State camping fees:
- How much are entrance license and camping fees? A yearly entrance license is $23 for one and $34.50 for two. A daily entrance pass is $3 per person or $5 per vehicle for persons 12 and older. A trail pass on the Mickelson Trail is $2 per day or $10 per year.
- Which campsites are available for the weekend? View the weekend campsite availability report. The report is updated each week on Thursday between May 19 and Sept. 25. Or, call the reservation line at 1-800-710-CAMP (2267) or go online to www.campsd.com.
- How do I make reservations? Call the reservation line at 1-800-710-CAMP (2267) or make reservations online at www.campsd.com. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance of the arrival date. Other lodging facilities can also be reserved year-round at any time. The reservation center is open daily (except major holidays), with hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST (Jan.-Sept.) Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct.-Dec. Many campgrounds also have first come, first served camping.
- Federal camping fees:While electric, sewer and water hook-ups and showers are not available, most federal campgrounds have potable water and either flush or vault toilets. Most campgrounds have hosts. Daily fees, which are charged from about mid-May through October, range from $6 to $21 a night per site and allow up to six people.
- Campground reservations may be made by calling 1-877-444-6777 or go online to www.recreation.gov. Reservations are recommended for holiday weekends.
Camping etiquette
Being polite can enhance outdoor experiences.
Anyone who has ever camped has probably experienced it: that campground neighbor who plays his radio constantly or that group of loud-talkers who carry on an alcohol-infused conversation long into the night.
It’s summertime, which means that campgrounds nationwide are often filled to capacity. And although camping is a “great family activity,” there are some etiquette rules to keep in mind, said Rick Hudson, a recreation program manager with the Black Hills National Forest.
In the National Forest, there are 31 campgrounds. All are primitive. Some don’t have water, and some are pack-in and pack-out sites, Hudson said.
“In most of our campgrounds, everybody follows the rules. But it only takes
1 percent to ruin it for everybody,” Hudson said.
One of the biggest problems in the national forest campgrounds involves dogs, he said.
“A lot of people bring more than just one dog … and they chain them up around their campsite, and some of these dogs are not very friendly,” Hudson said.
Craig Pugsley, visitor services coordinator for Custer State Park, said dogs also are an issue in the eight Custer State Park campgrounds.
“Something that does pop up every year … people leave their pets unattended,” he said. This usually leads to a barking dog, which in turn bothers the other campers. “If they bring their animal, they need to attend to it just like a child,” Pugsley said. “They just can’t leave them at the campsite unattended.”
Hudson said campers also need to keep their dogs on leashes and to remember to pick up dog waste. “They usually don’t clean up after their dogs, so that’s left up to the campground host,” he said.
Another obvious campground etiquette rule: noise.
Although campgrounds are usually located in remote areas, campsites tend to be close to each other. Campers who play radios or televisions can be bothersome to those campers seeking a little solace.
Pugsley said most Custer State Park campers seem to adhere to the noise consideration rules, because they have few complaints. “We don’t see a lot of noise problems,” he said. “They’re here to enjoy the serenity of the beautiful Black Hills. Excessive noise kind of disrupts that.”
Hudson agrees. “It seems like that kind of defeats the purpose of being out there in Mother Nature.”
Probably one of the most important etiquette rules leans more toward safety than politeness. Both Hudson and Pugsley stress the importance of campfire safety.
“You can have a fire in a developed campground,” Hudson said. “Most people don’t think about it.”
As a safety precaution, Hudson suggests keeping a bucket of water and a rake nearby.
Pugsley also recommends that campers cut their wood to fit the grates. Sometimes, campers drag long logs into the site and light one end. The practice raises the risk of fires and usually leaves the campground hosts to drag the logs out of the site after the people leave.
Campers also need to ensure that their fires are completely out before they go to bed or leave a site. “Fire is always a concern in the Black Hills,” Pugsley said.
Although both Pugsley and Hudson have etiquette tips, they stress that campers shouldn’t be scared off by potential rude behavior. Overall, they find campers to be cooperative and polite.
“It’s a great family activity. And that’s what we like to see. Our campgrounds are designed for family use,” Hudson said.
Camping etiquette rules
Each year, families descend on the campgrounds of the Black Hills and surrounding area. Here are a few camping etiquette rules to remember.
- Leave a camping site the way you found it. Pick up trash, etc.
- If you bring a pet, keep it on a leash. Leave aggressive dogs home, and always pick up animal waste.
- Don’t leave dogs unattended. Chances are, the dog will bark and bother other campers.
- Keep noise levels low. During campground quiet hours, use quiet voices. Leave the radio off.
- Keep campfires in the grates and cut wood to fit.
- Always extinguish campfires before going to bed or leaving the campsite.
Camping YMCA
Where are picnic areas and campgrounds?
- Picnic areas:
Well over 1,000 people a night can bed down in the Black Hills at major public campground systems that provide a total of 1,100 camping sites.
The majority of these public campgrounds are found at:
- Black Hills National Forest: 30 campgrounds offer a total of 682 family sites. In addition, three group areas and three horse camps are available.
Web site: www.fs.fed.us/ r2/blackhills. Fees range from $6 to $24 a night. A majority of the campgrounds are operated by Forest Recreation Management, Inc. and about half have onsite hosts. For reservations, go to www.reserveusa.com or dial 877-444-6777/TDD 877-833-6777. There is a fee for making reservations.
Day use fees of $5 per vehicle or $20 to $30 a year are required to picnic, swim or park at Pactola, Sheridan, Deerfield and Bismarck lakes. Other picnic grounds may charge parking fees.
- Custer State Park: Seven campgrounds offer a total of 350 sites ranging from primitive to modern; fees range from $13 per night to $19 per night; $2 for primitive camping in French Creek Natural Area and $22 per site in the French Creek horse camp. For reservations, call 1-800-710-2267. Web site: www.campSD.com.
- Wind Cave National Park: Elk Mountain campground has 75 sites available at $12 a night — first come, first served. Water is usually available by mid-May. Web site: www.nps.gov/wica.
In some areas of the national parks, limited camping is allowed outside developed campgrounds. Open fires are prohibited except in developed campgrounds. Cave tours are available year-round.
What activities does the YMCA offer?
- Rapid City YMCA offers children, families and adults a wide choice of healthful and fun programs and activities.
Available at the 815 Kansas City St. facility: Lap swimming, family swim, youth open swim, warm water arthritis exercise groups and adult swimming lessons. Aquatic Center includes family pool with 114-foot waterslide, lily pads, frog slide and training area.
The Randy Travis Wellness Center features a full range of exercise equipment.
Youth and adult activities include basketball, volleyball, indoor running, racquetball, climbing wall, arts and science classes, gymnastics, martial arts, many land and water aerobics classes, golf at La Croix Links and a youth wellness center.
Numerous youth and teen programs, all-day child care for toddlers through school age, before- and after-school programs and summer day camps are available.
The YMCA Arts & Science Center is open at 830 Quincy St. For schedules and other details, call 718-YMCA (9622). Web site: www.rcymca.org.
n Northern Hills YMCA, 845 Miners Ave., Lead. Hours are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 1 p.m to
9 p.m. Saturdays, 1 p.m. to
5 p.m. Sundays.
Phone: 584-1113.