With Mount Rushmore and Black Hills National Forest at the doorstep, Rapid City is an obvious choice for outdoor enthusiasts.
The area is also rich in lakes and reservoirs, many of which offer iconic views of towering boulders and rugged spires unique to this region.
Many of the lakes allow swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and some of the best fishing in the region. Almost all options have campgrounds that quickly fill up during the short summer season.
Learn more about the area and discover South Dakota’s most gorgeous lakes!
Lakes near Rapid City:
- Canyon Lake
- Sheridan Lake
- Pactola Reservoir
- Deerfield Reservoir
- Horse Thief Lake
- Sylvan Lake
- Center Lake
- Bismark Lake
- Stockade Lake
- Legion Lake
- Cold Brook Lake
- Angostura Reservoir
- Bear Butte Lake
- Belle Fourche Reservoir
1. Canyon Lake
- Website: Canyon Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 4 miles (10 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking
A little more than three miles southwest of downtown, Canyon Lake is an impoundment of Rapid Creek.
Created in 1890 near an area where a canyon mouth joins the Black Hills with the plains, this area and much of Rapid City faced catastrophic damage after the Black Hills Flood of June 9-10, 1972.
Fifteen inches of rain in a compressed area and a short amount of time led to an overflow along Rapid Creek and other waterways that caused 238 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries in the metropolitan area.
Canyon Lake was once the site of orchards and a dairy farm. Vacation cottages followed as the boundary of Rapid City began to expand closer to this reservoir.
Canyon Lake became part of the city during the 1940s and is one of the oldest parks in the city. By the 1950s, a beach and diving platform became a popular spot where the local Red Cross offered swimming lessons.
Today, the 29-acre park has picnic areas and provides outdoor recreation opportunities. Those who cast a line from the fishing area often catch rainbow and brown trout.
2. Sheridan Lake
- Website: Sheridan Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 21 miles (35 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing, Tubing, Ice Skating, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
A drive of approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Rapid City, Sheridan Lake is an impoundment of Spring Creek in the Black Hills National Forest.
Horse Creek also flows into this 375-acre lake near a picnic area and a large boat launch on the lake’s northern shore.
The Sheridan Lake South Campground, on the opposite side of the reservoir, has 129 sites and is the largest campsite within this national forest. This camping area offers easy access to another boat ramp and the Flume Trailhead.
Sheridan Lake offers year-round fishing and is a go-to ice fishing destination. Those who travel to this well-known Pennington County fishing destination will find plenty of white crappie, yellow perch, northern perch, brown and rainbow trout, and largemouth bass.
3. Pactola Reservoir
- Website: Pactola Reservoir
- Distance from Rapid City: 20 miles (30 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing, Tubing, Ice Skating, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Pactola Reservoir is a little more than 18 miles west of Rapid City. Under the waters of this nearly 800-acre impoundment of Rapid Creek, scuba divers can visit the one-time county seat of the area and the site of Pennington County’s first post office.
In the mid-1870s, pioneers who came to the Black Hills area during a gold rush would have found no substantial lakes in this area. A site originally known as Camp Crook, and later as Pactola, took shape in the valley area.
Construction of the Pactola Dam began in the early 1950s, with the Pactola Reservoir flooding this former settlement by 1954.
After its creation, this reservoir became the deepest and largest body of water in Black Hills National Forest.
Fourteen miles of shoreline and numerous campgrounds, a swimming beach, picnic areas, and trails offer many recreation options along this lake, created for flood control, water systems, and irrigation in the Rapid City area.
Anglers will find many fish in this deep and productive body of water. Common species include rainbow trout, lake trout, northern pike, rock bass, and bluegill.
Record fish caught in Pactola Reservoir include a 2 lbs.11 oz. Kokanee salmon in 1974 and a 27 lbs. 14 oz. lake trout in 2003.
4. Deerfield Reservoir
- Website: Deerfield Reservoir
- Distance from Rapid City: 43 miles (55 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Ice Skating, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
A 40-mile drive west of downtown, Deerfield Reservoir is a 435-acre body of water created after the construction of a dam. The original impoundment was finished in 1947, with modifications completed in the mid-1980s.
Situated in the Black Hills National Forest, the US Bureau of Reclamation manages the dam and Deerfield Reservoir.
