Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin
Summit Ridge Cabin is located near the border of Wyoming in Southwestern South Dakota on the Black Hills National Forest, providing a perfect setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's, the cabin was originally used as housing for personnel that staffed the adjacent forest fire lookout tower. The cabin is available for reservation throughout the year when accessible. At an elevation of 6,096 feet, it can receive considerable snowfall.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | No / No | 15 / 4 | 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 2:00 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 |
The cabin measures 22' x 32' and is comfortable for four people, though groups as large as ten may reserve the facility. The cabin is furnished with three bunk beds. Bedding and mattresses are not provided. The cabin is equipped with a propane stove for cooking, a wood stove for heat and an outdoor fire ring. Guests must provide the propane. Visitors must also bring several of their own supplies as the cabin does not have food, cooking utensils, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, towels, dish soap, matches, pots and pans, toilet paper or garbage bags. Guests must also bring their own firewood and water for cooking, washing and drinking. There is no drinking water available at this site. Although solar LED lighting is available, an additional light source is recommended. Kerosene lamps are not permitted for fire safety reasons. An accessible vault toilet is located on site and a steel firetower is located near the cabin, but is closed for public use. Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin also has 2 RV sites at additional $12 each, allowing RVs up to 20 and 30 feet. If you would like to use these RV sites, please enter 11 people, and if you would like both please enter 15 people.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Entrance into the cabin is by combination lock. Prior to your arrival please contact the Hell Canyon Ranger District, Monday - Friday between 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Mountain Time, at 605-673-9200 to obtain the combination. From Newcastle, Wyoming, travel east on US Highway 16 for approximately 9 miles to Forest Service Road 117, Boles Canyon Road.
| Nearest town | Custer, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 43.8542° N, 104.0525° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- The roads to the cabin are not plowed, so generally it is not accessible from December through March.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | High Mountain Outfitters ↗ | 23.4 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 34.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Jack's Campers ↗ | 42.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial, host to almost 3 million visitors a year from across the country and around the world. Managed by the National Park Service, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the birth, growth, development and the preservation of the United States, and take in the beauty of South Dakota's Black Hills. South Dakota caves are some of the most unique in the United States. Boasting sparkling calcite crystals and other rare formations, as well as some of the largest concentrations of passageways in the world, nearby Jewel Cave is currently the second longest in the world, at 180 miles. Other possible day trips include Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Monument and Wind Cave National Park.
- 8.3 miAntelope Springs Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.8 miDitch Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14.1 miJewel Cave National Monument - Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
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
- 2.6 miMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,592,797 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
- Jenney Stockade SiteSite · Newcastle · 4.3 mi
- Wyoming Army National Guard Cavalry StableBuilding · Newcastle · 7 mi
- Newcastle Commercial DistrictHistoric district · Newcastle · 7.5 mi
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. Situated in a grassy understory beneath Ponderosa pine, the area around Summit Lookout Cabin exemplifies this landscape. 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
The area around the cabin is remote, yet offers visitors a multitude of recreational opportunities throughout all seasons. Hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles are popular in summer and early autumn. Snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling offer visitors a chance to seek out winter landscapes. For hikers and bikers, the George S. Mickelson Trail, near Custer, South Dakota (approximately 40 miles from the cabin) traverses over 100 miles through the heart of the Black Hills, with four tunnels, more than 100 converted railroad bridges, and 15 established trailheads spaced along the route. The trail surface is packed gravel, traversing mountain, meadow, and forest terrain.
Guidebooks for South Dakota and camping across the country
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin?
Sites at Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin?
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 Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin?
Yes, pets are allowed at Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin?
The area around the cabin is remote, yet offers visitors a multitude of recreational opportunities throughout all seasons. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin?
Custer, South Dakota. Explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial, host to almost 3 million visitors a year from across the country and around the world.
Source: Getting there
What if Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Redbank Spring Campground (10.1 mi), Ditch Creek Campground (12.8 mi), and Beaver Creek Campground (15.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby