Best Custer State Park lakes (views!) in South Dakota! Black Hills ⛰ swimming beach, picnic areas, hiking trails

Hi there!

Custer State Park in the Black Hills has a number of lakes.

There are lakes for swimming, lakes you can go hiking around, and lakes near campgrounds!

Here is what you need to know about the South Dakota lakes of Custer State Park!

 

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1. Sylvan Lake

 

You can go swimming in Custer State Park at the Sylvan Lake beach.

 

 

You can have a picnic with lake views at Sylvan Lake.

 

 

Sylvan Lake is one of the Custer State Park lakes where there are kayak rentals.

 

 

You can go for a lakeshore hike around Sylvan Lake.

 

 

You can hike to the Sunday Gulch trailhead from Sylvan Lake.

You can also hike into Black Hills National Forest from Sylvan Lake.

The Black Elk Peak Trail starts near Sylvan Lake, and this trail will take you into the Black Elk Wilderness of Black Hills National Forest.

Hiking all the way to Black Elk Peak means reaching the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, according to the US Forest Service. This is one of the best hikes (to start!) in Custer State Park.

 

 

2. Legion Lake

 

You can go swimming in Custer State Park at the Legion Lake beach.

 

 

You can have a picnic with lake views at Legion Lake.

 

 

Legion Lake is one of the Custer State Park lakes where there are kayak rentals.

 

 

You can go eat at the Legion Lake Lodge restaurant with outdoor dining and views of a Custer State Park lake.

 

 

You can go for an easy lakeshore hike around Legion Lake.

 

 

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3. Stockade Lake

 

You can go swimming in Custer State Park at the Stockade Lake beach.

 

 

You can have a picnic with lake views at Stockade Lake.

 

 

You can go biking (and driving!) around Stockade Lake.

 

 

You can go for a hike into the forest from a hiking trail that starts near Stockade Lake.

 

 

Stockade Lake is the only Custer State Park lake that has South Dakota state park camping cabins nearby, which would be the Stockade South camping cabins. (If you don’t count the “pond” that is near the Game Lodge camping cabins!)

 

 

4. Center Lake

 

You can go swimming in Custer State Park at the Center Lake beach.

 

 

You can have a picnic with lake views at Center Lake.

 

 

You can go for an easy lakeshore hike around Center Lake.

 

 

Those are the Custer State Park lakes!

Plus, there is also a “pond,” and that’s the Game Lodge Pond. It’s pretty small. See more about Game Lodge.

 

 

 

And those are some lakes in the Black Hills of South Dakota!

 

If you are interested in Custer State Park lakes, then you may also be interested in these other South Dakota activities:

• Easy lakeshore hikes in Custer State Park
• The Needles of the Black Hills and the Needles Eye Tunnel
• Best hikes in Custer State Park for VIEWS
• Things to do in Custer State Park for views
• Can you see Crazy Horse Memorial from the road?
• Things to do in the Black Hills for views
• South Dakota state park camping cabins in Custer State Park
• Things to do in Black Hills National Forest
• Getting to Little Devils Tower trailhead
• Quick things to do in Badlands National Park
• Things to do in Jewel Cave National Monument
• Driving through Spearfish Canyon from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower

 

HAPPY VISITING A CUSTER STATE PARK LAKE IN THE BLACK HILLS!