Castle Creek is the primary source and outflow from the reservoir, with Gold Run also flowing into this lake.
The US Forest Service operates a boat launch, picnic area, and the seasonal Whitetail Campground and Dutchman Campground on the reservoir’s southern shore.
Another boat launch and Custer Trail Campground are located in the northeast corner of this lake, near the dam.
Activities at Deerfield include fishing, hiking, camping, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and ice skating.
Those who visit without a boat will find ample opportunities for shoreline fishing, with a walking trail covering portions of the lake.
Boats must operate at five miles per hour or less. Fish commonly found here include rainbow, lake, and brook trout, as well as splake.
5. Horse Thief Lake
- Website: Horse Thief Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 27 miles (40 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing
Horse Thief Lake is located 27 miles southwest of Rapid City and less than two miles northwest of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Sixteen acres in size, this lake is surrounded by evergreens and rock formations that offer a relaxing escape from the urban environment.
Camping areas along the western shore offer impressive views adjacent to the lake. Dredging has restored the lake’s water quality and depth.
Popular activities at Horse Thief Lake include hiking, fishing, boating, camping, and winter activities, especially ice fishing.
A loop trail around the lake includes walkways and other shoreline areas ideal for bank fishing. Steelhead, rainbow, and brown trout are commonly found within the lake.
A short hike or drive south of the lake and across State Highway 244 is Breezy Point Overlook and Picnic Area, where visitors can see Black Elk Peak, Mount Rushmore, and Black Elk Wilderness.
6. Sylvan Lake
- Website: Sylvan Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 35 miles (50 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping
Located in Custer State Park, Sylvan Lake is approximately 35 miles southwest of Rapid City.
Relatively small in size, this 17-acre lake has a large reputation as one of the most recognizable of the lakes in this park and throughout the entire Black Hills region.
At 6,145 feet above sea level, this lake is nearly 3,000 higher in elevation than Rapid City, giving it a cooler seasonal feel throughout the year.
The mile-long shoreline offers many perfect places to take photographs and take in the views.
Created when Theodore Reder constructed a dam across Sunday Gulch Creek in 1891, this lake is commonly considered the ideal starting point for visits to The Needles, eroded granite towers, spires, and pillars within the park.
Others start here on their journey to Black Elk Peak – South Dakota’s highest point at 7,244 feet.
The park has a variety of facilities near the lake, including seasonal boat rentals, a general store, and a fishing pier.
The Sylvan Lake Lodge, built in 1937 and expanded in 1991, offers upscale accommodations, with cabins also available nearby.
In addition to hiking and fishing, this location offers great opportunities for those who enjoy nature watching. Anglers casting a line in Sylvan Lake catch rainbow trout.
7. Center Lake
- Website: Center Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 27 miles (45 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping
A drive 27 miles south-southwest of Rapid City allows visitors to experience Center Lake, one of the beautiful lakes in Custer State Park that gets lighter traffic.
This 27-acre lake has an average depth of 17 feet, with the deepest point reaching 43 feet.
This reservoir is an impoundment of Grace Coolidge Creek with a swimming boat, boat launch area, and areas to hike and fish along the lake.
The Center Lake Campground is a short distance north of the lake, in an area with an abundance of ponderosa pines that offer shade and create a relaxing environment, one where cellular phone coverage is limited to non-existent.
Center Lake occupies a serene area, perfect for those who want to escape from the crowds and enjoy the beauty found within Custer State Park.
Most activity along the lake occurs during the summer months, with winter access difficult due to its remote location.
Anglers who visit Center Lake may fish along the shore or place their watercraft within the no-wake lake.
Species that swim in this clear, welcoming lake include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout, brook trout, and lake trout.
8. Bismark Lake
- Website: Bismark Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 35 miles (1 hr)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping
A drive of between 32 and 45 miles southwest of the city, depending on the route taken, Bismark Lake is a 27-acre impoundment of Bismark Creek in the Black Hills National Forest.
This lake sits alongside ponderosa pine and aspen groves, with access available from a section of US Highway 16A that passes through the neighboring Custer State Park.
Bismarck Lake Campground sits along the southeastern shoreline, near the earthen dam that controls water flow along the creek before it continues into Stockade Lake. Most spaces provide impressive lakefront views and photo opportunities.
Bismark Lake has a reputation for being a quiet, off-the-beaten-path destination where anglers can cast lines in a scenic area with excellent fish populations.
