Horsethief Lake Campground
Located 10 miles south of Hill City, South Dakota, Horsethief Lake Campground is a delightful setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. This campground is 2 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and adjacent to Horsethief Lake. Sites are tucked into a forest of towering ponderosa and lodgepole pine.
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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
Changes & Cancellations
No refunds will be given for weather related events.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
Forest Recreation Management, Inc P.O. Box 1168 Hill City SD 57745
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 605-673-9200
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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.
Available Campsites
- Site 017, Loop LKSD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop LKSD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop LKSD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop HORS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop HORS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop WALK, Type Walk To
- Site 025, Loop LKSD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop LKSD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop WALK, Type Walk To
- Site 009, Loop HORS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop HORS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop LKSD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop HORS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop HORS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop HORS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop WALK, Type Walk To
- Site 010, Loop HORS, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop LKSD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop WALK, Type Walk To
- Site 028, Loop LKSD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop LKSD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop LKSD, Type Standard Nonelectric
