Bear Mountain Lookout
This is a day-use visitor site, not an overnight camping facility. The picnic area and grounds are accessible to visitors, though the fire lookout tower itself is closed to public entry. The tower is actively staffed from late spring through early fall.
Wheeled Vehicles in Wilderness
This order describes the prohibition of wheeled vehicles in all National Forest Wilderness Areas of the Rocky Mountain Region and any exceptions thereof.
Weed Free Forage Products
The purpose of this Order is to prevent the introduction or spread of noxious weeds.
Cave Closure and Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to reduce the spread of the fungus that causes White nose syndrome and to protect bat species during critical biological periods.
About
Bear Mountain Fire Lookout stands at 7,166 feet elevation northwest of Custer, South Dakota, offering panoramic views across the southern Black Hills to the Wyoming border. The current all-steel structure replaced an earlier wooden tower from the 1910s and remains an active fire detection station, staffed by Forest Service personnel from late spring through early fall. The tower itself is closed to public entry, but visitors can access the surrounding day-use area featuring a picnic table, vault toilets, and a concrete parking pad. The access road is particularly scenic in June when Rocky Mountain irises bloom along the route. No potable water is available on site. This is strictly a day-use facility with no overnight camping permitted. Visitors seeking overnight accommodations in the Black Hills National Forest should consider established campgrounds like Bear Gulch or the rentable Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin.
Directions
Located approximately 10 miles northwest of Custer, South Dakota in the southern Black Hills.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | — |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (605) 673-9200 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| USFS Bear Mountain Fire Lookout |
Community Posts
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