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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Camp Crook, SD

36 Reviews

Picnic Spring Campground in South Dakota's Cave Hills offers spacious sites far enough apart that campers rarely see their neighbors, allowing pets to roam within their designated areas. This free Forest Service campground features clean pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables at most sites, with all accommodating pets without additional fees or breed restrictions. Most sites receive adequate shade from ponderosa pines, providing cooler spots for pets during summer months. Many campers report excellent privacy between the eight well-maintained sites, with wildlife including deer and elk frequently spotted throughout the area. The campground requires pets to remain under control, though specific leash requirements are minimal given the remote setting.

Medicine Rocks State Park Campground, located 46 miles from Camp Crook, provides another pet-friendly option with unique sandstone formations creating natural exploration areas for leashed dogs. The park's primitive campsites accommodate both tents and RVs with pets, featuring fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Visitors should bring adequate water supplies for pets as the park only offers non-potable water via a hand pump near the entrance. Camping areas remain shaded by scattered trees, keeping ground temperatures cooler for pets' paws during summer heat. The surrounding rock formations create natural boundaries between sites, though campsites are not perfectly level, requiring blocks for RV leveling.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Camp Crook, South Dakota (5)

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Camp Crook, SD

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Camp Crook, SD

36 Reviews of 5 Camp Crook Campgrounds

  • Chad T.
    Jun. 30, 2025

    Picnic Spring Campground

    A Hidden Gem!!!!

    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. 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.

  • S
    Jul. 18, 2021

    North Shore Bowman Haley Lake

    Beautiful Campground, Campsites Need Repairs

    This COE campground is leased to Bowman Water Board, to reserve a campsite with electric, $15, is https:/bowmannd.com/plan- your- trip/camping/ Marina manager: 701-206-0161 Marina landline: 701-275-6316

    There is some question whether this COE Campground will honor America the Beautiful Senior Pass 50% discount since it's now leased to a private entity.

    Primitive sites are on a first-come basis, $5, are much prettier and more private!

    The electric campsites are not attractive, or level, and my first electric campsite #26, which was quite a distance beyond the marina, had a faulty electric, minimal Verizon signal and no privacy. I had to move to an electric campsite adjacent to the marina, not attractive either but had full Verizon signal strength. Also, the original campsite had a mercury vapor light that blinked non-stop ALL night long. As I understand, there is no water available near the campsite away from the marina.

    Although the campsites need repairs, the roads throughout the campground are in excellent condition. Most electric campsites have a picnic table, grill, fire ring or a burnt area where people have campfires directly on the ground. Note: campfires are certainly not warranted at this time, the grasses are extremely dry and it's windy, strong chance of wildfire.

    Don't count on swimming in Bowman Haley Lake, signs posted stating the water may contain blue green algae that can be harmful to humans and pets. (Actually, blue green algae has killed a number of pets causing them to experience convulsions and die quickly.) Blue green algae is easily seen along the shoreline. See pic.

    Oh, and the flies and mosquitoes!!

    Beware, if you are traveling with pets, there are small cactus throughout the grasslands and ticks.

    Beyond the marina is a dump site with non-potable water to rinse tanks, a fresh potable water faucet to refill freshwater tanks, and a bathhouse with a flush toilet and a shower. The Marina has a Sunday brunch from 9 - 11:00 a.m. and serves breakfast and lunch the other days, plus beer and wine.

    My initial reaction to the campground was negative due to electrical problems. However, I have since changed my mind, the surrounding areas are quite beautiful. Also, I had 4G/LTE 5 bars but that depends on where you are in the campground.

  • West River J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 27, 2018

    Picnic Spring Campground

    Cool little Known Campground

    Even more remote than its buddy, Reva Gap campground over in the Slim Buttes of Harding County, Picnic Spring Campground in the Cave Hills offers its own experience. Its a short drive from Highway 85 over to the hills, then up and into the Ponderosa pine forest capped butte that the campground is situated on. Small canyons border most of the campground as its surrounded by other buttes in this ancient place that is the Cave Hills, one of the oldest geological formations in North America.

    There's plenty of 'trails' in the area, just check the Forest Service provided map to make sure you're still on public land. Some areas are leased out to ranchers and have cattle on them during different times of the year, so be mindful of any gates you pass through.

    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. The history of the place is fascinating as well and worth looking into.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 5, 2021

    Picnic Spring Campground

    Wonderful remote campground

    We absolutely loved our stay at this campground! We arrived on Saturday, July 3rd and were very surprised to find most of the sites empty!

    Good place to get away from fireworks, if you have an anxious dog.

    Limited shade during those hot summer days.

    The scenery is spectacular and offers cross country hiking for the adventurous. Awesome sunrise if you take a 10 minute walk.

    Coming in from the north on Cox Road, it's a 3 mile drive on well maintained gravel road. Easily feasible with our 26 ft RV.

