Whitetail

Deerfield Lake
Whitetail
Deerfield Lake 1

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

12 total sites

RV Sites

12 sites

About Whitetail

Whitetail Campground is located above Deerfield Reservoir at 6,000 feet, an ideal setting for guests seeking summer climate relief, recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. Sites in this campground are widely spaced. Several have lake views, while others are more secluded and tucked into ponderosa and lodgepole pine forest.

Number of accommodations: 12

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 20 to Sep 30

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Pet friendly Pet friendly
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • Fire Pit
  • Firewood Available
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

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

12 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 01, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 03, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 04, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 05, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 06, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 07, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 08, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 09, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 10, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 14, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 15, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 17, Loop: WHIT RV
No Hookups
Price not available

Reviews (78)

What Guests Are Saying

Whitetail Campground is highly praised for its cleanliness, beautiful scenery, and friendly, attentive hosts who provide helpful information. Many campers enjoyed the peaceful, quiet atmosphere and the well-maintained facilities, including clean bathrooms and access to scenic trails and the lake. While some reviewers noted concerns about costs and site conditions for tent camping, the overall sentiment remains positive, with a strong recommendation for future visits.

Review Summary

4.6
78 reviews
5
73.1%
57
4
19.2%
15
3
3.8%
3
2
3.8%
3
1
0.0%
0

Greg B

Verified

August 20, 2025 Stayed at: 08, Loop: WHIT

5

Very impressed with the cleanliness of the campground, including the sites and bathroom.
Hosts were very friendly and available.

Ben N

Verified

August 14, 2025 Stayed at: 01, Loop: WHIT

5

Nice, quiet campground with access to scenic Deerfield lake trails and picnic area. The host was super friendly, checking us in, accommodating us with a USFS day use area pass and having good firewood for sale on site.

Lori M

Verified

August 14, 2025 Stayed at: 04, Loop: WHIT

5

loved Camping here will go back!

beth s

Verified

August 3, 2025 Stayed at: 14, Loop: WHIT

5

We had a great trip to this campground. Easy access to water and clean pit toilets made being off the grid simple. Spots are spaced apart and the lake is amazing for floating and fishing.

Bobbi G

Verified

July 22, 2025 Stayed at: 17, Loop: WHIT

4

Loved this campground! It was literally in the middle of the forest (so nowhere) so there is no cell phone/GPS signal at all. No bugs to speak of until it started to heat up during the day, but by then we were at the end of our stay so it was no bother. There is no light pollution, so you can see the night sky very well. We came from Devil's Tower, so the road in was all state highways, and we had about 20 miles of unpaved bumpy road to get through before we hit the main road for the campground. Very close to Hill City, which is a decent-sized town and has a lot of amenities. Didn't take long to get to Mt Rushmore or any of the other surrounding national sites to visit.

Donald S

Verified

July 11, 2025 Stayed at: 04, Loop: WHIT

5

Very nice

Susan W

Verified

June 24, 2025 Stayed at: 17, Loop: WHIT

5

The lake is an easy walk away and you can walk the shore for long distances. I was there on a weekday in June and it was very quiet. Tent sites are somewhat sloped but doable.

Joni B

Verified

June 20, 2025 Stayed at: 07, Loop: WHIT

5

The host was so friendly and made it a great trip!

Lyle F

Verified

June 15, 2025 Stayed at: 14, Loop: WHIT

5

The hosts were very nice and also helpful with detours from road construction. They were around but but didn’t bug us at all. The toilets were immaculate. We’ve stayed there before and this was our best experience. Would recommend the campground and the hosts

Michele N

Verified

June 3, 2025 Stayed at: 15, Loop: WHIT

5

The host was very pleasant. This is our favorite spot and can't wait until we can come back in 2weeks

Location Whitetail

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

Highway access

The nearest major road is US Highway 16, located approximately 17 miles east of the campground.

Elevation: 1829 feet

Distance to downtown

16 mi drive to downtown Hill City (about 24 min)

Policies & Rules

General

  • These campsites are non-electric sites. Generators may run only.
  • Non-reservable sites may be available on a first come, first served basis
  • Prevent the spread of invasive species by inspecting and cleaning packs, equipment, and tires before using lake or trails
  • A pet fee of $2 per pet per night is required upon check-in
  • No refunds for inclement weather
  • Click here for more information 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.
  • The Senior and Access discounts are only honored for the site that hoses the card holder. If multiple sites are reserved on one card, the rest of the camping fee will be collected upon arrival unless another card holder occupies the site.
  • During walk up season, fewer sites may be available.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: September 9, 2026

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Managed by USDA Forest Service