## Overview

 Elk Mountain Campground, straddles the edge of a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering unique opportunities to view the diverse flora and fauna of the southern Black Hills. These campsites are available in both forested and open environments. May 20 to September 30: Customers can reserve reservations in advace or for the same day.\_\_ October 1 to May 19: Elk Mountain Campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors must arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you can pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app. The QR code is located at the campgroudn kiosk. Please download the [Recreation.gov mobile app][1] before you leave for your trip (see our \"Need to Know\" tab for more information). NOTE: This is a cashless campground. Only credit cards will be accepted through Recreation.gov or the Recreation.gov mobile app. 
## Recreation

 Hiking at Wind Cave View rolling prairie vistas, ponderosa forests, and see wildlife in its natural environment. Wind Cave National Park has over 30 miles of hiking trails on the surface and provides visitors the opportunity to view pristine Black Hills scenery. Find out which trail is the best for you. Pet Friendly Hikes If you are traveling with a furry friend, Wind Cave has two pet friendly trails. Both are close to the visitor center and about one mile in length. Become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger Kids of all ages can become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger. Complete the activity book, learn about the park, and take the pledge to earn a Junior Ranger badge. 
## Facilities

 This 63-site campground is open all year with sites available on a reservation basis from May 20th to September 30th. In the off-season, only B-loop is available. Sites 17 and 49 are handicap-accessible. Flush toilets and drinking water are available from late spring through early fall. Fees are half-price when water is not available. Ranger programs are offered most nights in the amphitheater during the summer. Two group campsites are able to be reserved 10 months out.\_\_\_\_ 
## Natural Features

 Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America\'s oldest national parks.\_\_ Visit Wind Cave\'s Natural Entrance You can still see the largest natural opening into Wind Cave without going on a tour. This small hole is one of the only known natural entrances into the cave. Lakota oral tradition speaks of how the first bison and humans emerged from this deeply spiritual place. 
## contact\_info

 This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (605) 745-4600. 

[1]: https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app

Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

We stayed at the Elk Mountain Campground in Wind Cave National Park in January 2016. It was definitely the LOW season, as roads were a bit icy and we were the only campers all weekend. During the off-season, part of this campground is closed off, but there still remains an ample amount of campsites available, including pull-throughs. There is a pit toilet building in the center of the campground. Flush toilets and water are available during the busy season. The campsites are situated in a small valley, placing it away from noise and traffic, aside from bison and other animals that might wander through. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and firewood is available for purchase at the campground entrance. Best of all, this campground is located very close to the Visitor Center, even up for a hike on a nice day (not in January!). Speaking of hiking, one of Wind Cave's Nature Trails is located off the back loop here, the Elk Mountain Nature Trail. There is also a small, semi-dry creek that wanders along the northern edge of the campground. Please note via NPS.gov: the Elk Mountain Campground will be closed from noon, August 5, 2016 until the morning of August 7, 2016.

Quiet with Great Location!

I had some time to kill while my wife took my two oldest kids through the caves and I had the three little ones with me.  We took a drive through Wind Cave National Park.  Our drive was quicker than expected so we stopped at the Elk Mountain Campground.

It was beautiful.  There were campsites on the bottom of the hill and on the top of the hill.  The campground was clean and had space for RVs and spaces for tents.  It was a good mix with a fire ring in every campsite.  The campground was only half full in June.  It is also conveniently located only about a mile from the Visitor's Center where the cave tours begin.

If you have time for a hike, checkout Rankin Ridge Trail.

If you are going to visit the Wind Caves it's worth spending a night at Elk Mountain Trail.

Stay at Elk Mountain Trail Campground when you see the caves!!

This national park campground is located less than a mile from the visitor’s center and is in the beautiful Black Hills area of South Dakota. Wind Cave is worth a stop, as it is one of the most unique caves we’ve seen.  It is surrounded by grasslands, so not many trees in the main campground which can be quite hot during the summer months -- bring a canopy for shade. All RV sites are simply pull outs from the main road, which doesn’t allow for a great deal of privacy during the busy season.  No hookups available, but drinking water and dishwashing sink is available during the main season. If the water is not turned on yet, the visitor’s center has a water bottle filler that you can use. Each site has a nice fire pit and picnic table. Bison and other large wildlife are kept out of the campground with fencing, but mountain lions have been seen in the area. Firewood is by donation onsite. Fee during the off season was $9 per night!

Easy access to Wind Cave National Park

Although most people simply make Wind Cave a one-day or even half-day trip, we decided to stay two nights at Elk Mountain Campground and we are so glad we did. Beyond the Cave tours at the park, there was plenty of hiking and scenic drives around the area to make our time there more fulfilling.

The campground itself was cozy. Your basic, national park campground, with standard amenities like a picnic table, flush toilets, and a great evening ranger program about wildlife sounds at night.

The biggest thing we learned about this campground is the fact that it has _rarely_ ever filled up, even though people fight for campsites in the Rapid City area during the busy season. Elk Mountain must not be on the tourist radar, which was perfectly fine with us.

We really enjoyed this park: we took the Natural Entrance Tour, which offered a great lead-up to entering the cave itself. We also took the Park Loop Scenic Drive and hiked Ranken Ridge, the highest point in the park.

You can read much more about our two days in the park on our blog: [Switchback Kids (Wind Cave)](http://switchbackkids.com/wind-cave/)

Quiet, simple campsite that rarely fills

In the off season, you get bare bones ie a pit toilet. Lots of space for tents and rvs. The RV sites do have water. You check in by filling out a slip and using the envelope provided. There is a beautiful open expanse to hike a buffalo literally right outside the camp ground. Take a tour of Wind Cave National Park while you’re there too.

Beautiful Vistas 

Nice campground tucked between two hills, one side wooded, one side grassland. Wild life, hiking, fire pits, nice tables, level sites with water available but not for hook up.


it doesn’t get much better!

Kept our camper there while we did a night of backcountry camping in Wind Cave National Park and we really liked how private and quiet it was. We felt safe leaving the camper there overnight. Definitely recommend!


Primitively Perfect!

This campground is centrally locates to some great activities in South Dakota. We made day trips to visit the Badlands, Wall Drug Store, Wind Cave and Mount Rushmore. The Rangers had a presentation at the campground at night. There are bathrooms but no showers or electric. There are water pumps available for water. Dogs have to be on a 6 foot leash.

Pretty views, close to Wind Cave, The Badlands and Mount Rushmore

We opted to spend the night here on our way back to the Twin Cities from Colorado. We stayed at C4- it was nice and private enough from our nearby neighbors. Going to the Wind Cave was really neat- be warned the elevator is currently out of service so you would have to go through the natural entrance. While we were there it was dry enough so that there was a fire ban.

Wind Cave is about an hour away from Reptile Gardens (which definitely exceeded my expectations).

Nice stay

This is the only campground in Wind Cave NP and has four loops with just over 60 sites. Loop A is for tents only and is the only loop with designated tent pads. Loop D has group sites that are reservable.

Some sites are in or near trees, but many are in grassy areas with little to no shade.

Each loop has restrooms with flush toilets and running water. There are water faucets for every couple of sites, however at the time there were a few that were not working.

Each site has a fire ring and picnic table.

There is a shed at the entrance where firewood/kindling are available for a donation.

There were lots of wildlife in/around the campground: mule deer, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and bison.

Just south of the campground is the visitors center where tickets for the cave tours can be purchased.

This campground is centrally located for visiting Jewel Cave, Badlands NP, Mt. Rushmore, and exploring the Black Hills region.

My only complaint is that many of the sites (on loops B-D) are more for RVs just to park and don't have much space for tents. As a result, several sites can only accommodate small tents because there's not much space with a fire ring and picnic table too.

Spacious and Quiet

The campground rarely fills up which means there’s no rush to get there. Because you’re in the rolling grasslands there is little seclusion between campsites but sites are spaced far enough that you still have some privacy. Great views of the nearby hills and spectacular evening and morning light! Wind caves is also an easy day’s drive from the Badlands and well worth getting off the main routes westward.

Peaceful Prairie Camping

Nice place to stay if you are looking for first-come first serve sites!  The campground wasn't very busy which was nice because the sites were not overly secluded. Kinda a grassland area, but since it wasn't too busy and we were in the tent area it was a good fit for just the night.

  

The main attraction for visiting this park was a cave and cave tour- awesome!  Highly recommended :)  I actually retained a decent amount of the information we learned!  The tour was through but they kept it fun as well.  We were pleasantly surprised to see a plethora of bison (when we were in Custer that had rounded them all up so seeing them in the wild was nice!) 

  

\*remember to wear something warm if you are doing a cave tour- it's chilly down there!

buffalo!

Simple campgrounds in Wind Cave National Park. The campground was well maintained and in great condition. The location can't be best as you're only 1 mile from the visitor's center and central to the park.

There is a hiking path nearby that gets you up so you can view the amazing area surrounding you. We heard lots of animals through the night and loved it. 

Our only complaint was that the lights from the very simple bathrooms were so bright at night they ruined our night vision. Do not choose a site near the bathrooms.

The sounds of nature surround you

Really spacious campground with plenty of spots. Didn’t feel as crowded or too close to each other like a lot of other national park campgrounds. The Elk Mountain Campground is conveniently located to the visitor center and cave entrance. The Elk Mountain hike starts at the campground and is a nice little hike to do before you settle in for the night. 

Campground on the Prairie 

I arrived in August 2019 to find the caves closed until September. I was very disappointed as coming back wasn't an option. I did camp at Elk Mountain--you find your site and then reserve it. There are few options for sites that aren't in the sun. Although according to the ranger the camp doesn't fill up, I would recommend getting your site early to ensure some shade. Bathrooms are nice and clean. No showers (at least where I was). Pleasant stay overall. 

Pleasant Stay

Very spacious campground that, according to the ranger, has filled to capacity maybe three times in the last decade. I got in during the evening and found a great spot up from the road on a small hill. I imagine it would’ve been hot during the day because there was no shade there, but good for just one night I figured. Unfortunately, a t-storm rolled through around 2am (my fault for not checking the weather before - no service here - nor did I check the bulletin board for weather) and I figured it was best to move my tent to the wooded area. Not fun to do in the middle of the night but at least I staked it back in about ten seconds before the storm reached me (next 1.5 hours was rough though). 

The wind cave itself was closed for exploring while I was there which was too bad. A knock on the park, though, not the campsite. Was right around the corner from the visitor center/cave entrance otherwise which is convenient. 

Solid campground 

Passing through South Dakota rests a very unique park unlike any other you will find.    The Wind Cave National Park in its own right is emoting of great majesty, a unique preserved ecosystem in the midst of a world which has moved in and managed to destroy so much of the grassy prairie lands through development.    Passing into the park is passing into a piece of history.   

  

While the cave itself is something of a wonder, the park itself is a ground which should also be noted.     It is a place where wild bison roam free, elk pass through and can be found thriving, prairie dogs bark adamantly and so many more unique native animals and plants can be observed and appreciated.

  

It is in this area that you will find Elk Mountain Campground.     

  

When I drove through this area I wasn't sure what to expect.   The rolling prairie plains were beautiful however did not offer much in way of shade and that somewhat concerned me as I drove closer and closer to camp, however the world began to roll as hills turned and transitioned into a forest of wonder and lush green grasses.   

  

The campground looked like a different world from the world which I had been driving in coming from Hot Springs.     Tall trees shaded sites and provided a soft bed for tent campers, large pull ins offered RVs options for a variety of sizes and styles of camping.    Each site was adorned with the standard fire rings and picnic tables and depending on your desire you could stay in a location which was completely shaded or had sun exposure.

  

Bathrooms here are flush toilets with running water, including a wash basin room for dishes and though there were not showers it didn't seem to be an inconvenience with all the beauty around.

  

Group sites offered large grassy knolls and in some cases pavilions for use and with winding paths around camp to differentiate the loops through sites were close together they seemed to have privacy.

  

Although this campground does have an honor box there is also a campground host which does keep track of campers and park rangers patrol throughout the day and evening to ensure safety.     This makes for a very secure feeling camp in such a unique location.

  

TIPS:

*   If visiting call ahead to see if the cave is open.   When I visited the elevators were not operating and this limited access to the cave itself.
*   Try hiking in the park, unlike many parks which only allow trail hiking this park encourages you to explore fully.
*   Keep your distance from wildlife.    Wildlife is wild here even if it looks tame they are not!!  Bison can run up to 35 miles per hour and most incidents with the wildlife occur from people trying to encroach upon the animals for photos.

Beauty Abounds At This Park

Holy cow we would go back here again and again. First of all, as you drive into the park you’ll just see plains of buffalo hanging out! So cool to see them up close. Secondly, the camping was nice a secluded from the traffic of the park and there were plenty of options. We picked a site on the end of the campground and were able to hike around to see different landscapes etc. 
We woke up the next morning and walked to the visitors center which is just full of cool information! We signed up to do the cave tours before we departed and it was just the coolest experience. 

A must stay!

This is a great campground within the wind Cave national Park. It has both tent and RV parking. The RV parking is somewhat limited and mostly the RVs park along the road. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring and the bathrooms have running water and flushing toilets during the warm seasons. There are no showers available. The campground is in the middle of the national park and just outside of the campground there are hiking trails everywhere. You will see herds of Buffalo and herds of deer￼￼￼ everywhere. The cave was not accessible due to a mechanical problem with the elevator. It has been an ongoing issue and I would check the website before you go. Not a big loss to see the cave as the hiking was fantastic

In the Prairie and ponderosas

I only stayed for one night but it sure was beautiful! It’s a mile from the Wind Cave visitor center. I was there during the off-season so was only $9/night so no flush toilets or water. The vault toilets were very clean though. The sunset was beautiful and it was fun to watch the bison and prairie dogs. Be sure to pack in everything you need. Closest grocery is 15 minutes away. No cell service but loved unplugging and meeting neighbors! 

Beautiful campsite!

This campground is located in Wind Cave National Park and hardly ever fills to capacity. It is first-come, first-serve and $9 a night until they turn the water on and it increases to $18, but it’s a nice serene area with bison just outside the gates! You are surrounded by wildlife, and they have wonderful trails, 2 of which are pet-friendly. I stayed overnight to camp and got in line early to get tickets to the Entrance Cave tour. The tour was wonderful!

More than a National Park

Stayed the first week of May.  Sites are road side pull offs, there were some back ins the other loops were closed since it was early in the season but it was a nice place to camp for a few days while we visited the area and Wind Cane NP.  No water camping fee was $4.50 Some great hikes in the area and the cave tour was excellent.  Not the typical wet damp cave tour. Since it was early in the season with not water (water was available from a spigot at the NP Visitor Center.  Close to many attractions if you can handle a 30 to 45 minute drive to Custer Mt Rushmore etc..  If in the area again I would definitely stay there.

Simple But Nice

Some national parks offer all kinds of surprises, and the little-known Wind Cave NP is one of them.  While many of these will be found on the guided ranger tours below the surface, many lie above.  This park has some great hiking and cycling opportunities– just beware that the bison freely roam both road and trail and they always have the right of way.

  

The campground harkens back to the simpler days of canvas tents and checkered table cloths, and to be fair, not much has changed in this lovely and simple campground since it was constructed.  Most of the sites are pull through, but there are no services offered at the sites. The campground is kept very clean and has both pit and flush toilets (closed during the winter) and fresh water, but no showers.  The partially wooded prairie offers some shade for summer time heat or sunshine during the cooler shoulder season.  We had plenty of sun to keep our solar powered system charged up, even in April.   Cell phone service is available just outside the campground gate.

  

This visit to Wind Cave was our third in 10 years and we've always found this campground to be nearly empty when we come during the shoulder season...and it's half price if they don't have the water turned on.  Tip!  Get some drinking water at the visitor's center.

  

If you want to take your camping experience to another level, the nearby town of Hot Springs offers some unique experiences, like the Moccasin Springs Spa which has offers excellent hot pools, as well full-service spa amenities. The individual shower rooms are worth the experience alone.  The town is tiny but has a few good restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations.

Peaceful & Simple

We cowboy camped here at site #11. Did not get wet during the night, and the bugs weren’t bad at all. The site had an incredibly level dirt tent pad, although most everything else (picnic table, fire ring, parking, etc) was on a slant. Beware of the pine sap!! Wildlife (particularly bison) aren’t an issue, as there is a fence with a cattle guard surrounding the entire campground. Bathrooms were close with flushable toilets and a camper sink. This campground provides ranger run evening programs at the amphitheater. While we were there, the talk was on prairie dogs. Would have stayed longer if we could have! Limited AT&amp;T service available. 

Fun camping in a lesser know National Park

We arrived on a Monday afternoon without reservations, and there were many sites to choose from.  The Campground Hosts helped us to complete our reservation (no cell signal here).  Very clean and well maintained campground.  There were nightly Ranger Talks at the Amphitheater.  Campground is very close to the Wind Cave Visitor Center and the tours there.  We took a half-day trip to do a tour at Jewel Cave.  Restocked supplies in Hot Springs.

Clean and Quiet

Lovely little campground in a underrated park that was fantastic!!! 

Host jumped right in to help you book the site. The site was right on the road which I didn't love but huge site and not a lot of traffic. Site was level. Bathroom was right next door and clean enough...no showers ..

Would definitely camp here again. Rangers came by to tell you a storm was rolling in and to stay in. They had a nighttime hike and the trails were right off campground...smaller than some parks but great!!