Can you reserve a site at Iron Creek Horse Camp?

Yes, Iron Creek Horse Camp is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Iron Creek Horse Camp have?

10 sites in total, of which 9 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Iron Creek Horse Camp?

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

Are pets allowed at Iron Creek Horse Camp?

Yes, pets are allowed at Iron Creek Horse Camp.

Are campfires allowed at Iron Creek Horse Camp?

Campfires are allowed at Iron Creek Horse Camp. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Iron Creek Horse Camp — 9 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Located 13 miles outside Custer, South Dakota, Iron Creek Horse Camp offers a peaceful setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in Southeastern South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest. The camp is adjacent to Iron Creek and surrounded by Ponderosa pine forests. Horse enthusiasts will find this setting ideal for exploring wilderness areas and historical sites.

Recreation

Black Hills National Forest offers visitors a multitude of recreational opportunites throughout all seasons. Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles are popular in summer and early autumn. Winter landscapes are ideal for snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling.

From this campground, visitors can access the Centennial Trail, and parts of the Black Elk Wilderness and Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. Trails weave through the wilderness offering primitive, non-motorized recreational experiences.

Facilities

This campground has 9 equestrian sites and corrals that can accommodate to 2-3 horses.

Sites have picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, vault toilets and parking areas. Drinking water and electricity are not available.

Water tanks specifically for horses are available.

Access roads to Iron Creek Horse Camp are curvy and the sites can accommodate rigs up to 50 feet in length. For larger rigs, please use Willow Creek Horse Camp.

Natural Features

Stretching across northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota, Black Hills National Forest encompasses nearly 1.25 million acres of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves.

Derived from the Lakota language, the words "Paha Sapa," meaning "hills that are black," honor the dark, pine-covered hills rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie.

Nearby Black Elk Wilderness lies in the center of the Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota. The wilderness encompasses the Harney Range, an area long held sacred by American Indians. The wilderness is named after Black Elk, a Oglala Lakota holy man, and is the only wilderness in the Black Hills.

Bighorn sheep navigate mountainous terrain, while elk, deer and pronghorn gather in forests and prairies. Bald eagles, hawks, osprey, peregrine falcon, and hundreds of other bird species can be found in the forest, especially along streams, lakes and rivers. Mountain lions, although rarely seen, also call this area home.

Contact Info

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

Nearby Attractions

Possible day trips include Custer State Park with its many buffalo and other wildlife, Crazy Horse Monument and Wind Cave National Park as well as Jewel Cave which is the second longest cave in the world at 159.29 miles. It features sparkling calcite crystals and other rare formations, as well as some of the largest concentrations of passageways in the world.

Nearby riding trails treat users to beautiful views throughout their many miles.

Charges & Cancellations

No refunds will be given for weather or related events.

The facts

9 bookable sites
10 sites in total, including non-bookable
Vehicles up to 50 ft
Up to 8 people per site
Loops: IRON, MANAGEMENT

Site types

9 Equestrian Nonelectric
1 Management

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

10 campsites at Iron Creek Horse Camp

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 1:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
001	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	40 ft	8	🐾
002	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾
003	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾
004	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾
005	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾
006	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾
007	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾
008	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾
009	IRON	Equestrian Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾
XXX	MANAGEMENT	Management	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	4	🐾

Getting there

To access the Iron Creek Horse Camp from Custer, travel east on US Highway 16A for approximately 9 miles. Turn left, or north, onto State Highway 87 and travel approximately 6 miles to FSR 345. Turn right, or north, onto FSR 345. Turn left into the campground.

43.81833, -103.47389 · 43°49'6.0"N 103°28'26.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

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

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	37	36	44	50	60	71	79	78	69	55	44	37
Low °F	19	18	25	32	42	52	59	58	50	37	27	20
Precip in	0.5	0.8	1.4	2.6	4.8	3.6	3.6	2.3	1.8	1.8	0.6	0.5

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 4.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

There is no discount for this campground. We do not honor the Senior or Access passes.

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Common questions about Iron Creek Horse Camp

Can you reserve a site at Iron Creek Horse Camp?: Yes, Iron Creek Horse Camp is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Iron Creek Horse Camp have?: 10 sites in total, of which 9 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Iron Creek Horse Camp?: 50 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Iron Creek Horse Camp?: Yes, pets are allowed at Iron Creek Horse Camp.
Does Iron Creek Horse Camp have hookups?: No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Iron Creek Horse Camp?: Campfires are allowed at Iron Creek Horse Camp. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Iron Creek Horse Camp

Bismark Lake 3.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
South Dakota's Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration Lottery 4.2 mi · Tickets · we watch it
Grizzly Bear Campground 5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Horsethief Lake Campground 5.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Willow Creek Horse Camp 6.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Oreville Campground 8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Sheridan Lake 11.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Information Center 4.1 mi · Facility
Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center 4.2 mi · Facility
Grizzly Bear Campground 4.4 mi · Campground
Palmer Creek Trailhead (Lost Cabin #2) 6.1 mi · Facility
Sheridan Lake South Campground 10.3 mi · Campground

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-16.

Iron Creek Horse Camp