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

Sheridan North Cove Grp CG

Sheridan North Cove Group Campground, in a forest of Ponderosa pine is along the north shore of Sheridan Lake. This is an ideal setting for large groups and gatherings. Lake views and access to a multitude of recreational opportunities both on land and water draw guests to this part of Black Hills National Forest.

Reservable · Recreation.gov5 sitesNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in South Dakota · pets allowed in South Dakota · group sites in South Dakota

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Sheridan North Cove Grp CGSheridan North Cove Grp CGNorth GroupSheridan North Cove Grp CG
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites5
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

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

SiteSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
BB1Paved25 / 15Yes
DD1PavedFull30 / 15Yes
OO1Paved60 / 25Yes
RR1PavedFull100 / 40Yes
SS1PavedFull55 / 20Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Sheridan North Cove Group Campground has 5 group sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. Several sites have views of the lake. Each campsite has picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water. Electrical hook-ups are not available. The north shore has a marina with boat slip rental, groceries and fishing supplies. A large swimming beach, a picnic area and boat launch are also on-site. Fishing piers are located in various areas around the lake.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Sheridan North Cove Grp CG20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.33 inches of precipitation, 5.7 inches of snowFebruary: 0.56 inches of precipitation, 8.2 inches of snowMarch: 1.05 inches of precipitation, 10.5 inches of snowApril: 2.32 inches of precipitation, 12.8 inches of snowMay: 4.26 inches of precipitation, 4.5 inches of snowJune: 3.53 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJuly: 3.07 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.38 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.59 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowOctober: 1.55 inches of precipitation, 6.3 inches of snowNovember: 0.53 inches of precipitation, 6.5 inches of snowDecember: 0.36 inches of precipitation, 5.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 23.6°F averageFebruary: 23.7°F averageMarch: 31.3°F averageApril: 38.3°F averageMay: 48.1°F averageJune: 57.9°F averageJuly: 64.8°F averageAugust: 63.3°F averageSeptember: 54.4°F averageOctober: 42.4°F averageNovember: 32.5°F averageDecember: 24.7°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Pactola Dam, 5 miles from the campground at 4,720 feet, station USC00396427 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 22 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 61 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

To access the Sheridan Lake North Group Campground from Rapid City, travel south (west) on US Highway 16 for 18 miles to Three Forks. Turn right, or north, onto Highway 385, and travel 3 miles to Sheridan Lake Road. Turn right, or east, onto Sheridan Lake Road, and travel 1 mile to the north shore.

Coordinates43.9855° N, 103.4701° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

No refunds will be given for weather or related events.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearThe Rooster ↗13.1 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗16.6 mi
RV sales & serviceJack's Campers ↗19.5 mi

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

Explore

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 →
  • 0.7 mi
    Centennial Horse Bypass
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Flume ↗
    10.8 mi trail · hiking
  • 1.2 mi
    Flume Loop A
    1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.5 mi
    Victoria 12
    2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 1.6 mi
    Dugans 6830
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.2 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, boating and water skiing. The lake 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 North Cove Grp CG?

Sites at Sheridan North Cove Grp CG are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Sheridan North Cove Grp CG?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Sheridan North Cove Grp CG have?

5 sites, including 5 group sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Sheridan North Cove Grp CG?

Sheridan North Cove Grp CG is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Sheridan North Cove Grp CG?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sheridan North Cove Grp CG. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sheridan North Cove Grp CG?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Sheridan North Cove Grp CG?

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 North Cove Grp CG is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sheridan Lake (0.3 mi), Horsethief Lake Campground (6.3 mi), and Willow Creek Horse Camp (6.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby