Cold Brook Lake Campground provides easy access to Wind Cave National Park from a location just north of Hot Springs. The campground sits in a small canyon with red rock walls on one side and green hills on the other, creating a natural echo chamber. At around 3,500 feet elevation, summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F with cool nights even in mid-summer.
What to do
Swimming at natural lakes: Cold Brook Lake Campground features "a large and beautiful swim beach and is perfect for a day on the water" with temperatures that aren't as frigid as the name suggests, according to visitor Hayley K.
Fishing opportunities: At Cold Brook Lake Campground, anglers report excellent success. "The lake has a large and beautiful swim beach and is perfect for a day on the water. It is a great lake for fishing. We were snagging them left and right," says Hayley K.
Hiking Black Elk Peak: Near Sylvan Lake Campground, visitors can access what was formerly called Harney Peak. "Between the kayaking at Sylvan Lake, the resort amenities, hiking in Black Elk Wilderness, Black Elk Peak, this area is great," notes James M.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Custer State Park campgrounds offer excellent wildlife viewing. "Watch out for marmots and buffalo when driving!" warns Katie S. from her stay at Sylvan Lake Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Center Lake Campground, campers enjoy spacious, secluded spots. "The campsites are a little close but overall we loved our experience here. The bathrooms were clean and all sites had one relatively close by," reports Karen S.
Walk-in sites for solitude: Sylvan Lake offers specialized sites for those seeking more privacy. "My family camped at a walk in site. It was about .15 miles uphill to the site. A bit of work to get everything up the hill but it was worth it. The views and seclusion were amazing," says Daniel S.
Clean bathroom facilities: Many campgrounds in the region maintain excellent facilities. "The bathrooms and showers were some of the best we had ever seen in a campground. If you're looking for a place to take a break from primitive camping for a night this is a good place to stop off," explains Matthew W. about Sylvan Lake facilities.
Natural water features: The area offers unique water experiences. At Allen Ranch Campground, "The Fall River is fed by hot springs so the water stays nice and just slightly chilled. Almost feels like getting into a heated pool," describes reviewer Hayley K.
What you should know
Reservation timing: For popular campgrounds, advance planning is essential. At Center Lake Campground, one visitor discovered a useful tip: "Reservations for this campground open at 6AM mountain time. Making a profile for their site feels like doing taxes so plan ahead."
Weather patterns: The Black Hills region experiences rapid weather changes. "South Dakota is notorious for fast changing weather," warns Billy B. from Sylvan Lake Campground, recommending plenty of water for hikes.
Site layout considerations: At Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort, visitors note the campground design. "The RV area is tight with a sea of RVs. For us it's less like camping and more like a townhouse development. It's not as bad as the parking lot variety, there is grass between the sites and some trees."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds near Wind Cave National Park experience road noise. At Allen Ranch Campground, a visitor noted: "The only negative is that it's close to the road and truckers use their Jake brakes all hours of the day and night, so don't expect to sleep in."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer specialized family amenities. Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort features "two pools, hot tub, laundry and nice bathrooms. They pay attention to details such as clean fire pits and no trash anywhere. Extremely safe for a family or a Solo Traveler. Wonderful playgrounds for children."
Family camping accommodations: Fort Welikit Family Campground offers excellent family setups. "Very friendly staff, overall quiet and nice sites in the trees and close to local attractions," notes Kelly P.
Wildlife viewing with kids: Campgrounds near Wind Cave provide excellent opportunities to see animals. "We saw deer, turkey, and rabbit within 50 feet. Awesome place!" says Trevor A. about Fort Welikit Family Campground.
Water recreation for families: Campgrounds with water features keep children entertained. At Hot Springs / Black Hills KOA, one visitor shared: "What did I love about this KOA? It was quiet. I read and roamed around watching birds and picking up rocks while the kids were occupied with the pool and playing free putt-putt."
Tips from RVers
Electrical hookup options: Power availability varies between campgrounds. At Angostura Recreation Area, "We paid for full hookup but electricity cut off at 8 in all campgrounds. Probably a glitch," reports one camper.
Site leveling requirements: Many campgrounds in the Black Hills require leveling equipment. At Custer-Mt. Rushmore KOA, one visitor advises: "The terrain is hilly, so remember your levelers."
RV navigation considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging layouts for larger rigs. At Allen Ranch Campground, a reviewer noted: "The campground is an odd setup, and may be difficult for larger rigs to navigate."
Dump station access: Confirm dump station availability before arriving. "There is a dump station on site as well, but getting to it can be tricky as there are low hanging branches around it," warns a visitor to Allen Ranch Campground.
