Dispersed Camping in Black Hills SD - Suggestions

[ordloop]

Hi Boondocking Forums....

My wife and I are looking for some good dispersed camping suggestions for the Black Hills National Forrest in South Dakota for next month....June 2015. We plan to paddle board on Deerfield Lake, so a location within 30 minutes would be best. GPS coordinates would make it easy to find. We have a Bambi and truck, so we can handle some rough terrain.

Thanks for your help!

Paul


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[Ray Eklund]

Paul, you are looking for a needle in a haystack for National Forest camping. The Black Hills is one big tourist attraction and lots of private property within the forest.

The Sturgis bikers set up tents along the edges of the highways in August where there is barely access to any open space, going to the rally. Nothing big enough for a trailer. Pretty chaotic.

Maybe 8 years ago we found a small wedge of National Forest to camp by accident and I could not tell you even where today. You need to get a National Forest map. Otherwise you will find a lot of locked gates. This is like trying to find free parking in New York City.

It will be frustrating just to checkout each dirt road off the highway and having to turn around to get out due to a gate onto Private Property. The Forest Service map will have all of the answers before you hit the road. It is possible. I just cannot say where, but I would not care to camp there a second time.

[TWA640316]

Paul, we are heading to Glacier National Park the 3rd week of June and are planning on stops at Custer S.P. and on the way back a couple of days at Wind Cave. Excited to see that part of the country.

[ghaynes755]

Why not park at Dutchman Campground right at the lake. Sites look like they are reservable and plenty big enough.

[ordloop]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Paul, you are looking for a needle in a haystack for National Forest camping. The Black Hills is one big tourist attraction and lots of private property within the forest.

The Sturgis bikers set up tents along the edges of the highways in August where there is barely access to any open space, going to the rally. Nothing big enough for a trailer. Pretty chaotic.

Maybe 8 years ago we found a small wedge of National Forest to camp by accident and I could not tell you even where today. You need to get a National Forest map. Otherwise you will find a lot of locked gates. This is like trying to find free parking in New York City.

It will be frustrating just to checkout each dirt road off the highway and having to turn around to get out due to a gate onto Private Property. The Forest Service map will have all of the answers before you hit the road. It is possible. I just cannot say where, but I would not care to camp there a second time.

Hi Ray. Thanks for the input. Living in the Chicagoland area, we have no BLM's to speak of nearby, so dispersed camping is rare and a treat. I've downloaded the Black Hills Forrest map and it shows plenty of locations for dispersed camping. Sounds like you are saying most of them have access issues.


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[veratipton]

44.203491, -103.517102

[chilipepper]

44.265919, -103.847652 Great spot along hanna creek.

[ordloop]

Thanks for the two GPS coordinates guys! I appreciate it. I will follow up and let you know which one we like better.


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[let's play]

Checkout spearfish canyon on the northern side. We spent a night there, no hookups and had the place to ourselves. We will be bummin the black hills area for two weeks and will keep a eye out for you.

Cale and amy

[ordloop]

Chilipepper...
We stays a couple nights at your suggested spot, it was awesome! We found another great spot up the road a half mile and camped there too.

Thank you!






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[Beaker63]

Hey Paul,
We were in the Black Hills a couple of weeks ago, there were two national forest campgrounds that we planned on staying at, Oreville campground and Grizzly Bear campground are both are between Custer and Hill City. Check with Allstays. We ended up staying at Grace Coolidge campground in Custer S P and at Wind Cave national park. We really like Wind Cave.
Tim

[TWA640316]

We stayed at Custer S.P. for 2 nights on our way to Glacier 2 weeks ago and 2 nights at Wind Cave on our way back. You have to take the tour down in the cave, incrediable.
Another neat National Forest campground is Pine Creek, south of Livingston, MT.

Stan

[KJAir]

We have camped at both Timon and Rod & Gun Campgrounds in Spearfish Canyon. Planning on camping there again late August. Beautiful area. Light usage. Quiet. Hiking Trails. Spearfish Creek and Roughlock Falls nearby. Don't recommend going mid-July to mid-Aug as the Black Hills are full of motorcycles.

Lattitude:
44.3385476
Longitude :
-103.9629631
Elevation :
5600

[chilipepper]

Originally Posted by ordloop

Chilipepper...
We stays a couple nights at your suggested spot, it was awesome! We found another great spot up the road a half mile and camped there too.

Thank you!

I'm glad that spot worked out for you! I know the other spot by the little dam as well. That is a good one also. I do like the sound of the creek though!