Conditions and Updates

Updated 2022

Most campgrounds in the Black Hills region will officially open Memoridal Day weekend. Reservations fill up quickly, especially for Custer State Park and the equistrian camps.

Steamboat Rock Picnic and Tent Camping Area

In August, 2022, improvements were made to this picnic site, which is not included in the camping book. The construction and renovation included new and improved anemities, a vault toilet, ten walk-in camping or picnic spots, and a new group camping area near Boxelder Creek. There is no potable water. Reservations will be accepted beginning in the 2023 season. Steamboat Rock is located on the eastern side of the Black Hills (Sturgis/Blackhawk area), 4 miles south of Nemo, SD on Nemo County Road 404. Other nearby campgrounds to the north include Dalton Lake and Boxelder Forks.

New Custer State Park Visitor Center/Game Lodge Group Camp Closure

The Game Lodge Group camping area on the east side of Custer State Park was removed and replaced with a new and impressive visitor center in 2016. Located at the intersection of HWY 16A and Wildlife Loop Road, the staffed center features interactive exhibits and a theater where a terrific park video is played twice an hour. There is also a scenic picnic area just east of the center. This is a park feature worth checking out!

Old and New Ponderosa Pines

While fire and bark beetles have killed countless trees in the Black Hills, some areas of the forest are being restored. In spring 2015, nearly 150,000 ponderosa pine seedlings were planted in the old Jasper fire area near Jewel Cave National Monument - the project yielded almost 15,000 new trees per day! In other parts of the region, you may find crews thinning stands to help improve forest health.

Wrinkled Rock Climbing Trailhead Expansion

The Wrinkled Rock trailhead and bivy camp on the west side of Mount Rushmore has a dozen more parking spaces thanks to an expansion completed in 2013. Intrepretive signs were also added to the surrounding trails.

Reconfiguration of Legion Lake Campground (Custer State Park)

As described in the book, Legion Lake used to have a single loop around a long grassy park that filled with tent campers. This has changed. Now, a single road provides access to an assortment of paved spurs (with electric hookups) that are better suited for trailers and RVs. Here's a new picture of the camp.

Take note that the Centennial Trail is now located behind the last two campsites. This is where the old trailhead used to be. You won't find signs for the Centennial Trail, but you will for the Legion Lake Trail, which also begins from this end of the camp.

Wildfire information for this summer

Dry weather brings widlfires - this website will show any active fires that you need to know about: Wildfires