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Picnic Spring Campground and Reva Gap Campground feature rustic glamping options within the secluded forests near Camp Crook, South Dakota. Both sites offer yurt accommodations with spacious layouts providing more comfort than standard tent camping. Picnic Spring provides private glamping sites spaced well apart for maximum privacy, situated among ponderosa pines and sandstone cliffs. Most sites include picnic tables and established fire rings, with vault toilets available throughout the campground. Reva Gap similarly offers well-separated glamping spots with stunning views of unique geological formations. "This campground is so private and the sites are spaced far enough apart you can't see each other," noted one visitor about Picnic Spring.
The Cave Hills and Slim Buttes formations surrounding these glamping destinations create distinctive landscapes for outdoor activities. Hiking trails lead to panoramic viewpoints showcasing expansive prairie vistas, particularly at "The Castles" formation near Reva Gap. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound with deer, elk, and coyotes frequently spotted throughout the area. Both glamping locations operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations required, and no fees are charged for stays. According to a camper, "Different roads and trails through the Cave Hills can offer up a bunch of different sights and views from the expansive prairie stretching away from it, the little hillsides and meadows between buttes and all the wildlife that occupies it." Visitors should note these are undeveloped sites with no hookups, drinking water, or trash collection.
"Free, vault toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, and plenty of space between well-maintained sites. Its a few miles of gravel to the campground but the roads were in good shape."
"My son and I were antelope hunting near here last September and found this campground. We were not able to stay because we had a dog that needed to stay in the camper which required full hookup."
"Can drive to campging spots a fair distance in to be away from the highway, although the traffic is almost nonexistant."
"No water, no trash collection. Many sites are really private with long driveways. Not all had tables and/or fire pits. Only a couple other campers there."
TravelerGreta campground with many spots spread out for privacy. Two bathrooms at the top of a plateau. Extremely peaceful. Long drive down a gravel road and some avoiding of free range cows but this is a fabulous spot; even for bigger rigs since the campground has a loop. Highly recommend
GuideReally nice little campsite that feels very out of the way for being only a couple miles from ranches and off a good, solid gravel road. There are 2 other campers here at the moment. There is currently no fee and the sites aren't numbered. No trash so pack it out, water is not tested for safety so bring your own, and there are vault toilets.
The sites are well spaced out and private. A couple seemed to not have picnic tables but the sites were all nicely situated and near some ledges that look down into little valleys. A couple don't have room for more than one small tent, unless you're ok with uneven/sloped ground.
Note: the overview of the campground (which reads a bit like AI slop imo) quoted one person who said the way in was sketchy. I'm not sure what this was referring to as the roads were really good all the way in (you could do it in a beat up sedan, just don't be dumb and treat it like a racetrack). You do have to go through a couple pastures where there might be cows, but that's rangeland for you??
GuideThis is one of our favorite campgrounds! Free, vault toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, and plenty of space between well-maintained sites. Its a few miles of gravel to the campground but the roads were in good shape. There are fences and cattle guards so the cows can’t enter the campground itself.
GuideWe rolled in late and it was dark. Spots were plenty big enough to fit multiple vehicles and campers. Very peaceful and beautiful surroundings. 2 pit toilets available
GuideArrived around 2:00 pm on a Tuesday. There are 2 other campers here. One is a big rig and the other is a 5th wheel. I think they are hunters, not sure. It was over 6 miles down a dirt gravel road. The road was fairly nice. We have a great site for our 23ft trailer. This campground is so private and the sites are spaced far enough away you can’t see each other. We are only staying one night. I would definitely stay longer here if we weren’t in our way to Theodore Roosevelt NP.
ScoutMy son and I were antelope hunting near here last September and found this campground. We were not able to stay because we had a dog that needed to stay in the camper which required full hookup. For that we went in to Buffalo South Dakota and stayed at the campground there. I knew I'd make it back someday and we were on our way home from the Black hills to Sidney Montana and I remembered this place as we were passing by. We came up here with high expectations and all of our expectations were Met. Quiet, beautiful sunset. Plenty of room firewood at every site. Good internet service phone service on Verizon and T-Mobile and AT&T. This place is a grand slam for anybody that wants a great place to stay for free. Thank you USDA for all the hard work.
RangerFree campground in SD, not WY. Most sites are well separated. Most have picnic tables. Came over 4th of July and there were only 5 other campers when I left. Several piles of wood available for firewood (resulted from clearing trees); you will need to split it, however. Sites has been mowed for fire mitigation which also resulted in nice "lawns". I stayed in 1st on the right. It was more exposed to wind and rain, but I preferred the layout. Other sites are more protected.
