On the Waterfront

Although western South Dakota has only four natural lakes, 18 additional engineered lakes and reservoirs provide both natural beauty and endless recreation.

All year long, outdoor enthusiasts swim, boat, fish, water ski—and in winter, icefish. This season, make sure to pack your swimwear, along with sturdy water shoes for lake bottoms.

Pristine bodies of water can be found throughout the Black Hills, from north to south. Here are our “main attractions.”

Also known as the Belle Fourche Reservoir, Orman is more than 8,000 acres with 58 miles of shoreline. When built in 1911, it was the largest earthen dam of its time and was designated as a National Historic Engineering Landmark. Camp, fish, and play here.

This 785-acre lake is the largest within the Black Hills proper. Located on US Highway 385, Pactola is popular with boaters, including speed boats pulling water skiers. Fishing, camping, and hiking are also available.

Just seven miles from Hill City, Sheridan Lake's 383 acres include two swimming beaches, a marina, two campgrounds, and picnic areas.

Tucked into the forest, Deerfield Lake is a “no-wake” lake, perfect for paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking. It’s popular for year-round fishing, and also known for its 11-mile loop trail.

A small lake in Custer State Park, Sylvan rests at the main trailhead for Black Elk Peak. Its jutting granite centerpieces and surrounding walking trail add to its appeal. At just 17 acres, it’s an intimate spot to swim, picnic, rent paddle boats, or set up camp.

The large 4,612-acre lake is our area’s southern-most water recreation spot. Near Hot Springs, the lake lies outside the Hills’ mountainous terrain and offers high-prairie views. With 36 miles of shoreline, warm waters, excellent sandy beaches, and four campgrounds, Angostura is busy all summer long with boaters, fishers, and swimmers.

While trout are not native to the region, the cool and swift streams of the Hills have allowed stocked trout to thrive over the past century. Anglers pursue rainbow, brook, and brown trout—and that’s not all. Yellow perch, crappies, walleye, bass (large and smallmouth), catfish, and northern pike are also favorites. One-day, threeday, and annual fishing licenses are available at stores throughout the Hills.

Two former mining towns, founded in 1874-75, are now at the bottom of local lakes. Both Pactola and Sheridan, in the Central Hills, were populated by miners during the Gold Rush; when gold supplies dwindled, the towns were abandoned. The dam above Sheridan was finished in 1942, and whatever churches, schools, and businesses that remained were covered by the reservoir. Most of Pactola’s buildings, on the other hand, were removed before flooding in 1956. Only a CCC dynamite bunker remains underwater there.