Can you reserve a site at Bear Gulch?

Yes, Bear Gulch is reservable through Recreation.gov.

What is the maximum RV length at Bear Gulch?

40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Bear Gulch?

Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Gulch.

Are campfires allowed at Bear Gulch?

Campfires are allowed at Bear Gulch. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Bear Gulch — 1 site, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

This private access group campsite is isolated among the forested Black Hills of South Dakota, overlooking a private bay on the Pactola Reservoir. Great for group events with up to 40 people, there are eight individual tent sites around a central parking area. The summers are pleasant, and the bay provides a great way to cool off on sunny days (summer temperatures range from highs in the mid-80s, to lows in the mid-50s). It can be reserved from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Recreation

Pactola Reservoir is an 800-acre lake, great for water skiing, swimming, fishing and even scuba diving. There is no boat ramp at the campground, but there is a separate marina where you can rent a boat and two boat ramps nearby on the main reservoir. Pactola Point Swim Beach, the Osprey Trail trailhead and a visitor center are within a short drive of the site. Fishing for such sought-after species as brown, rainbow and record lake trout is popular at the reservoir. There is also fishing in nearby Rapid Creek.

Facilities

Bear Gulch was formerly an eight-site single family campground, but has been converted into a group campground available for one group reservation at a time. It is primitive, but comfortable. There is a brand new accessible toilet. A hand pump for drinking water is available. Six of eight sites within the facility were originally designated for tent-only camping and still serve that purpose with a flat area, picnic table and fire ring at each site. There are a few places to park an RV around the central parking lot, however turning is very tight. There is no electrical hookup. Vehicles must travel down nine miles of dirt roads to reach the facility. Hill City is the nearest town for additional amenities, and Rapid City is 20 miles away. There is currently decent cell service at Bear Gulch.

Natural Features

The campground is in a small canyon surrounded by large Ponderosa pine trees on the southern side of the Pactola Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the Black Hills. This canyon was cut from years of water drainage from the surrounding mountains, forming steep slopes on either side of the road leading to the camping area. A variety of wildlife call the Black Hills home, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk and wild turkey. Osprey, also known as fish hawks, are a bird of prey that feed on the abundant fish in the lake.

Nearby Attractions

Bear Gulch is centrally located within the Black Hills and its many forests, lakes, mountains and rivers and sightseeing destinations. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial and Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway are all under an hour away.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Custer State Park

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.

Charges & Cancellations

No refunds wll be given for weather or related events

The facts

1 bookable site
Vehicles up to 40 ft
Up to 40 people per site
Loops: BEAR

Site types

1 Group Standard Area Nonelectric

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Pets allowed
Water hookups — not available
Sewer hookups — not available

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, shade.

Book on Recreation.gov

1 campsite at Bear Gulch

Check-in 3:00 PM · Check-out 11:00 AM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
001	BEAR	Group Standard Area Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	40	🐾

Getting there

From Highway 385 take Custer Gulch Road to Forest Service Road 251. Travel six miles to Forest Service Road 253 (Bear Gulch Road). Go three miles to the end of the road and campground.

44.07444, -103.52556 · 44°4'28.0"N 103°31'32.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 79°F in Jul, down to 36°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	36	36	44	51	60	71	79	78	69	55	45	37
Low °F	11	11	19	26	36	45	51	49	40	29	20	13
Precip in	0.3	0.6	1.1	2.3	4.3	3.5	3.1	2.4	1.6	1.6	0.5	0.4

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Bear Gulch

Can you reserve a site at Bear Gulch?: Yes, Bear Gulch is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Bear Gulch have?: 1 site.
What is the maximum RV length at Bear Gulch?: 40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Bear Gulch?: Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Gulch.
Does Bear Gulch have hookups?: No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Bear Gulch?: Campfires are allowed at Bear Gulch. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Bear Gulch also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Bear Gulch's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

Regular Season Camping: $200/night

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Bear Gulch

Pactola Reservoir Campground 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Sheridan North Cove GRP CG 6.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Sheridan Lake 7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Pactola Campground 1.1 mi · Campground
Osprey Trailhead (Trail #58) 1.1 mi · Facility
Pactola South Boat Launch 1.4 mi · Facility
Deer Creek Trailhead 2.3 mi · Facility
Deer Creek Trailhead 2.3 mi · Facility
Silver City Trailhead 2.4 mi · Facility
Merritt System 2.8 mi · Facility
Pilot Knob Trailhead 5.1 mi · Facility
Riley Hill Trailhead 6.8 mi · Facility

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-07-02.

Bear Gulch