RangerThis campground used to be on The Dyrt. I re-added it. Stayed in 2023. No water. No electricity . Well spaced sites. Vault toilets
RangerFree camping in Custer Gallatin NF. No water, no trash collection. Many sites are really private with long driveways. Not all had tables and/or fire pits. Only a couple other campers there. Good views of The Castle which is part of Slim Buttes. Bathrooms needed some attention. Lots of flies. There is a map of campsites at entry off of SD20.
Glamping near Camp Crook, South Dakota centers around the remote Custer Gallatin National Forest area where the South Dakota and Montana borders meet. Sites sit at elevations between 3,200-3,800 feet, creating microclimates that can bring sudden weather changes even in summer months. Campgrounds in this region feature distinct geological formations including sandstone buttes that contrast dramatically with surrounding prairie landscapes.
Explore the buttes: Multiple hiking trails branch from the campgrounds into the Slim Buttes formation, offering panoramic viewpoints of the surrounding prairie. "Different roads and trails through the Cave Hills can offer up a bunch of different sights and views from the expansive prairie stretching away from it, the little hillsides and meadows between buttes and all the wildlife that occupies it," explains a visitor to Reva Gap Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area hosts abundant wildlife in the early morning and evening hours. "While I was here in May I saw deer and elk. Stayed here twice, once in May when there were no other visitors and once in August when there were only a few others," reports Jacob D. about his stays at Picnic Spring Campground.
Stargazing: The remote location provides exceptional dark sky viewing with minimal light pollution. "As they say in Texas... 'The stars shine bright at night'," notes David B., highlighting one of the natural benefits of the secluded glamping experience.
Site privacy: The generous spacing between sites creates an exclusive glamping atmosphere. "This campground is amazing. The geological formations around us are beautiful, and this place is isolated. Granted, I am here on a weeknight, but there are only two other groups camping here. The campsites are spread out so you get tons of privacy," shares Matthew S. from his experience at Reva Gap.
Free accommodations: Unlike many glamping destinations, these sites charge no fees. "Free campground in SD, not WY. Most sites are well separated. Most have picnic tables. Came over 4th of July and there were only 5 other campers when I left," reports Leslie B. about her stay at Picnic Spring.
Clean facilities: Despite being remote, the basic facilities are well-maintained. "Small campground most sites are private the vault toilets were very clean and the campground was quiet. Easy access and not far from Buffalo SD for gas and or other supplies," notes David P. about his experience at Reva Gap Campground.
Water limitations: There is no potable water available directly at campgrounds. "Note the nearest groceries or any store for that matter is 25 miles away in either direction on Route 85. There is no potable water but there is a spring where you can water to boil. They don't test it so you are using it at your own risk," warns Danis O. from his stay at Picnic Spring.
Road conditions: Access requires driving on several miles of unpaved roads, though most are passable with standard vehicles. "There is around 7 miles of gravel road to go up. But we were on street motorcycles and had no problem," reports another Picnic Spring visitor.
Cell service: Despite the remote location, limited connectivity exists at certain points. "I had 2 bars of LTE via ATT basically anywhere before the first camping loop. After that, 1 bar of 4G," details Abby M. from her experience at Reva Gap.
Bring entertainment: With minimal established amenities, families should pack activities. "Camping spots in the campground are clean, mowed and have a small fire pit," notes West River J., indicating level areas for games and activities at Reva Gap Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The locations offer natural educational experiences for children. "But there is an abundance of solitude, beauty and a deer and elk," shares David B., pointing to wildlife observation opportunities for young nature enthusiasts.
Plan for remoteness: No immediate access to services means thorough preparation is essential. "Using this app I came across this Campground. I cannot believe it was not when we got here at 1:30. We had our pick of a dozen sites. There is no one else within 1/3 of a mile," explains Danis O. about the isolation that requires self-sufficiency.
Site selection: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs equally well. "We have a great site for our 23ft trailer," notes Diana V. about Picnic Spring, while adding that some bigger rigs were also present but likely at specific sites.
Arrival timing: Mid-week arrivals provide the best selection of suitable glamping sites. "I stayed there in mid-September for 2 nights. This is first come-first served. You can not reserve a site. With this in mind, I made the trip from Medora on a Tuesday morning and I arrived around noon. I gambled that the people who came in for the weekend would be gone and the ones who were coming for the next weekend would not be there for another day or two," advises David B. from Picnic Spring Campground.
Site spacing: The layout provides excellent privacy between RVs. "Sites were large and not many people around," confirms Lindsay R., highlighting the spaciousness that allows for comfortable glamping even with recreational vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Camp Crook, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Camp Crook, SD is Picnic Spring Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 17 reviews.
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