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

Sheridan Lake

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.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov111 sites77 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 ↗
Entrance to Sheridan LakeSheridan LakeSheridan Lake SouthRV Pad
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups87
Tent-only2
Host/management22
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 77 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

89 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
070CHIPStandardBack-in45GravelPartial8 / 2Yes
071CHIPStandardBack-in49GravelFull8 / 2Yes
072CHIPStandardBack-in48GravelFull8 / 2Yes
073CHIPStandardBack-in46GravelFull8 / 2Yes
074CHIPStandardBack-in39GravelPartial8 / 2Yes
075CHIPStandardBack-in50GravelFull8 / 2Yes
076CHIPStandardBack-in40GravelFull8 / 2Yes
077CHIPStandardBack-in40GravelFull8 / 2Yes
078CHIPStandardBack-in40GravelFull8 / 2Yes
080CHIPStandardBack-in36GravelFull8 / 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 length77 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite XXX is listed accessible

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.

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: $28/night --- Off-Season: $10/night

Black Hills National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Sheridan Lake20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.40 inches of precipitation, 6.1 inches of snowFebruary: 0.65 inches of precipitation, 8.7 inches of snowMarch: 1.12 inches of precipitation, 11.6 inches of snowApril: 2.46 inches of precipitation, 13.8 inches of snowMay: 4.15 inches of precipitation, 4.1 inches of snowJune: 3.43 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJuly: 3.55 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.34 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.54 inches of precipitation, 1.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.65 inches of precipitation, 6.5 inches of snowNovember: 0.59 inches of precipitation, 7.5 inches of snowDecember: 0.49 inches of precipitation, 7.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 25.1°F averageFebruary: 25.5°F averageMarch: 34.0°F averageApril: 41.1°F averageMay: 50.7°F averageJune: 60.3°F averageJuly: 66.7°F averageAugust: 65.0°F averageSeptember: 56.2°F averageOctober: 43.8°F averageNovember: 33.2°F averageDecember: 25.4°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Hill City, 5 miles from the campground at 4,946 feet, station USC00393868 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 22 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 67 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

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.

Coordinates43.9808° N, 103.4723° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

No refunds will be given for weather or related events.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearThe Rooster ↗13.4 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗16.3 mi
RV sales & serviceJack's Campers ↗19.8 mi

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

Explore

Video

A Tour of Sheridan Lake Campground

Worth a stop

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.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.9 mi
    Centennial Horse Bypass
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.1 mi
    Flume ↗
    10.8 mi trail · hiking
  • 1.1 mi
    Flume Loop A
    1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.3 mi
    Dugans 6830
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.8 mi
    Victoria 12
    2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 2.3 mi
    Victoria 10 ↗
    4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more

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 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.

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 Sheridan Lake?

Sites at Sheridan Lake 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 Sheridan Lake?

Regular Season: $28/night --- Off-Season: $10/night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Sheridan Lake?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Sheridan Lake open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Sheridan Lake have?

111 sites, including 87 standard sites without power and 2 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Sheridan Lake?

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 Sheridan Lake?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sheridan Lake. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sheridan Lake?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Sheridan Lake?

Site XXX is 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 Sheridan Lake?

Black Hills National Forest offers a multitude of recreational opportunites throughout all seasons. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Sheridan Lake is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sheridan North Cove Grp CG (0.3 mi), Horsethief Lake Campground (6 mi), and Willow Creek Horse Camp (6.2 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby