Sheridan Lake
SHERIDAN LAKE
Part of Black Hills National Forest
Overview
This campground is along the south shore of Sheridan Lake. Within its 5 large loops, there are many sites with direct access to the lake. Access to the south boat ramp and the Flume Trailhead from within the campground and easy access to the South Beach Area, this recreational complex has everything needed for a fun, family camping experience.
Facilities
Sheridan Lake Campground has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs, including 2 tent-only sites. Each campsite has picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water. Electrical hook-ups are not available. Access to the lake and beach is within walking distance, and a boat ramp is available on-site.Natural Features
Located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, Black Hills National Forest encompasses nearly 1.25 million acres of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves. Derived from the Lakota language, the words "Paha Sapa," meaning "hills that are black," honor the dark, pine-covered hills rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate mountainous terrain, while elk, deer and pronghorn gather in forests and prairies. Bald eagles, hawks, osprey, peregrine falcon, and hundreds of other bird species can be found in the forest, especially along streams, lakes and rivers.Recreation
Black Hills National Forest offers a multitude of recreational opportunites throughout all seasons. Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles are popular in summer and early autumn. Winter landscapes are ideal for snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling.The Dakota Point Trailhead for the popular Centennial Trail is located on the northeast side of Sheridan Lake, as is the Calumet Trailhead for the Flume Trail.
At 11 miles (plus a 3-mile loop), the Flume Trail has been designated a National Recreation Trail because of its historical significance to the local people. The Rockerville Flume carried water 20 miles, from Spring Creek west of present day Sheridan Lake, east to the placer diggings near Rockerville. The flume operated until 1885, and the trail follows the actual flume bed for much of its length. Along the way are historic artifacts and parts of the flume itself.
Sheridan Lake is an ideal spot for fishing, swimming and boating. The reservoir supports populations of rainbow, brown trout, northern pike and perch. Fly fishing is popular in Spring Creek below the dam, and ice fishing is popular on the lake in winter.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby Jewel Cave is the second longest cave in the world at 159.29 miles. It features sparkling calcite crystals and other rare formations, as well as some of the largest concentrations of passageways in the world.Other possible day trips include Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Monument, Devils Tower National Monument and Wind Cave National Park.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.Important Notices
FYI: During the off season starting 10/01 the USFS operates this campground. Please note that the Woodsy Loop is OPEN. All other loops are closed.
October 1st to May 15th
Their information is listed below:
Black Hills National Forest / Hell Canyon Ranger District
1019 North 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730
Phone 605.673.9200 www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills0
Daily Fee is $15.00 per First Come First Served campsite of which there are 30 available.
Self-Pay at all open campgrounds. The stay limit is 14 days in a 28 day period.
Parking Spur Length is 60 ft.
Drinking water is NOT available. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Vault toilets are also available.
Garbage and Trash "Pack It In Pack It Out" at all times.
Please note that roads are not maintained during the off-season. Sites are open until weather prohibits access or closed on the date noted above.
The information listed below is pertinent during the open season from May 15th to September 30th.
These campsites are non-electric sites. Generators may run from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. only.
Non-reservable sites may be available on a first come, first served basis
Prevent the spread of invasive species by inspecting and cleaning packs, equipment, and tires before using lake or trails
A pet fee of $2 per pet per night is required upon check-in
Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
The Senior and Access discounts are only honored for the site that houses the card holder.
If multiple sites are reserved on one card, the rest of the camping fee will be collected upon arrival unless another card holder occupies the site.
In accordance with standard industry practices, ExplorUS will be assessing an additional vehicle fee of $6.00 per night on the second vehicle in each single family campsite, and on the third and fourth vehicle in any double family campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the first vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. In the case of motorcycles, the first two are considered to be one vehicle and the third and fourth are also considered to be one vehicle. No additional vehicle fees are collected for bicycles. This fee is payable to the camp host upon arrival
Notifications and Alerts
National Forest Service lands in the State of South Dakota will return to Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning Thu. Sept. 24. 2026 at noon.
Alert Start Date: September 24, 2026
Alert End Date: December 15, 2026
Order Number: BKF-198-2026
FYI: Off Season Information for this campground can be found in the "Need To Know" Section.
Please note that NOT ALL Campgrounds are open during the Off Season, some are closed.
During the Off Season the Campgrounds that are open are operated by the US Forest Service and are all First Come First Served.
Available Activities
- Swimming Site - Swimming Site
- Wildlife Viewing - Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking - Hiking
- Fishing - Fishing
- Camping - Camping
- Historic & Cultural Site - Historic & Cultural Site
- Boating - Boating
- Accessible Swimming - Accessible Swimming
- Birding - Birding
- Canoeing - Canoeing
- Day Use Area - Day Use Area
- Ice Fishing - Ice Fishing
- Kayaking - Kayaking
- Motor Boat - Motor Boat
- Mountain Biking - Mountain Biking
- Photography - Photography
- Water Skiing - Water Skiing
- Water Access - Water Access
Directions
From Rapid City, take Highway 16 for 18 miles west to Three Forks. Turn right (north) on Highway 385 and travel 2 miles to Calument Road at the inlet. Turn right and travel 1 mile to the campground.
Cancellation Policy
<p>No refunds will be given for weather or related events.</p>
Contact Information
Phone: 605-673-9200
Rental Options
Available Campsites
- Site 052, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 075, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 046, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 072, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 084, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 051, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 108, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 64, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 071, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 086, Loop CHIP, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 97, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 123, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 41, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 050, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 56, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 53, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 082, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 58, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 109, Loop ROCK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 98, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 076, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 104, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 094, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 122, Loop ROCK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 102, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 121, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 087, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 061, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 044, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 61, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 095, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 074, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 068, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 129, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 112, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 124, Loop ROCK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 077, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 111, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 089, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 62, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 96, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 081, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 042, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 088, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 106, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 118, Loop ROCK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 127, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 049, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 99, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 117, Loop ROCK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 085, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 091, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 125, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 114, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 100, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 107, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 105, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 070, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 113, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 128, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 055, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 57, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 093, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 120, Loop ROCK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 48, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 126, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 103, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 065, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 073, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 038, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 59, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 078, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 090, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 069, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 066, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 63, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 080, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 092, Loop CHIP, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 043, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 110, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 60, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 047, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 119, Loop ROCK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 101, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 116, Loop ROCK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 067, Loop WOOD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 083, Loop CHIP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 54, Loop Woodsy, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop SMOK, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 109, Loop Chipper, Type Standard Nonelectric
