USDA Forest Service · South Dakota

Iron Creek Horse Camp

USDA Forest Service · South Dakota, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Official page Directions
Sites
10
Hookups
1 with water, 9 no hookups
Season
May 15 to September 30
Cost
There is no discount for this campground. We do not honor the Senior or Access passes.
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
5,213 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1
Cell coverage
T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Lake
Black Hills National Forest
Phone
605-673-9200
Activities
Camping, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Wildlife Viewing

9 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

Located 13 miles outside Custer, South Dakota, Iron Creek Horse Camp offers a peaceful setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in Southeastern South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest.

The camp is adjacent to Iron Creek and surrounded by Ponderosa pine forests. Horse enthusiasts will find this setting ideal for exploring wilderness areas and historical sites.

Recreation

Black Hills National Forest offers visitors a multitude of recreational opportunites throughout all seasons. Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles are popular in summer and early autumn. Winter landscapes are ideal for snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling.

From this campground, visitors can access the Centennial Trail, and parts of the Black Elk Wilderness and Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. Trails weave through the wilderness offering primitive, non-motorized recreational experiences.

Facilities

This campground has 9 equestrian sites and corrals that can accommodate to 2-3 horses.

Sites have picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, vault toilets and parking areas. Drinking water and electricity are not available.

Water tanks specifically for horses are available.

Access roads to Iron Creek Horse Camp are curvy and the sites can accommodate rigs up to 50 feet in length. For larger rigs, please use Willow Creek Horse Camp.

Natural Features

Stretching across northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota, 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.

Nearby Black Elk Wilderness lies in the center of the Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota. The wilderness encompasses the Harney Range, an area long held sacred by American Indians. The wilderness is named after Black Elk, a Oglala Lakota holy man, and is the only wilderness in the Black Hills.

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. Mountain lions, although rarely seen, also call this area home.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.

Nearby Attractions

Possible day trips include Custer State Park with its many buffalo and other wildlife, Crazy Horse Monument and Wind Cave National Park as well as Jewel Cave which 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.

Nearby riding trails treat users to beautiful views throughout their many miles.

Charges & Cancellations

No refunds will be given for weather or related events.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January35°16°-23°52°11 of 11
February36°15°-25°60°11 of 11
March43°26°0°68°11 of 11
April51°29°7°74°11 of 11
May61°42°28°80°4 of 11
June74°54°42°93°0 of 11
July81°59°46°92°0 of 11
August77°57°48°93°0 of 11
September73°52°18°86°1 of 11
October56°37°12°75°7 of 10
November46°31°4°63°10 of 10
December35°23°-1°56°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

All public campgrounds in South Dakota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-16. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.