Campground · Custer State Park
A shared lakeside camp for groups, tents and small trailers.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Custer Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Custer State Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
How Water Striders Stay Afloat“If you notice tiny insects skating across a quiet pond, watch the dimples beneath their legs. Water striders use surface tension, the pull between water molecules, to stay on top.”
Plays on the road 0.3 mi from Stockade Lake Group Area in the Parkwolf Custer Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“We recently toured Badlands, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore and more! We learned so much from this app as we toured each of these sites. The audio tours are worth the money.”
Guide
Stockade Lake Group Area is a separately reservable campground on the lake shore, set up for larger parties with tents and small trailers. It is distinct from the North and South individual campgrounds. Fishing is available at the area; swimming and evening naturalist programs are nearby. For a group trip, the lakeside setting is the reason to choose it.
There is a group picnic shelter with 15-amp electricity, picnic tables, fire grates and vault toilets. The group-area listing does not specify a potable-water source, so check water arrangements before relying on a tap here. Flush toilets and showers are at Stockade South, about a quarter mile away.
Wildlife
993 sightingsBisonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
91 sightingsWapitiMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
258 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
85 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
256 sightingsBurroMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
707 sightingsPronghornMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Custer. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateStockade Lake Trail1.5 mi · 1.3 hr · 0.6 mi awayA short rocky climb opens a view toward the Needles.
EasyDoran Trail2.3 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.6 mi awayCCC stone paths lead to pine-framed Stockade Lake views
ModerateMount Coolidge Trail3.3 mi · 1.8 hr · 2.6 mi awayClimb the fire tower road for Black Hills views and CCC history.
EasyHeddy Lookout Trail0.8 mi · 30 min · 2.6 mi awayA short wooded walk to a covered overlook above Heddy Draw
ModerateLegion Lake Trail1 mi · 1 hr · 2.7 mi awayA rocky ridge loop with blue markers and a Mount Coolidge glimpse.
ModerateHeddy Draw Horse Trail7.1 mi · 4 hr · 2.7 mi awaySteep Black Hills horse trail with a long descent into Heddy Draw.
EasyLegion Lakeshore Trail0.7 mi · 30 min · 2.8 mi awayAn easy lakeside loop beneath granite cliffs and pines.
ModerateSaw Mill Trail2.2 mi · 1.3 hr · 3.1 mi awayA forested ridge traverse links two mapped Saw Mill sections.
Sight · 0.2 mi awayStockade LakeThe park’s only lake open to every kind of boat.
Campground · 0.2 mi awayStockade Lake South CampgroundA wooded base near the lake, with campsites and cabins.
Campground · 0.4 mi awayStockade Lake North CampgroundA pine-shaded base with a boat ramp and fishing pier.
Entrance station · 0.5 mi awayWest Entrance StationA west-side entry booth for park access and local advice.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayGordon StockadeA small reconstructed fort tied to the Black Hills gold rush.
Sight · 2.5 mi awayMount Coolidge Fire TowerClear-day views reach Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the Needles.
Scenic pullout · 2.7 mi awayHeddy Draw OverlookA short walk to a covered shelter and broad Black Hills views.
Campground · 2.7 mi awayLegion Lake CampgroundCamp in the trees, with the lake and lodge across US 16A.Parkwolf’s Custer ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
