Elk Mountain Campground

About

Elk Mountain Campground occupies a scenic transition zone between ponderosa pine forest and open prairie at Wind Cave National Park in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. The campground provides an excellent base for exploring both the park's extensive cave system and its surface features, including over 30 miles of hiking trails where bison, elk, pronghorn, and prairie dogs roam freely. The campground has 64 individual sites and two group sites available by reservation through Recreation.gov. During peak season from May through September, all sites are available with flush toilets and potable water. Off-season camping from October through April is limited to sites 15-35 with vault toilets only, and fees are reduced to half price. Each site accommodates up to 8 people, 2 tents, and 1 vehicle. Two pet-friendly trails depart from the campground area: the Elk Mountain Trail from the amphitheater and the Prairie Vista Trail from the visitor center. Evening ranger programs run from late May through early September, with special elk bugling programs in mid-to-late September. The park's visitor center is located approximately 1/4 mile south of the campground entrance.

Directions

From Hot Springs, SD: Take US Highway 385 north approximately 11 miles into Wind Cave National Park. The campground entrance is about 1/4 mile north of the visitor center, roughly 1/2 mile west of the highway. From Custer, SD: Take US Highway 385 south approximately 22 miles. Do not rely exclusively on GPS or Google Maps, as routes can be misleading.