Camping

LET’S GOcamping!

Perhaps the best ceiling visitors to the Black Hills can have is the star-filled sky.

Spearfish and the hills that surround it offer primitive and modern camping opportunities.

If you don’t feel like roughing it, pull your RV into one of the modern campsites. Several offer full-service hookups, Wi-Fi, guest laundry, showers, and pet-friendly areas.

Others offer a playground for the kiddos, and even a pool and hot tub to soak in after a long day of adventures in the Hills.

If more primitive camping is your style, several local campgrounds offer tent sites and fire rings while still having intown amenities.

Other campgrounds offer limited services.

If camping in a campground is not for you, the 1.2 million acre Black Hills National Forest allows dispersed camping.

General rules include: camping at least 100 feet away from roads, streams, and trails, and at least a half mile away from designated campsites.

There is a 14-day limit for any 60-day period.

Open campfires are prohibited in South Dakota’s portion of the forest, but in Wyoming, campfires are permitted as long as additional special orders prohibit such.

There are many creeks and springs to gather water from, but all water should be filtered or treated before drinking.

Campers should follow Leave No Trace principles. n

Courtesy photo Photo by www.travelsouthdakota.com

ROD & GUN CAMPGROUND

Campsites: 7 Facilities: Restooms, potable water, fires allowed in established fire rings Fee: $18/night single unit, $2/night extra vehicle Directions: Drive south from Spearfish on Hwy 14 through Spearfish Canyon to Savoy. At Savoy, ahead 2.5 miles up FS Road 222, better known as Roughlock Falls Road to the Rod and Gun Campground. It is located adjacent to Little Spearfish Creek. A main attraction nearby is the Dances with Wolves film site.

TIMON CAMPGROUND

Campsites: 7 Facilities: Restooms, potable water, fires allowed in established fire rings Fee: $18/night single unit, $2/night extra vehicle Directions: Drive south from Spearfish on Hwy 14 through Spearfish Canyon to Savoy. At Savoy, head approximately 3.5 miles up FS Road 222, better known as Roughlock Falls Road, to find Timon Campground. It is located in Little Spearfish Canyon, adjacent to Little Spearfish Creek and its popular hiking trail.

HANNA CAMPGROUND

Campsites: 13 RV sites, Various walk-in tent sites Facilities: Restooms, potable water, fires allowed in established fire rings Fee: $18/night single unit, $2/night extra vehicle Directions: Drive south from Spearfish on Hwy 14 through Spearfish Canyon to Cheyenne Crossing. Near Cheyenne Crossing is the Hanna Campground. It is located adjacent to East Spearfish Creek.

The above campgrounds are pay on site, first-come, first-serve. No reservations are accepted.

For a complete listing of campgrounds and RV parks in the Spearfish area, please see page 58.