Dispersed camping near Piedmont, South Dakota primarily occurs in national forest land at elevations between 4,500-6,000 feet. Rapid weather shifts are common in this area, with afternoon thunderstorms frequent during summer months and temperatures dropping significantly after sunset. The Black Hills region features dense ponderosa pine forests interspersed with meadows and rock formations that create natural boundaries between dispersed sites.
What to do
Hiking from camp sites: The Mount Roosevelt Road Dispersed Campsite provides direct access to the Roosevelt Friendship Tower trail, a short walk that rewards with panoramic views. According to a visitor, "Walking distance to the Roosevelt Friendship Tower hike which is highly recommended. Tons of bees in the wildflowers but they never bothered us."
Wildlife viewing: RD 356 Dispersed Site in Black Hills National Forest offers excellent wildlife spotting opportunities from your campsite. A camper mentioned, "Weather was great, very mild. Air was fresh and crisp. We are planning on staying here again in the future because of its close proximity to everything and my 6 year old loved it!"
Stream exploration: Several dispersed sites near Spring Creek provide access to small waterways. At West Nemo Dispersed Camping, a visitor noted, "Beautiful spot in the middle of the black hills, not too many people but you can occasionally hear noise from the roads. Good water source nearby for filtering or boiling."
What campers like
Convenient central location: Campers consistently praise the strategic location of RD 356 Dispersed Site Black Hills National Forest for accessing major attractions. One camper stated, "15 minutes to Custer State Park and 15 minutes to breweries in hill city. A perfect location. Plenty of spots on the bumpy main road, use 4wd/high clearance vehicles to go off some of the side routes for more privacy."
Natural water sources: Several rustic camping areas near Piedmont feature small streams or ponds. A camper at West Nemo - Dispersed Camping shared, "There is even a little pond that you can filter water from," while another mentioned, "Good water source nearby for filtering or boiling."
Secluded camping spots: Dispersed sites along Calumet Road offer privacy among dense forest. A visitor described the area as "Secluded. Loved this except for the bees and flies. Quiet, not too hard to get to. Shady."
What you should know
Variable road conditions: Most dispersed camping access roads require careful navigation. At Calumet Rd Dispersed Camping, a camper reported, "The roads can be iffy. I would suggest scouting them first before dragging a trailer down them," while another warned, "The side roads can be tricky to navigate even with AWD."
Insect activity: Many Black Hills campsites experience significant insect populations. One camper at West Nemo noted, "There were also a ton of hornets there, must have been a nest nearby," while at Calumet Road someone warned, "Tons of mosquitoes! Glad we had a screen on our EzUp. Bring lots of deet."
Limited established sites: Some areas have fewer usable spots than maps suggest. A visitor to Schmitz B2A Dispersed Camping reported, "Very rough road. Lots of boulders in roadbed. No established sites as promised. No one else there. Forest nicely thinned out."
Sturgis impact: During the annual motorcycle rally, camping patterns change dramatically. A camper at West Nemo shared, "The biggest grass field is sometimes used by multiple RVs and locals said don't even think of coming here during Sturgis' motorcycle rally."
Tips for camping with families
Scout accessible sites first: For family camping near Piedmont, consider the first few sites at RD 356. A reviewer noted, "There are only 3 spots before the road starts to get very inaccessible without a 4x4."
Filter creek water: Balsar Gulch Dispersed Camping offers a natural water source for families prepared to treat water. A camper described, "This site is big and relatively flat. There are three other dispersed campers here while I write this. There's enough space where our spot still feels private. There is a creek passing by the edge of the open area."
Check road conditions before arrival: Weather impacts accessibility significantly. One camper at Calumet Road shared, "It rained so getting out was a mess.. the road to gravel is dirt, so muddy mess going out."
Tips from RVers
Access constraints: Many primitive camping sites near Piedmont have size limitations. At Camp 5 Dispersed, a visitor observed, "There's a lot of spots to tent and even spots further down the road that had 20ft campers."
Site selection timing: Arriving early improves chances of finding suitable RV spots. At Mount Roosevelt Road Dispersed Campsite, a camper advised, "Had my tundra equipped with a 5x8 trailer and could easily get to any of the sites. This is not a thru road there is only one entrance off of the CanAm Highway. Roughly about 10 sites depending on set-up."
Elevation and weather preparation: Most rustic camping in the Black Hills requires preparation for rapid weather changes. A visitor noted, "We were hauling a 20 ft camper looking to find the pull through spot we saw on the maps. The gravel road was accessible and pretty easy with the camper. We got to our spot just before sunset and only had one neighbor."
