USDA Forest Service · South Dakota
Whitetail
USDA Forest Service · South Dakota, United States
- Sites
- 18
- Hookups
- 12 no hookups
- Season
- May 15 to September 30
- Max RV length
- 76 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,971 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- WHITETAIL CAMPGROUND (NFSR 598) · crushed aggregate or gravel · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Black Hills National Forest
- Phone
- 605-673-9200
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Sites, Wildlife Viewing
17 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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.
Recreation
Black Hills National Forest offers recreational opportunities for all ages. Guests can take advantage of opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on moderate terrain.
The 10-mile Deerfield Lake Loop Trail is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. It encircles Deerfield Lake, traversing the forested shoreline and offering
fantastic views and opportunities for birding and picnicking.
Nearby Deerfield Trail connects Deerfield Lake with Rapid Creek and Pactola Reservoir. Sites along the trail include a log flume, cabins, mines, tunnels and railroad grades, providing a glimpse into the area's history.
Deerfield Reservoir is an ideal spot for fishing and boating, but it is a no wake lake. The lake supports populations of stocked rainbow and native brown trout.
Facilities
Whitetail Campground has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs.
Each campsite has picnic tables, and campfire rings. Electrical hook-ups are not available.
Lake access is within walking distance.
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.
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.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby Jewel Cave is the second longest cave in the world at 159.29 miles. It features sparkling calcite crystals and other rare formations, as well as some of the
largest concentrations of passageways in the world.
Other possible day trips include Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Monument, Devils Tower National Monument and Wind Cave National Park.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.
Charges & Cancellations
No refunds will be given for weather or related events.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 13° | -22° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 34° | 12° | -24° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 24° | -2° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 27° | 3° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 58° | 39° | 26° | 81° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 52° | 39° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 59° | 46° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 56° | 47° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 51° | 17° | 86° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 36° | 11° | 71° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 43° | 28° | -3° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 34° | 18° | -4° | 52° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Custer Trail Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Dutchman · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 45 sites
- Ditch Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 13 sites
- Castle Peak Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 9 sites
- Redbank Spring Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
All public campgrounds in South Dakota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-07-08. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.