Bear Gulch
This private access group campsite is isolated among the forested Black Hills of South Dakota, overlooking a private bay on the Pactola Reservoir. Great for group events with up to 40 people, there are eight individual tent sites around a central parking area. The summers are pleasant, and the bay provides a great way to cool off on sunny days (summer temperatures range from highs in the mid-80s, to lows in the mid-50s). It can be reserved from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
More like this: reservable in South Dakota · big rigs in South Dakota · pets allowed in South Dakota · group sites in South Dakota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| group standard area nonelectric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | No / No | 40 / 10 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Bear Gulch was formerly an eight-site single family campground, but has been converted into a group campground available for one group reservation at a time. It is primitive, but comfortable. There is a brand new accessible toilet. A hand pump for drinking water is available. Six of eight sites within the facility were originally designated for tent-only camping and still serve that purpose with a flat area, picnic table and fire ring at each site. There are a few places to park an RV around the central parking lot, however turning is very tight. There is no electrical hookup. Vehicles must travel down nine miles of dirt roads to reach the facility. Hill City is the nearest town for additional amenities, and Rapid City is 20 miles away. There is currently decent cell service at Bear Gulch.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Black Hills National Forest |
| Fees | Regular Season Camping: $200/night |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Highway 385 take Custer Gulch Road to Forest Service Road 251. Travel six miles to Forest Service Road 253 (Bear Gulch Road). Go three miles to the end of the road and campground.
| Coordinates | 44.0744° N, 103.5256° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
No refunds wll be given for weather or related events
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | The Rooster ↗ | 14 mi |
| RV sales & service | Jack's Campers ↗ | 14.2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
On the hunt for Bear Gulch Reservoir! | Exploring Pinnacle National Park Untitled Project
Worth a stop
Bear Gulch is centrally located within the Black Hills and its many forests, lakes, mountains and rivers and sightseeing destinations. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial and Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway are all under an hour away. Mount Rushmore National Memorial Custer State Park
- 1.1 miOsprey Trailhead (Trail #58) ↗Trailhead
- 1.4 miPactola South Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 1.7 miVeterans Point Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 1.7 miVeterans Point Fishing Pier ↗Fishing site
- 2.3 miDeer Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 7.7 miSheridan South Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.8 miOsprey1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miVeterans Point ↗0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miCentennial on Mystic ↗31.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miDeerfield ↗23 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.2 miBogus 081.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 2.2 miBogus 320.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.1 miOsprey Trailhead (Trail #58) ↗Black Hills National Forest
- 1.7 miVeterans Point Trailhead ↗Black Hills National Forest · Season January
- 2.2 miRapid Creek Trailhead & Fishing access ↗Black Hills National Forest · Season January
- 2.3 miDeer Creek Trailhead ↗Black Hills National Forest
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
This campground sits inside Black Hills National Forest.
- inBlack Hills National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,537,116 acres
- 12.5 miBlack Elk Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,534 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Harney Peak Tin Mining Company BuildingsBuilding · Hill City · 9.8 mi
- Harney Peak HotelBuilding · Hill City · 10.1 mi
- C. E. McEachron General MerchandiseBuilding · Hill City · 10.2 mi
Natural features
The campground is in a small canyon surrounded by large Ponderosa pine trees on the southern side of the Pactola Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the Black Hills. This canyon was cut from years of water drainage from the surrounding mountains, forming steep slopes on either side of the road leading to the camping area. Osprey, also known as fish hawks, are a bird of prey that feed on the abundant fish in the lake.
Recreation
Pactola Reservoir is an 800-acre lake, great for water skiing, swimming, fishing and even scuba diving. There is no boat ramp at the campground, but there is a separate marina where you can rent a boat and two boat ramps nearby on the main reservoir. Pactola Point Swim Beach, the Osprey Trail trailhead and a visitor center are within a short drive of the site. Fishing for such sought-after species as brown, rainbow and record lake trout is popular at the reservoir. There is also fishing in nearby Rapid Creek.
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.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Bear Gulch?
Sites at Bear Gulch 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 Bear Gulch?
Regular Season Camping: $200/night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bear Gulch?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Bear Gulch open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Bear Gulch have?
1 site, including 1 group standard area nonelectric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Bear Gulch?
The longest site here provides 40 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 Bear Gulch?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Gulch. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bear Gulch?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Bear Gulch?
Pactola Reservoir is an 800-acre lake, great for water skiing, swimming, fishing and even scuba diving. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Bear Gulch is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Pactola Reservoir Campground (0.4 mi), Sheridan North Cove Grp CG (6.7 mi), and Sheridan Lake (7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby