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

Dutchman

Dutchman Campground, located in a shady Ponderosa pine forested area on the northeast edge of Deerfield Reservoir at 5,000 feet. This camp is an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. Sites in the campground are widely spaced, and a few offer wide views of the lake. Of the 3 campgrounds in the Deerfield Recreation Area, this one is the most RV-friendly.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Dutchman CampgroundDeerfieldDutchmanRV Pad
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups34
Host/management11
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 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001Back-in56GravelFull8 / 2Yes
002Back-in52GravelFull8 / 2Yes
003Back-in50GravelFull8 / 2Yes
004Back-in45GravelFull8 / 2Yes
007Back-in45Gravel8 / 2Yes
009Back-inGravel8 / 4Yes
010Back-in54GravelFull8 / 2YesYes
011Back-in51GravelFull8 / 2Yes
012Back-in42GravelFull8 / 2Yes
013Back-in47GravelFull8 / 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 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length99 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 010, 023, 037 are listed accessible

Dutchman Campground has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. The campground has picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water; however, electrical hook-ups are not available. Lake access is within walking distance. Deerfield Lake is a no wake lake.

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

Season & status

ForestBlack Hills National Forest
FeesRegular Season: $26/night --- See Off-Season Information

Black Hills National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Dutchman10°20°30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 19.7°F averageFebruary: 20.7°F averageMarch: 28.3°F averageApril: 36.1°F averageMay: 45.1°F averageJune: 55.1°F averageJuly: 61.7°F averageAugust: 59.5°F averageSeptember: 51.3°F averageOctober: 38.8°F averageNovember: 28.2°F averageDecember: 21.3°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Rochford 2 WNW, 8 miles from the campground at 5,450 feet, station USC00397227 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

Take Forest Highway 17 (Deerfield Road) for 16 miles northwest of Hill City, South Dakota.

Coordinates44.0244° N, 103.7822° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

No refunds will be given for weather or related events.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearHigh Mountain Outfitters ↗20 mi
RV sales & serviceJack's Campers ↗24.6 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗27.6 mi

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

Explore

Video

Lost Dutchman State Park Review - Apache Junction, Arizona Desert Camping 🌵

Worth a stop

Possible day trips include Custer State Park with its many buffalo and other wildlife, Crazy Horse Monument and Wind Cave National Park as well as Jewel Cave which 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

  • 0.3 mi
    Deerfield ↗
    23 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Deerfield Lake Loop ↗
    11 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.6 mi
    Ditch Creek 01
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 2.6 mi
    Ditch Creek 71
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.8 mi
    Ditch Creek 02
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 3 mi
    Snow-9 ↗
    6.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski

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 →

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 recreational opportunities for all ages. Guests can take advantage of opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on moderate terrain. Open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, the 10-mile Deerfield Lake Loop Trail encircles Deerfield Lake, traversing the forested shoreline. It offers fantastic views and opportunities for birding and picnicking. Across the lake, Deerfield Trail connects Deerfield Lake with Rapid Creek and Pactola Reservoir. Sites including a log flume, cabins, mines, tunnels and railroad grades provide visitors with a glimpse into the area's history. Deerfield Reservoir is an ideal spot for fishing and boating. The lake supports populations of stocked rainbow and native brown trout.

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 Dutchman?

Sites at Dutchman 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 Dutchman?

Regular Season: $26/night --- See Off-Season Information

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Dutchman?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Dutchman have?

45 sites, including 34 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Dutchman?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Dutchman?

Yes, pets are allowed at Dutchman. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Dutchman?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Dutchman?

Sites 010, 023, and 037 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Dutchman?

Black Hills National Forest offers recreational opportunities for all ages. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Dutchman is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Whitetail (1.3 mi), Ditch Creek Campground (5.3 mi), and Black Fox Campground (8.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby