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Situated in an open Ponderosa pine forest 6.5 miles west of Custer, South Dakota, Comanche Park Campground is a campground for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in the southern Black Hills National Forest.
The campsites are spacious. Towering pine trees provide shade.
This is the closest campground to Jewel Cave National Monument.
The forest offers highly accessible recreation for all ages. Visitors can take advantage of opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on moderate terrain. For those seeking higher elevations, a 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 at the top, once used as a fire lookout, is still open to hikers.
Comanche Park Campground has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs.
The campground is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water; however, electrical hook-ups are not available.
Located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, 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 Jewel Cave 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 thel argest concentrations of passageways in the world. Wildlife in the area abounds. 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.
For facility specific information, please call (605) 574-4402.
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.
No refunds will be given for weather or related events.
In Custer, SD, at the intersection of Mt. Rushmore Rd (State Rt.89/US Rt.16 and 5th St (State Rt. 89/US Rt. 385), take Rt.16 west 5.8 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground.
After a long drive, then a short night and an early morning, I prepared to eat some rejuvenating oatmeal, but first I made a bleary-eyed trip to what I thought would be the Black Hills National Forest's finest fecal facility.
My alarm didn't fully wake me up, but the absolute left hook of a nasal punch emanating from the Comanche Park toilets put a Zeus-lightning-like jolt through every cell in my body, sending me sprawling backwards. After a short recovery period, I returned to the ring, and put on a spectacular defensive showing, covering my nose, and breathing through my shirt, avoiding the attacks on all sides. Though the judges gave the fight to the outhouse, I felt lucky to escape with my life and sanity.
The relaxing, coniferous and edenic forest did its best to comfort me as I attempted to return to my oatmeal, but you and I both know that oatmeal isn't that appetizing in the first place. As the staff came around to check us out, I didn't have the heart or courage to share my story, so here it is.
4 out of 5 stars, not for the faint of heart (or nose).
Nice forest service campground. Large quiet sites. Camp host is friendly. No electric but they do have water, outhouses and trash on site.
$21 a day with 2 dogs.
Stopped here on a trip between the Badlands and the Tetons. It is right off the highway but still feels very private. Camp sites are beautiful, firewood is available for purchase, the campground host is very friendly, and there were ample restrooms and trashes.
