About Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin
Number of accommodations: 1
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
Site Details
Reviews (86)
What Guests Are Saying
Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin offers a beautiful and cozy retreat in a peaceful wooded setting, ideal for relaxation and outdoor activities. Guests appreciated the well-kept cabin and the fantastic woodstove, though some noted the need to bring their own bedding and water, as well as the cabin's ongoing improvements and limited solar power. Overall, it's recommended for those seeking a rustic camping experience at an affordable price.
What Guests Are Saying
Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin offers a beautiful and cozy retreat in a peaceful wooded setting, ideal for relaxation and outdoor activities. Guests appreciated the well-kept cabin and the fantastic woodstove, though some noted the need to bring their own bedding and water, as well as the cabin's ongoing improvements and limited solar power. Overall, it's recommended for those seeking a rustic camping experience at an affordable price.
Review Summary
Flora K
VerifiedApril 20, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
A beautiful, cozy place to spend the night among the trees. Bares bones cabin, but with super clean outhouse next door. Highly recommend!!
Flora K
VerifiedApril 20, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
A beautiful, cozy place to spend the night among the trees. Bares bones cabin, but with super clean outhouse next door. Highly recommend!!
Liane T
VerifiedJanuary 4, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
Christmas Day weather was pleasant and no snow so able to get to the location without any problem. Where there's been slush, road was occasionally icy in shaded areas. Cabin is very nice. Brought our own inflatable mattresses for the beds. Left door shut to garage-room and used it to store the coolers. Just cold enough to keep the ice for two days with hardly any melting. The woodstove is fantastic.
Liane T
VerifiedJanuary 4, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
Christmas Day weather was pleasant and no snow so able to get to the location without any problem. Where there's been slush, road was occasionally icy in shaded areas. Cabin is very nice. Brought our own inflatable mattresses for the beds. Left door shut to garage-room and used it to store the coolers. Just cold enough to keep the ice for two days with hardly any melting. The woodstove is fantastic.
Corey J
VerifiedDecember 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
Stay was fine. They are in the middle of some improvements which would have been nice to know about prior to our stay. Also, the solar power system was basically inoperable (battery not holding charge). There was a note in the cabin from September stating that the system would not hold charge, so it was a known issue. Again would have been nice to know about. Fortunately we brought enough lamps and batteries.
Corey J
VerifiedDecember 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
Stay was fine. They are in the middle of some improvements which would have been nice to know about prior to our stay. Also, the solar power system was basically inoperable (battery not holding charge). There was a note in the cabin from September stating that the system would not hold charge, so it was a known issue. Again would have been nice to know about. Fortunately we brought enough lamps and batteries.
Carroll S
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
This cabin is a profound joy to experience. It is well kept, well preserved. The remote location is perfectly easy to access and provides ideal peace and quiet.
Carroll S
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
This cabin is a profound joy to experience. It is well kept, well preserved. The remote location is perfectly easy to access and provides ideal peace and quiet.
Philip S
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
It was very nice. The road is actually called Summit RIDGE Road. It would be great for a group of 4-8 to hang out as a base for hiking. One should know that there are no views from the cabin, and there is a lot of ATV traffic passing by, and they stop to read the plaque in front of the old lookout tower (which is fenced off and is off-limits). The cabin has flourescent lights operated via a small solar panel on the roof, but at night they only last about 10 minutes.
Philip S
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: SUMMIT RIDGE LOOKOUT
It was very nice. The road is actually called Summit RIDGE Road. It would be great for a group of 4-8 to hang out as a base for hiking. One should know that there are no views from the cabin, and there is a lot of ATV traffic passing by, and they stop to read the plaque in front of the old lookout tower (which is fenced off and is off-limits). The cabin has flourescent lights operated via a small solar panel on the roof, but at night they only last about 10 minutes.
Location Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin
Address:
Hell Canyon Ranger District, 1019 North 5th Street
Custer, SD, 57730
United States
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. Go North on Boles Canyon Road for approximately 12 miles and turn left on Forest Service Road 265, Summit Road. Follow Summit Road for approximately three miles to the Summit Ridge Cabin which is on the left.
Note that Boles Canyon Road and Summit Road do not receive any maintenance during winter months, including snow plowing.
The nearest major road is US Highway 16, located approximately 9 miles to the west of the cabin. Access to the cabin is via Boles Canyon Road, which connects to US Highway 16.
Latitude & Longitude: 43.8542 / -104.052
Elevation: 1858 feet
Policies & Rules
General
- NOTICE; We are currently making cabin improvements. Thank you for your understanding, We hope you have a great stay.
- Check out time is at 11:00 a.m. and check in time is 2:00 p.m. Please be considerate of other renters, arrive and leave the cabin at appropriate times.
- Entrance into the cabin is by combination lock; Call the district office at 605-673-9200 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. except on weekends and governement holildays. Refunds will not be approved for failing to get cabin combination after business hours or on weekends or hoilidays.
- Walk-up stays are never available at this facility. Advanced reservations only, minimum three days before arrival
- Fire restrictions may apply to outdoor fire ring use; check current fire restrictions prior to arrival
- Keep the building and grounds clean to deter squirrel, mice, rats,and other wildlife from area
- Clean the cabin and pack out all trash, Including food
- Doors and windows should be locked and all personal items removed upon departure
- The cabin is a no-smoking facility
- Learn more about Black Hills National Forest.
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
