Willow Creek Horse Camp
Willow Creek Horse Camp is a national forest campground in South Dakota. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- South Dakota
- Coordinates
- 43.90306, -103.53500
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Camping, Hiking, Horseback Riding
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 605-673-9200
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Willow Creek Horse Camp
Overview This horse camp is nestled at the confluence of Willow Creek and Palmer Creek near the Black Elk Wilderness area of the Black Hills National Forest. From this campground, hikers and horseback riders can access a network of trails into the backcountry. The campground is within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. Recently renovated by Forest Service and our Partners, Backcountry Horsemen of America, Willow Creek Campground is a good choice for horse campers. • All campsites 1-9 are horse sites with corrals. Recreation Hikers and horseback riders can access the trailhead for the Willow Creek Loop, which provides scenic views of the Black Elk Wilderness. There is also easy access to the Lost Cabin Trail, which offers many views of Black Elk Peak on its descent. Willow Creek Horse Camp provides a good starting point for a day-long hike or horseback ride to Black Elk Peak and Harney Lookout Tower. Both the Willow Creek Loop and the Lost Cabin Trail connect with the Black Elk Peak Trail. Natural Features The Black Hills in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming feature a varied landscape of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams and deep blue lakes. The Black Elk Wilderness is its only wilderness area, and it sits in the center of Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. Norbeck is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Its most prominent landmark is Black Elk Peak, which, at 7,242 feet, is
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Custer State Park · 13 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- AmeriGas · 11 mi
- Low clearances
- 5 bridges or tunnels at 14 ft or less within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 415 designated routes (446 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Resort | RV park | 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Willow Creek | National forest horse camp | 0.4 mi | — | — |
| Willow Creek Horse Camp | Private campground | 0.5 mi | — | — |
| Horsethief Lake Campground | National forest campground | 2.6 mi | — | No hookups |
| Horse Thief Lake Campground | Private campground | 2.6 mi | $26 | — |
| Black Hills Trailside Park Resort | RV park | 2.6 mi | — | — |
Open Willow Creek Horse Camp in DryRig
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Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.