Bismark Lake
Bismark Lake is a national forest campground in South Dakota. Hookups: water & sewer.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- South Dakota
- Coordinates
- 43.78194, -103.51583
- Hookups
- Water & Sewer
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- (605)673-9300
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Bismark Lake
Overview Bismarck Lake Campground is set amidst a scattering of aspen groves and Ponderosa pine on the southeast edge of Bismarck Lake at 5,000 feet. This is a great place for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in the Black Hills National Forest. Acess to this campground is through Custer State Park near the West Highway 16A entrance. Sites in the campground are widely spaced and open up to views of lakes, providing adequate privacy for visitors. Recreation The forest offers accessible recreation for all ages and abilities. Visitors can take advantage of opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on moderate terrain. At the campground, a short foot trail traverses the forested shoreline, offering opportunities for birding in early morning or picnicking in the afternoon. For those seeking higher elevations, a day-long trek to the summit of nearby Black Elk Peak is worth the effort. Black Elk Peak is the highest natural point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Most of the summit is bare granite and offers expansive views of the surrounding area. An old stone tower (Harney Lookout Tower) at the top, once used as a fire lookout, is still open to hikers. Adjacent to the campground is Bismarck Lake, an ideal spot for fishing and boating. The lake supports populations of rainbow and brown trout, a variety of sunfish, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and catfish. Facilities Bismarck Lake C
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Custer State Park · 7.5 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- AmeriGas · 4.9 mi
- Low clearances
- 5 bridges or tunnels at 14 ft or less within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 233 designated routes (221 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismark Lake | National forest campground | 0.5 mi | — | — |
| Bismark Lake Campground | Private campground | 0.5 mi | — | — |
| Stockade Lake North Campground | Private campground | 0.8 mi | — | — |
| Group Campground | Private campground | 1.1 mi | — | — |
| Stockade Lake Campground South | Private campground | 1.3 mi | — | — |
| Gold Valley Camp | Private campground | 1.4 mi | — | — |
Open Bismark Lake in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.