BLACK HILLS, S.D. — Our state of “Great Faces, Great Places” is welcoming visitors who are ready to travel for the summer.
Early reservation sales for Black Hills campgrounds and beyond point to a strong outdoor recreation season this year. KOAs in the area are up over 60 % — visitors began booking in December.
Gwyn Wathen, Director of Marketing at Recreation Adventures Co., says, “Not only just for our property, from what I’m hearing other campgrounds in the area, other hotels in the area as well and attractions, it’s going to be a banner year for the Black Hills and South Dakota as well.”
Much like the anticipated successful summer tourist season, campgrounds are getting geared up for a busy summer and beyond.
Annual passes to Custer State Park have seen a 191% increase and annual trail passes have been up by 504% so far this year.
Bradley Block, Recreation Program Manager with Black Hills National Forest, says, “It’s just been nonstop, people making reservations. I guess if there is a blessing with the situation at hand, the pandemic, people are wanting to get back outside and enjoy nature and spend time with their family and campgrounds, trails, water recreation, all those things make great opportunities and safe opportunities.”
The best advice is to plan ahead.
Wathen adds, “We are telling people to book now, we’ve been saying that since you know when last year ended that you know, the forecast looks great now it’s just intensified – so I would say if you are looking to get away and come to the Black Hills for the summer, even this Fall, I would say make you plans now.”
Like much of the Black Hills, one area of concern is staffing, but hope that once students are finished with school or retirees staying at the campgrounds can fill some of the void.
Kobee Stalder with Custer State Park, says, “In terms of camping in State Parks in South Dakota, all start parks use a 90-day calendar window for reserving, meaning you can call 90 days in advance of your arrival and make a reservation. We actually have a 90 day window calendar online here: https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/90-day-calendar.pdf which can help guests know what day they can call for when they plan on arriving.”
He goes on to says, “Custer State Park is different in the aspect that we day camping reservations one year in advance, so visitors can make a campground reservation exactly one year out from their arrival. We also have Center Lake Campground, which is a same-day reservation campground. Meaning, visitors can go online or call the reservation number starting at six am MT, and make a reservation for that day, up to 14 consecutive days.
In the Black Hills Region, for State Parks, there is Angostura and Sheps Canyon Recreation Area, Custer State Park, Bear Butte State Park that all offer camping. Then in the Northern Hills, Rocky Point Recreation Area by Orman Dam in Belle Fourche also has a campground.”
For information on those campgrounds, visitors can go to travel.campsd.com or they can call the reservation line at 1.800.710.CAMP (2267).
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