Fish found in this lake include a variety of sunfish, northern pike, brown and rainbow trout, and occasional catfish and smallmouth bass.
9. Stockade Lake
- Website: Stockade Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 34 miles (55 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping
Located less than 750 feet south of Bismark Lake, Stockade Lake sits along and south of US Highway 16A within the boundary of Custer State Park.
Bismarck Creek flows into this body, the largest of the five notable lakes in the state park. This 120-acre body of water also connects with French Creek, a meandering and narrow creek that flows through the nearby City of Custer, before entering the lake.
Stockade Lake offers a variety of recreation opportunities. The only lake in Custer State Park that permits all boats, this site also includes hiking trails, a swimming beach, a fishing pier, a boat launch, and three nearby campgrounds.
Stockade Lake hosts fish popular with those who enjoy casting a line in these waters. Primary species include smallmouth and largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and northern pike.
Other fish occasionally caught in the lake include bluegill, white sucker, and yellow and black bullhead.
10. Legion Lake
- Website: Legion Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 31 miles (55 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping
A little more than 30 miles south-southwest of Rapid City, Legion Lake is five miles east of Bismark and Stockade Lakes.
This nine-acre lake within Custer State Park is along the southern part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, a picturesque stretch of highway that also connects with Sylvan Lake, Horsethief Lake, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Once a site leased by a local American Legion Post, the lake takes its name from its popularity as a destination for those Legion members.
Today, this retreat includes the Legion Lake Lodge, 26 cabins, hiking trails, campsites, summertime swimming areas, and great fishing sites. Those who fish here will find an abundance of trout.
11. Cold Brook Lake
- Website: Cold Brook Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 58 miles (1hr 10min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Ice Skating, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Cold Brook Lake is a 58-mile drive south of Rapid City, one mile north of Hot Springs. This reservoir was constructed in 1953 by the US Army Corps of Engineers to offer flood control in the region.
Since its creation, Cold Brook Lake has become a popular year-round recreation site that provides opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, wildlife viewing, camping, ice fishing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.
The 36-acre reservoir created by an earthen dam at the Cold Brook Lake Recreation Area is also known for anglers to congregate.
The clear waters and pleasant surroundings are a great location to fish for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and bluegill.
12. Angostura Reservoir
- Website: Angostura Reservoir
- Distance from Rapid City: 60 miles (1hr 10min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing, Tubing
Angostura Reservoir is a 4,407-acre reservoir along the Cheyenne River, located approximately 60 miles south of Rapid City.
The Angostura Dam was built to expand irrigation opportunities in the region.
With 36 miles of shoreline, the reservoir has recreation facilities in the Angostura Recreation Area that include hiking, biking, boating, seasonal swimming, camping, and bird watching.
Unlike most lakes around Rapid City, Angostura Reservoir allows water skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing activities.
A newer Sheps Canyon Campground also provides access to the lake.
Those who fish here will find walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, perch, northern pike, and bluegill.
13. Bear Butte Lake
- Website: Bear Butte Lake
- Distance from Rapid City: 33 miles (40 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping
A little more than 30 miles northwest of Rapid City, Bear Butte Lake is a popular location within Bear Butte State Park.
The 215-acre lake, campground, and a trail sit along the western side of State Route 79, with Bear Butte and its elevated overlooks in another section of the park immediately northeast of the road.
This area has sacred value to many of the Native American tribes that have lived in the region for millennia.
For those who come here to fish, the lake offers bountiful catches of northern pike, white crappie, yellow perch, and yellow bullhead.
14. Belle Fourche Reservoir
- Website: Belle Fourche Reservoir
- Distance from Rapid City: 63 miles (1hr 10min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing, Tubing
A drive of approximately 60 miles north-northwest of Rapid City, the Belle Fourche Reservoir was created after the construction of the Belle Fourche Dam – also known as Orman Dam – along Owl Creek in 1911.
Belle Fourche means “Beautiful Forks” in French, an accurate name to describe this region.
With nearly 8,000 surface acres of water, this dam created a recreation destination popular for year-round fishing. Boating, ice skating, camping, and water skiing are common activities here.
The Rocky Point Recreation Area is a state-managed area where visitors gather. Fish found here include walleye, white bass, and catfish.
More Lakes in South Dakota:
