We're here to help you find where to go horse camping in Spearfish. Finding a place to stay in South Dakota while traveling with your horse is easy. These scenic and easy-to-reach South Dakota campsites are perfect for your horse camping excursion.
Iron Creek Lake offers tent and RV camping with electrical hookups only. Potable water is available in the campground and can be transported to individual camp sites via bucket or temporary hose connection. A dump station is available upon departure.
Nightly Cost: The cost is $30 per night for a tent site for up to 4 people in the same immediate family. Campers/RVs cost $37.50 per site, which includes electricity. Nightly rates do not include sales tax.
Electricity: While all sites have electricity, it isn’t always close by. Campers are encouraged to bring extensions cords. We have 15, 30, and a few 50 amp sites available. Take note of the electrical hookup in the site description when making a reservation.
Terrain: The campground was built decades ago and was adapted to the terrain. The hilly nature of the campground adds to the area’s beauty but can make it challenging to level campers. Be prepared with extra materials and patience. The campground does not have concrete pads nor any pull-through sites, so drivers should be adept at backing up. Also, sites do not have well-defined boundaries, so please be courteous and accommodating to your neighbors and pay attention to parking instructions given at check in.
$30 - $38 / night
Anyone who has camped at Sylvan Lake campground in South Dakota’s Custer State Park knows that Black Hills camping doesn’t get much better than this. Sylvan Lake Campground is one of eight designated campgrounds in Custer State Park, and one of the best public land destinations for camping in the Black Hills of southwest South Dakota. The region’s expanse of dense forests, rolling prairies and granite mountain peaks (the very same peaks that were used to form Mount Rushmore) offer photo-snapping tourists and laced-up explorers alike a chance to dive into the ecology of the American West. For campers looking for a comfortable and convenient basecamp for diving into the region’s scenery and activities, Sylvan Lake campground is the place to be for many reasons. First, the 40-site campground offers access to the popular swimming spot of Sylvan Lake, where campers might feel inclined to spend their entire stay on the rocky beach of this scenic body of water. There’s also access to multiple hiking trails, suitable for all skill levels, including a trail that takes you to the curious and beautiful Black Elk Peak, the highest summit-able point east of the Rocky Mountains. Both a family-friendly spot and a hardcore adventurer’s playground, Sylvan Lake is Black Hills camping for everyone.
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed on most of the Forest for a maximum of 14 days in any 60-day period. However, around developed reservoirs and campgrounds, camping is allowed only in designated areas. Check with the closest Forest Service office for specific information.
General rules: Camp 100 feet away from any creek or stream and 1/2 mile away from developed recreation sites, including campgrounds and picnic areas. Motorized vehicles allowed 300 feet off of roads as shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (dots) for dispersed camping on the Black Hills National Forest. Around developed reservoirs and campgrounds, camping is allowed only in designated campsites. Can camp for a maximum of 14 days in any 60-day period. No open campfires in South Dakota portions of the national forest. Open campfires are permitted in Wyoming portions of the national forest, unless a special order prohibiting such is in effect. Check with the closest Forest Service office for more specific information about dispersed camping.
Welcome to the Besler’s Cadillac Ranch, conveniently located along the beautiful Redwater River in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Besler's Cadillac Ranch is the perfect place for your next event, with breath taking scenery, a full service bar, lodging, cabins and camper hookups, and the friendliest service available. Besler's Cadillac Ranch also serves as a horse boarding facility in the Black Hills area.
Spacious log vacation homes and camping cabins await your arrival in the heart of the beautiful Black Hills. Ranch activities include trail rides, biking and hiking on the Mickelson Trail, family-friendly entertainment, general store, fire pits and hot tubs in select cabins. Close to Mount Rushmore & Crazy Horse, it’s the perfect place for your Black Hills vacation!
Take a trail ride in the beautiful Black Hills National Forest with our friendly wranglers—a must-do for your Black Hills vacation. Choose from morning & afternoon ride times 6 days a week, Mon-Sat. Riders must be at least 6 years old; maximum weight 240 pounds. We also have 15 stalls for your horse; each corral has water & 50/30/20 amp electric hook-up next to corral;
Scout
Beautiful scenery with loads to do. The drive from Mt Rushmore to the campsite was incredible
play uno online there with my friends too.
Traveler
Lots of cool spots if you can get to them. Once you leave the gravel the roads are hit and miss. You’re not taking a trailer down most of them if any.
Guide
Stayed 7-30-24
If you like KOAs, you will love this place. Big, super clean and nice, all you can eat pancakes for $3.50 and play grounds for the kids (big kids also)
If you don't like KOAs because you want to camp by a quiet lake back 20 miles back on a dirt road, that's great but you don't want to stay here.
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Scout
We reserved a spot and paid online. When we got here the place was literally deserted. Other than a couple of cars at the trailhead just before the campsite we haven’t seen anyone.
TravelerThe ruts become somewhat steep once the entrance road terminates. There are plenty of spots to set up beforehand, but you might be able to drive around them. Only one other camper on the main road, so it's really peaceful. Great day hikes and exploration opportunities abound on this undulating landscape.
RangerVery close to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Rapid City and Hill City. Lake Sheridan was a great place to go cool off. Very dispersed camping. Pack in Pack out. No cell service. At first we didn’t think there was a spot to pull off and then found a perfect circular area for us in our travel trailer and our friends car camping. No fires allowed when we were there. We stayed 2 nights and planned to sight see so left our stuff and was never bothered.
Ranger
Friendly staff. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Sites well maintained. Lots of amenities. Only complaint are sites a little close.
GuideTo me with our RV this is a luxury camping for us! Anything you can imagine, right here and if not there is something close by! The pools, activities, all around people.... Great place highly recommend! The showers are great and hot however they all need new curtains and a 1 store stool and hooks on the wall would be great
GuideWe were in a camper van and the road wasn’t bad, we didn’t need 4WD. There were a few other cars that went by that were camping too, but it was very quiet and peaceful other than that. There were a lot of places to pull off that were flat for a tent or camper, I’d definitely recommend!
RangerWe booked as it appeared I might have to leave town for work. Kept reservation as work got cancelled. Sites are very close to one another.
Staff very helpful and friendly.
Sites were clean but very close to one another.
An ok stay but too many people too close together.
RangerWe stayed here twice on our trip out west during August 2023. The first time we ate at their restaurant sitting on a hill. The staff was more concerned with talking to our friends while we waited to see our waitress. It got to the point where I had to go over and ask how to place and order and she totally forgot about us (although we were like 10 feet away). We did the chuck wagon. I took the wagon and the rest of my family rode the horses. It was a good experience. The food was excellent but the entertainment was eh . It really wasn’t long or anything special. But I would say it was worth it for the food and the ride. I got no cell reception here between Xfinity, Verizon, and t mobile. The first time we came we got a pull through and it was really tight for our 42 footer. The second time we got the patio pull through and it is a little better. We were nervous the first time about the space to pull out but we were ok. The second visit we rented the side by side. We did the 3 hour rental. Because everything is so far apart here we could have easily had it for the whole day. The location is about 1/2 hour from 90 but close to Mount Rushmore.
RangerI wasn’t expecting the crowds but the trails and views made it worthwhile. Thursday and Friday were better in terms of crowds but most were there for the lake.
GuideMore expensive than we usually pay per night but a TON of amenities. Two pools and live entertainment. Restaurants/bars/coffee/ice cream shops. Downside is it’s a crowded and our site had the dog park behind it.
TravelerAfter the entrance road ends, the ruts are a bit steep. May be able to maneuver around them in a car, however there are plenty of places to set up before that. Very quiet, one other camper on the main road. The undulating terrain makes for great day hikes and exploration
Traveler
Small campground close to the street. We had a dry campground ($28) close to the office, but Wifi was not working good. Clean and spacious showers and restrooms. Right across the street is a hotel with restaurant which offers breakfast (also lunch and dinner).
TravelerStayed here in late May, it was freezing so be prepared but some of the best views I’ve seen. The drive from Mt Rushmore to the campsite was incredible, and some great hiking just around the campsite. Sylvan Lake is also gorgeous.
GuideI was unable to pick Bluebell as this is where we stayed, but it is only a few miles from Sylvan Lake. Sylvan lake is amazing to swim in. We spent the afternoon jumping in off the rocks. Amazing views from the elevation. Any of the campgrounds in Custer state park provide great camping near many attractions.
TravelerBeautiful scenery with loads to do. I wish I could have stayed a few more nights. The lake is gorgeous. The trails are clear. Endless fun
LegendClose to Mount Rushmore and crazy horse! Pirates cove mini golf is a short drive away! Great facility with standard KOA amenities. Have stayed here twice but was only able to find a few photos from a stay about a decade ago.
GuideEasy access, clean nice drive through sites
TravelerArrived on 9/4 (labor day 9/5). Was packed day we arrived, but most left the next day. When the crowds left, most of the extras shut down for the season.
Staff was friendly and property was mostly clean. First night felt a bit overcrowded. They rent golf carts / gators, and there was alot of people noise the first night.
Second night was better. Most of the crowd had left and we got to enjoy a quiter night that felt more like camping. The pools all closed, and most of the on property food options closed for the season on labor day.
Being a KOA Resort, this place felt like it would be a great place to stay if you have kids, and/or a large rv. There are many ammenities on property (before they close for season). It is very close to Mount Rushmore (we drove right by it to get here), and a pretty location (especially when the crowds left)
LegendWe love Custer State Park and Sylvan lake is beautiful! It’s also v close to some excellent hiking and the Needles hwy but other than it’s wonderful location, this isn’t our fave campground in the park.
It’s busy and loud here. Although there aren’t that many sites, they are quite close together and not much privacy. Lots of folks coming and going, kids being loud doing their kid thing and plenty of people up late laughing and talking. It all felt respectful and everyone having a good time but not the vibe we hoped for. There are put toilets as well as flush toilets. Showers were not hot but that may have been a one off, I’m not sure. General store, lodge and lake are walkable on a small dirt path.
GuideClose to everything in the city, but outdoorsy feel. Great for the kids. Fair pricing.
LegendOur stay was fine. No serious complaints but I will point out some things that don’t seem to align with the “resort” ambiance you pay for here.
First I was not expected to be nickeled and dimed. Bread in the campstore was $6+ dollars - if it were good bread maybe. But it was Wonderbread.
The breakfast provided is an amazing concept but the delivery is sub par. The food was gross. They don’t have any real syrup for the “all you can eat pancakes” for $3.50 and they basically give you Karo syrup. Biscuits were hard and the small yogurt cup was $6+.
After all that I look at my bill and see a pet fee per night on top of the resort fee per night. I get this is a tourist trap area, but come on y’all, let’s keep things classy.
The young foreign staff working at the restaurants and eateries are confused, annoyed, and rude.
The WiFi is awful. Just awful. You will never connect to it. We didn’t once and I have a king antenna repeater installed in our rig. And I get it if you’re saying to yourself right now, “it’s camping, lady! Disconnect and enjoy nature” but the problem is we’re full time, I work remotely, and I depend on WiFi for my job and income. Without reliable internet I cannot stay at a campsite. This works sometimes if there’s good cell signal but here at this KOA there’s NOTHING. If there’s no cell signal on the campground then you MUST put effort into making your WiFi better across the whole campground. I do not have an option to stand in the gift shop or campstore to take video calls with my CEO. That’s not going to work.
And lastly the shower curtains in the bathhouses were full of mold. Shower curtains are like one dollar. Change them out!
My biggest pet peeve is that they don’t have recycling. Especially with the campstore being full of cases with single use plastic drinks. They don’t recycle! How is this even possible in 2022?
ScoutVery minimal almost no wife but good location to town
GuideCampground is beautiful. If you have a tall rv be careful as there are many tunnels that limit vehicles. Sites are well wooded. Clean bathrooms and hot shower.
Horse camping in South Dakota offers a unique blend of scenic landscapes and equestrian-friendly facilities, making it an ideal destination for riders and their horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Spearfish, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Spearfish, SD is Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch with a 4.2-star rating from 54 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Spearfish, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Spearfish, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
