Iron Creek Horse Camp

About

Iron Creek Horse Camp provides a peaceful staging area for horse enthusiasts exploring the Black Hills backcountry. Located 13 miles east of Custer along Iron Creek, the campground sits amid Ponderosa pine forests within the Hell Canyon Ranger District. Each of the 9 equestrian sites includes a corral accommodating 2-3 horses, picnic table, fire ring with grill, and parking area. Two vault toilet facilities and a manure disposal area serve the campground. Gravity-fed water troughs provide water for horses, though no potable drinking water is available for campers. From this campground, riders can access the Centennial Trail and venture into the Black Elk Wilderness and Norbeck Wildlife Preserve for primitive, non-motorized recreation. The wilderness area encompasses the Harney Range, land long held sacred by the Lakota people and named after Oglala Lakota holy man Black Elk. Stock users must provide certified weed-free forage documentation for their animals. Horses traveling from out of state require current health certificates and negative Coggins tests. The campground was renovated in 2022-2023 with improved accessibility features and accommodations for modern RV and trailer configurations. Access roads are curvy but sites can accommodate rigs up to 50 feet.

Directions

From Custer, travel east on US Highway 16A for approximately 9 miles. Turn left (north) onto State Highway 87 and travel approximately 6 miles to FSR 345. Turn right (north) onto FSR 345, then turn left into the campground.