If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Camp Crook, look no further. With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Camp Crook campgrounds for you and your tent. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Camp Crook, South Dakota's most popular destinations.
Campground with 7 sites and two day use picnic sites near Ekalaka on the Ekalaka Hills Unit, Sioux Ranger District.Accessible Facilities:ToiletTrash Pickup: NoFirewood: NoNo Reservations: This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a 16 day stay limit.Information:Sioux District OfficeBox 37, Main & FirstCamp Crook, SD 57724(605) 797-4432
A small campground with only two sites, and day use picnic area, located on the Long Pines Unit, Sioux Ranger District.__Camp sites: 2Accessible Facilities:Toilet__Trash Pickup: NoFirewood: NoNo Reservations: This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a 16 day stay limit.Information:Sioux District OfficeBox 37, Main & FirstCamp Crook, SD 57724(605) 797-4432
A campground with five camp sites, and three day use picnic sites, located in the Long Pines Unit, Sioux Ranger District__Camp sites: 5Accessible Facilities:Toilet__Trash Pickup: NoFirewood: NoNo Reservations: This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a 16 day stay limit.Information:Sioux District OfficeBox 37, Main & FirstCamp Crook, SD 57724(605) 797-4432
Family Picnic and day use fishing pond on the Ekalaka Hills Unit, Sioux Ranger District. Camp sites: Dispersed Camping Accessible Facilities: Toilet Trash Pickup: No Firewood: No Information: Sioux District Office Box 37, Main & First Camp Crook, SD 57724 (605) 797-4432
Guide
We spent a couple of nights in our 22’ trailer over July 4th weekend. We were very lucky to find one site left. Very basic sites and a little uneven so you will want blocks to level up. There is water at the gate but it’s a hand pump with no way of attaching a hose to fill a camper so I would bring water. Lovely spot if you want peace and tranquility, that sky at night is something else!
Ranger
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. 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.
GuideWonderful area with sites far enough apart you don't have to see your neighbors. Most sites are taken as of a Friday afternoon in July but we still found a few available. Wonderful views!
RangerI 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 week-end would be gone and the ones who were coming for the next week-end would not be there for another day or two.
The 10 sites are spacious: it’s hard to see any other campers from your site. There are no amenities here except for very clean pit toilets. No water, no electricity, no dump stations and no dumpsters for trash. Every site has a cooking style fire ring, picnic table and ample room to park more than one vehicle.
But there is an abundance of solitude, beauty and a deer and elk. As they say in Texas . . . “The stars shine bright at night”.
RangerInteresting 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.
ScoutUnfortunately a forest fire bordering the campground has led to it being nearly unusable. Maintenance is minimal.
GuideBeautiful 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.
Traveler
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.
GuideWe 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.
Traveler4th of July weekend and I can't see or hear my neighbors. Beautiful pines and sandstone cliffs surround the campsite
TravelerI loved the calm peacefulness of this campground. Only thing missing on our site was a picnic table. Enjoy the walks and hikes around the area.
ScoutUsing 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.
There is around 7 miles of gravel road to go up. But we were on street motorcycles and had no problem.
Note the nearest groceries or any store for that mater 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.
Dead quiet. Beautiful surroundings. Clean. Pit toilets are not smelly.
TravelerVery Nice Primitive Campground!
RangerThis 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. There is an abundance of wild life along with some great bluff views. The campground is very well maintained and well cared for. There are 2 vault toilets and now other extra amenities near the campsites. There is a water supply you can use but the water must be treated. You can stay a max of 14 days. We highly recommend this campground!
Check out our blog at www.unnamedadventures.com and follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram or on our YouTube Channel at Unnamed Adventures.
GuidePretty sketchy to find but very nice and the forest around is sweet. 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.
ScoutIf you want to get away from it all, this is the place. It is remote, secluded, and beautiful. If you are looking for peace and quiet, it's definitely available here! There isn't "much" to do...if you're looking for swimming pools, golf courses, yada yada...but if you just want to camp in one of the prettiest places on earth, this is it.
TravelerGreat place to stay. Very quiet. Sites were large and not many people around.
ScoutThis campground is secluded! A couple of short trails. Nice camp spots. A couple of outhouses. No running water, BUT there is fresh spring water at the entrance of the park! Close enough to Baker, you can stop by during the day and grab a couple of brews at Old Skool Brewing!
Scoutthe park is just north of the town in a small forested area. water and a pIt toIlet are available. camping spots are very few but well spaced and comfortable for tents.
GuideEven 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.
RangerThis is a pretty neat campground if you enjoy geology and some history. The campground itself has a few areas which can flood quite easily (I got a bit wet when an unexpected storm rolled in). Otherwise, 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. There is water and toilets available here and you will probably see a decent amount of deer. In the way of hiking there are some trails but it seems more like a free for all to just explore the area. Overall, a fun place to visit even if you are just stopping for an hour or so.
GuideHad 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Camp Crook, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Camp Crook, SD is Ekalaka Park Campground with a 2.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Camp Crook, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Camp Crook, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
