Best Campgrounds near Camp Crook, SD
The Camp Crook area in South Dakota provides several remote camping options in the surrounding national forest and public lands. Picnic Spring Campground and Reva Gap Campground offer established sites within the Custer Gallatin National Forest, while Medicine Rocks State Park Campground provides a more developed camping experience about 45 miles northwest. Most campgrounds in this region accommodate tent camping, with some sites like Picnic Spring also supporting RVs and limited glamping options. Lantis Spring and Macnab Pond offer more primitive camping experiences for those seeking solitude in this sparsely populated corner of western South Dakota and eastern Montana.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many campgrounds accessible via gravel roads that may require high-clearance vehicles during wet conditions. "This is one of the best National Forest campgrounds that we have been to. All of the 8 sites are very spread out and unique on their own," noted one visitor about Picnic Spring Campground. Cell service ranges from limited to nonexistent at most sites, with visitors reporting occasional service at higher elevations. Most campgrounds in the area are free or low-cost, with stay limits typically around 14 days. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with summer thunderstorms common and winter access limited by snow. Campers should bring their own water, as potable water is scarce at most locations.
The camping experience near Camp Crook emphasizes solitude and natural beauty rather than amenities. Several visitors highlighted the privacy between campsites at locations like Reva Gap and Picnic Spring. One camper remarked, "Very quiet campground! There looks to be about 10 official spots with gravel back-ins. The official spots have a metal fire ring and picnic table." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with deer and elk sightings common throughout the region. Most campgrounds feature basic vault toilets but lack running water or electrical hookups. The geological formations surrounding many of these campgrounds, particularly at Medicine Rocks State Park and in the Slim Buttes area near Reva Gap, provide distinctive scenery and hiking opportunities. Stargazing is exceptional due to minimal light pollution in this remote region.
