OutReserve

Horsethief Lake Campground

Horsethief Lake
Rock with hole in it
Toilet
Lake Overview
Info Kiosk

About Horsethief Lake Campground

Located 10 miles south of Hill City, South Dakota, Horsethief Lake Campground is a delightful setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. This campground is 2 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and adjacent to Horsethief Lake. Sites are tucked into a forest of towering ponderosa and lodgepole pine.

Number of accommodations: 22

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 16 to Sep 30

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

22 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 007, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 008, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 009, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 010, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 011, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 012, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 013, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 014, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 015, Loop: LKSD
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 016, Loop: LKSD
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 017, Loop: LKSD
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 018, Loop: LKSD
No Hookups
Price not available
023, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
024, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
025, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
026, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
027, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
028, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
029, Loop: WALK
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
030, Loop: WALK
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
031, Loop: WALK
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available
032, Loop: WALK
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
Price not available

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.

Review Summary

4.5
434 reviews
5
69.1%
300
4
19.4%
84
3
8.3%
36
2
2.8%
12
1
0.5%
2

Ted G

Verified

August 7, 2020 Stayed at: 028, Loop: LKSD

5

Great spot

Ted G

Verified

August 7, 2020 Stayed at: 028, Loop: LKSD

5

Great spot

Chanelle C

Verified

July 27, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: HORS

5

There is a great hike to Mt Rushmore at the mouth to the lake. The area was lovely for tent camping, with the mountains and the trees breaking up the wind. Lots of kindling around to start fires (although it gets pretty wet in the summer, so you have to dry it out). Area was peaceful and calm with the lake being a wonderful temperature. There is a rock you can jump off for a little adrenaline rush as well.

Chanelle C

Verified

July 27, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: HORS

5

There is a great hike to Mt Rushmore at the mouth to the lake. The area was lovely for tent camping, with the mountains and the trees breaking up the wind. Lots of kindling around to start fires (although it gets pretty wet in the summer, so you have to dry it out). Area was peaceful and calm with the lake being a wonderful temperature. There is a rock you can jump off for a little adrenaline rush as well.

Lori F

Verified

July 26, 2020 Stayed at: 017, Loop: LKSD

5

Lori F

Verified

July 26, 2020 Stayed at: 017, Loop: LKSD

5

Ana M

Verified

July 24, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: HORS

5

Great place! Close to rushmore, lake activities good for fishing kids friendly

Ana M

Verified

July 24, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: HORS

5

Great place! Close to rushmore, lake activities good for fishing kids friendly

Chris D

Verified

June 28, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: HORS

3

The campground itself was beautiful and the location was great. The spaces are really close together but everyone was nice and the beauty helped. You can literally hear every ones conversations at sites on each side of you, but was still nice due to location and beauty. The problem was the host's, they were not terribly friendly and every single morning they were riding a four wheeler around to the site posts between 7am and 7:30 am to change the reservation tags for the day. Woke us up both mornings and our infant (this was the big deal). They had zero consideration for others that were on vacation. We were not trying to sleep in but these posts are 4 feet from you head in your camper due to the size and close proximity of the sites. All they had to do was wait an hour and it would have been fine, not like they have a ton to do that early. They have all day to do that and check out is not till 11 or 12, but they felt it necessary to wake us up with a four wheeler engine every morning basically parked on our heads. I hope Recreation.gov sees this and does not allow them back. Other than that it was great. Great campsite and beautiful but man so thoughtless of them. Even when you talked to them they were cold and acted like you were inconveniencing them to ask questions. ZERO stars for them, 4 for the site and campground

Chris D

Verified

June 28, 2020 Stayed at: 013, Loop: HORS

3

The campground itself was beautiful and the location was great. The spaces are really close together but everyone was nice and the beauty helped. You can literally hear every ones conversations at sites on each side of you, but was still nice due to location and beauty. The problem was the host's, they were not terribly friendly and every single morning they were riding a four wheeler around to the site posts between 7am and 7:30 am to change the reservation tags for the day. Woke us up both mornings and our infant (this was the big deal). They had zero consideration for others that were on vacation. We were not trying to sleep in but these posts are 4 feet from you head in your camper due to the size and close proximity of the sites. All they had to do was wait an hour and it would have been fine, not like they have a ton to do that early. They have all day to do that and check out is not till 11 or 12, but they felt it necessary to wake us up with a four wheeler engine every morning basically parked on our heads. I hope Recreation.gov sees this and does not allow them back. Other than that it was great. Great campsite and beautiful but man so thoughtless of them. Even when you talked to them they were cold and acted like you were inconveniencing them to ask questions. ZERO stars for them, 4 for the site and campground

Location Horsethief Lake Campground

Address:
Forest Recreation Management, Inc
Hill City, SD, 57745
United States

Highway access

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

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: June 5, 2026

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Managed by USDA Forest Service