U.S. Forest Service · Black Hills National Forest · South Dakota

Timon Campground

Nestled in the heart of the Northern Black Hills, Timon Campground is the ultimate "hidden gem" for campers seeking a primitive, serene escape from the crowds. Located just 3.4 miles west of the iconic Savoy and Spearfish Canyon, this small campground offers a front-row seat to some of the Northern Hills' best recreation opportunities.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov7 sitesFrom $24 per night60 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in South Dakota · big rigs in South Dakota · pets allowed in South Dakota

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Timon CampsiteCampsiteTimon Campground SiteTimon Entrance
Photos courtesy of Black Hills National Forest · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups7
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

7 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfacePeople / vehiclesFires
1Back-inGravel8 / 2Yes
2Back-in45Gravel8 / 2Yes
3Back-in45Gravel8 / 2Yes
4Back-inGravel8 / 2Yes
5Back-inGravel8 / 2Yes
6Back-in35Gravel8 / 2Yes
7Back-in45Gravel8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

7 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length60 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$24.00 / Night

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestBlack Hills National Forest
FeesRegular Season: $24/night --- See Off-Season Information

Black Hills National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Timon Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.92 inches of precipitation, 13.9 inches of snowFebruary: 1.17 inches of precipitation, 18.1 inches of snowMarch: 1.40 inches of precipitation, 18.4 inches of snowApril: 2.75 inches of precipitation, 17.2 inches of snowMay: 3.89 inches of precipitation, 4.6 inches of snowJune: 3.79 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 2.32 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.04 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.57 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowOctober: 2.28 inches of precipitation, 10.8 inches of snowNovember: 1.14 inches of precipitation, 13.7 inches of snowDecember: 0.90 inches of precipitation, 16.9 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 26.6°F averageFebruary: 27.1°F averageMarch: 35.6°F averageApril: 43.7°F averageMay: 53.6°F averageJune: 63.9°F averageJuly: 71.2°F averageAugust: 70.1°F averageSeptember: 60.0°F averageOctober: 46.6°F averageNovember: 35.2°F averageDecember: 27.2°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Bear Ridge, 12 miles from the campground at 3,900 feet, station USC00390554 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 24 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 114 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

To access Timon Campground from Spearfish, South Dakota, travel south on US Highway 14A to Savoy, South Dakota, then turn right (west) onto FSR 222 (Roughlock Falls Road). Travel about 3.5 miles to the campground entrance.

Coordinates44.3284° N, 103.9882° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceNorthern Hills Homes and RV's ↗19.9 mi
Dump stationVisitor Center Dump Station ↗24.8 mi
Outdoor gearThe Rooster ↗40.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

Nearby attractions include Roughlock Falls, Little Spearfish Falls and Spearfish Canyon that are all accessible, during the summers season, via the gravel Forest Road 222, approximately 4.5 miles east of the campground. The campground is also approximately 8 miles from Iron Creek Lake that can be accessed via Forest Service gravel roads during the summer season.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Rimrock ↗
    5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Rimrock Spur A
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Little Spearfish ↗
    5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Red Lake 50
    4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.9 mi
    Snow-4a
    2.7 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.9 mi
    Rimrock Spur B
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Black Hills National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Recreation

Trails Little Spearfish Trail: This 7 mile loop begins right next to the campground. It winds through Ponderosa Pines and Birch thickets, offering an off-the-beaten-path experience while still being close to the activities of Spearfish Canyon. Rim Rock Trail: This trail is made up of two loops, one of which originates just west of Timon Campground. These two loops ascend the steep Limestone canyons adjacent to Spearfish Canyon and descend next to the tranquil Little Spearfish Creek. This trail displays paths that meander through everything from dense vegetation near the canyon floor to dispersed Ponderosa Pines near the canyon rim. Roughlock Falls / Spearfish Falls Trails: These two trails, maintained by the State of South Dakota, offer stunning views of Roughlock and Spearfish Falls. Roughlock Falls trail meanders for approximately 1.8 miles along Little Spearfish Creek, offering spectacular views of Spearfish Canyon and the surrounding Black Hills National Forest. Meanwhile, Spearfish Falls Trail is an approximately 0.7 mile out and back trail that meanders down through the hillside foliage of the canyon as it descends to the base of Spearfish Waterfall.

Guidebooks for South Dakota and camping across the country

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Moon Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills
    Laural A. Bidwell, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Frommer's Exploring America by RV
    Harry Basch and Shirley Slater, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Timon Campground?

Sites at Timon Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Timon Campground?

$24.00 / Night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Timon Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Timon Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Timon Campground have?

7 sites, including 7 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Timon Campground?

The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Timon Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Timon Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Timon Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Timon Campground?

Trails Little Spearfish Trail: This 7 mile loop begins right next to the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Timon Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Rod & Gun Campground (1.4 mi), Hanna Campground (7.7 mi), and Black Fox Campground (14.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby