USDA Forest Service · South Dakota
Dalton Lake Campground
USDA Forest Service · South Dakota, United States
- Sites
- 12
- Hookups
- 10 with water, 10 no hookups
- Season
- May 15 to September 30
- Cost
- $24.00 / Night for single campsite $5.00 / Day Use Fee
- Max RV length
- 50 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,475 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- DALTON LAKE CG (NFSR 224.1Z) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Black Hills National Forest
- Nearest town
- Rapid City
About
Overview
Dalton Lake Campground sits next to the 2.8 acre Dalton Lake and offers nearby access to fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and a variety of motorized recreation opportunities. Explore the dozens of miles of nearby trails or simply relax and enjoy the lake and nearby Little Elk Creek. The campground offers 11 sites and a picnic area nestled into the Ponderosa Pines of the Northern Black Hills. Whether you are looking to take some time to relax or looking for an adventure, the seclusion of Dalton Lake Campground offers an ideal experience for almost any explorer.
Recreation
Dalton Lake Campground provides extensive opportunities for access to outdoor recreation. Try fishing from the several piers surrounding Dalton lake, explore a portion of the 111 mile Centennial trail that runs adjacent to the campground or hop on your dirt bike, ATV or side by side to adventure through the dozens of nearby OHV trails.
Facilities
• Standard Nonelectric Campsites
• Restrooms
• Group Picnic Shelter
Natural Features
Dalton Lake Campground sits at just under 4,400 feet elevation and is surrounded by tall peaks and beautiful Ponderosa Pine forest. Little Elk Creek feeds into Dalton lake and continues it’s meandering journey through large boulders and winding canyons east toward Piedmont, South Dakota. The lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35° | 19° | -17° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 36° | 16° | -21° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 44° | 27° | 0° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 50° | 32° | 9° | 75° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 62° | 43° | 30° | 85° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 74° | 55° | 45° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 82° | 61° | 49° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 79° | 59° | 51° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 75° | 55° | 23° | 90° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 58° | 39° | 20° | 80° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 50° | 33° | 4° | 67° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 22° | -4° | 61° | 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
- Boxelder Forks Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 14 sites
- Roubaix Lake · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 59 sites
- Alkali Creek Campground Host Site · Bureau of Land Management · 10 mi
- Alkali Creek Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 10 mi · 8 sites
- Horsecamp, Camp Site · Bureau of Land Management · 10 mi · 6 sites
All public campgrounds in South Dakota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-07-24. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.