About Horsethief Lake Campground
Number of accommodations: 22
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Rates, Sites & Availability
22 Sites Available
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22 Sites Available
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Reviews (434)
What Guests Are Saying
Horsethief Lake Campground is a small, clean, and peaceful site located near Mount Rushmore with beautiful lake views and trails. Campers appreciate the friendly and helpful camp host, Tina, who enhances the overall experience. While some sites may lack leveling and vault toilets can be a bit smelly, the campground’s serene atmosphere and convenient location make it a favorite among visitors.
What Guests Are Saying
Horsethief Lake Campground is a small, clean, and peaceful site located near Mount Rushmore with beautiful lake views and trails. Campers appreciate the friendly and helpful camp host, Tina, who enhances the overall experience. While some sites may lack leveling and vault toilets can be a bit smelly, the campground’s serene atmosphere and convenient location make it a favorite among visitors.
Review Summary
Linda W
VerifiedJune 29, 2021 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS
Campground hostess : friendly, helpful. Clearly loves her work and it shows!!
Linda W
VerifiedJune 29, 2021 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS
Campground hostess : friendly, helpful. Clearly loves her work and it shows!!
Karen B
VerifiedJune 27, 2021 • Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK
I return to Horse Thief Lake every year with a school group going to the Pine Ridge Reservation for a mission trip. We stay at Horse Thief Lake from 5 to 8 days depending on the year and scheduled reservation service work. The campground hosts are amazing, are very attentive to campers needs, quiet time is strictly enforced, and the sites are all beautiful and well-maintained. We tend to choose the sites at the top, as the view of the lake is spectacular. I have been coming to Horse Thief Lake many years prior to beginning to take students on mission trips. When I’m in the Black Hills, I will camp nowhere else!
Karen B
VerifiedJune 27, 2021 • Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK
I return to Horse Thief Lake every year with a school group going to the Pine Ridge Reservation for a mission trip. We stay at Horse Thief Lake from 5 to 8 days depending on the year and scheduled reservation service work. The campground hosts are amazing, are very attentive to campers needs, quiet time is strictly enforced, and the sites are all beautiful and well-maintained. We tend to choose the sites at the top, as the view of the lake is spectacular. I have been coming to Horse Thief Lake many years prior to beginning to take students on mission trips. When I’m in the Black Hills, I will camp nowhere else!
Michael A
VerifiedJune 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
Campground was clean and camp host was friendly and knowledgeable about the area. This is the second time I've stayed here and will stay again. Great base camp for the black hills!
Michael A
VerifiedJune 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
Campground was clean and camp host was friendly and knowledgeable about the area. This is the second time I've stayed here and will stay again. Great base camp for the black hills!
Kimball L
VerifiedJune 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: HORS
Beautiful location, 5 minutes from Mt Rushmore. Lake was good for fishing and swimming, very refreshing to take a swim after a day of exploring. Nice trail around lake, and can walk from sites to main trailhead. Nice that tent camping and campers were separate areas. Hosts were very pleasant and available, checked on sites throughout the day.
Kimball L
VerifiedJune 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: HORS
Beautiful location, 5 minutes from Mt Rushmore. Lake was good for fishing and swimming, very refreshing to take a swim after a day of exploring. Nice trail around lake, and can walk from sites to main trailhead. Nice that tent camping and campers were separate areas. Hosts were very pleasant and available, checked on sites throughout the day.
Nick B
VerifiedJune 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: LKSD
These are great secluded sites in the woods, and only a couple miles from Mt Rushmore. We loved our time there.
Nick B
VerifiedJune 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: LKSD
These are great secluded sites in the woods, and only a couple miles from Mt Rushmore. We loved our time there.
Location Horsethief Lake Campground
Address:
Forest Recreation Management, Inc
Hill City, SD, 57745
United States
From Hill City, take U.S. Rt. 16/385 south 3 miles to State Rt. 244. Turn left onto Rt. 244. Travel 5.9 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.
Horsethief Lake Campground is accessible via U.S. Route 16/385 and State Route 244, with the closest major road being U.S. Route 16/385 located about 3 miles north in Hill City.
Latitude & Longitude: 43.8951 / -103.484
Elevation: 1509 feet
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Last updated: June 5, 2026
