout all seasons. Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles are popular in summer and early autumn. Winter landscapes are ideal for snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling. Hundreds of miles of trails and roads offer a variety of terrain for mountain bikers. Hikers and bikers can access the nearby George S. Mickelson Trail, which traverses over 100 miles through the heart of the Black Hills. The majority of the trail follows an abandoned railroad branch line and includes 4 tunnels, over 100 converted railroad bridges, and 15 established trailheads. The trail surface is packed gravel, traversing mountain, meadow, and forest terrain. The trail is named in honor of the former South Dakota governor who crusaded for the trail. For those seeking higher elevations, a day-long trek to the summit of nearby Black Elk Peak is worth the effort. Black Elk Peak is the highest natural point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Most of the summit is bare granite and offers expansive views of the surrounding area. An old stone tower at the top(Harney Lookout Tower), once used as a fire lookout, is still open to hikers.

Recreation Sites

  • Standard Nonelectric
  • Tent Only Nonelectric
  • Walk To
  • Management
  • Overnight

Activities

  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Camping
  • Biking

Amenities

  • Accessible Campsites
  • Accessible Drinking Water
  • Accessible Fishing Dock
  • Accessible Grills
  • Accessible Sites
  • Accessible Trails
  • Accessible Vault Toilets
  • Accessible Walkways
  • Boardwalk
  • Drinking Water (peak season)
  • Trash Collection
  • Waterfront Sites

Nearby Attractions

Explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial, host to almost 3 million visitors a year from across the country and around the world. Visitors may want to inquire about any Independence Day Celebrations taking place on the Mountain.

Possible day trips include Custer State Park with its many Buffalo and other wildlife, Crazy Horse Monument and Wind Cave National Park as well as Jewel Cave which is the second longest cave in the world at 159.29 miles. It features sparkling calcite crystals and other rare formations, as well as some of the largest concentrations of passageways in the world..

Getting Here

Latitude
43° 53' 42.3701" N
Longitude
103° 29' 3.2399" W

From Hill City, take U.S. Rt. 16/385 south 3 miles to State Rt. 244. Turn left onto Rt. 244. Travel 5.9 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.

Need to Know

  • Vehicles towing trailers of any type and motorhomes over 25 feet in length will not be allowed into the area of Sites 23 through 28

  • These campsites are non-electric sites. Generators may run from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. only.
  • Non-reservable sites may be available on a first come-first serve basis

  • A pet fee of $2 per pet per night is required upon check in. Pets must be leashed, under control and attended at all times.

  • Click here for more information about Black Hills National Forest.
  • Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
    • The Senior and Access discounts are only honored for the site that houses the card holder.
    • If multiple sites are reserved on one card, the rest of the camping fee will be collected upon arrival unless another card holder occupies the site.

  • Drinking water is available but you CANNOT hook up for filling.

    • Contact Information

    Forest Recreation Management, Inc
    P.O. Box 1168
    Hill City, SD 57745

    For facility specific information, please call (605) 574-4402.

    Additional Information