  • West River J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 26, 2018

    Reva Gap Campground

    Solitude with a view

    Great little campground nestled in the pines of the Slim Buttes. Views of more buttes and the prairie to the west with certain spots. Area is gorgeous in one of the most remote areas of SD. Can drive to campging spots a fair distance in to be away from the highway, although the traffic is almost nonexistant.

    Some trails to the north of Highway 20 and on the south end of Highway 79 that can take you above and along the cliffs of the buttes with some more spectacular views. You can do some back-country camping if you camp within a certain distance of the trails (grab a forest service map at the campground for reference of trails/roads and private property).

    Camping spots in the campground are clean, mowed and have a small fire pit.

  • James D.
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Medicine Rocks State Park Campground

    It was an alright place but just didn't do it for me

    Had originally planned on staying here for a few nights but decided to head elsewhere after the first night. That was purely a personal choice and not because of any of the parks offerings. The coolest thing is seeing carvings in the rock that are said to date back several hundred years. That alone was worth the stop. Other than that it was just another campsite to me. They have fire pits for the sites, dogs are allowed which is a big plus for me, vault toilets and even a picnic area. You have access to water also, but be prepared, this is a pack in - pack out place. Don't get me wrong it is a decent place and there is a lot of wildlife, but for whatever reason I just didn't get into it. Maybe if I had stayed as planned and hit the trails I would have reviewed differently.

  • T
    Jul. 10, 2022

    Ekalaka Park Campground

    Not active

    Unfortunately a forest fire bordering the campground has led to it being nearly unusable. Maintenance is minimal.

  • Daphne D.
    Jun. 10, 2022

    Medicine Rocks State Park Campground

    Quiet, mysterious place!

    Beautiful park off the beaten path. The rocks are fascinating, the sites are shaded and quiet. Very few services, so bring your own firewood and water (there's a pump near the entrance, but it's tricky). No electric at most of the campsites. The pit toilets were clean and well maintained, and there is a camp host on duty (although he kept to himself unless we needed him). We were hoping for good stargazing, but it was too cloudy--the night sky is very dark, though, so I'm sure it would be breathtaking on a clear night.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2022

    Medicine Rocks State Park Campground

    Beautiful sunset

    Interesting park and campground. Almost like boondocking. Sites were numbered but it was sometimes hard to see where you should park. Sites were not really level. No trash pickup. Water pump at entrance. Trails were all over and around the cool formations.

Guide to Camp Crook

Picnic Spring Campground sits approximately 25 miles from Camp Crook in the rugged Cave Hills area at an elevation of 3,450 feet. The campground's dirt access road extends 6-7 miles from Highway 85, requiring high-clearance vehicles during wet conditions. Summer temperatures average 85°F with occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall offer milder weather with fewer visitors.

What to do

Explore sandstone formations: Medicine Rocks State Park Campground features unique sandstone formations with ancient petroglyphs dating back hundreds of years. "This is a pretty neat campground if you enjoy geology and some history... the campsites are nestled in between a mixture of large rock formations and tall trees. This makes it a fun place for kids because they can run around on the rocks and still stay in view of parents," notes Evan H.

Wildlife viewing: The Cave Hills area offers excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. At Picnic Spring Campground, camper Jacob D. reports, "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."

Stargazing: The remote location provides exceptional dark skies. At Medicine Rocks State Park Campground, Daphne D. shares, "We were hoping for good stargazing, but it was too cloudy--the night sky is very dark, though, so I'm sure it would be breathtaking on a clear night."

What campers like

Site spacing and privacy: Campers consistently mention the spaciousness between sites at dog friendly campgrounds near Camp Crook. David B. notes about Picnic Spring Campground, "The 10 sites are spacious: it's hard to see any other campers from your site... But there is an abundance of solitude, beauty and deer and elk."

Natural boundaries: The topography creates natural site separation. Larry E. appreciates, "4th of July weekend and I can't see or hear my neighbors. Beautiful pines and sandstone cliffs surround the campsite."

Clean facilities: Despite being remote, facilities remain well-maintained. Diana V. comments, "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."

What you should know

Water availability: Potable water is limited at most campgrounds near Camp Crook. At North Shore Bowman Haley Lake, Scherry D. advises, "Beyond the marina is a dump site with non-potable water to rinse tanks, a fresh potable water faucet to refill freshwater tanks, and a bathhouse with a flush toilet and a shower."

Weather preparedness: Sudden storms can impact camping conditions. Evan H. mentions, "The campground itself has a few areas which can flood quite easily (I got a bit wet when an unexpected storm rolled in)."

Limited services: Most campgrounds have minimal amenities. Leslie B. reports, "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."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Camp Crook, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Camp Crook, SD is Picnic Spring Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 14 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Camp Crook, SD?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 dog-friendly camping locations near Camp Crook, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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