Wind Cave National Park guide · 1 min read
Camping at Elk Mountain Campground
Elk Mountain Campground is the only campground in Wind Cave National Park, and it sits about half a mile from the visitor center.
The campground is open all year, with sites set among ponderosa pines where the forest gives way to open grassland. Each site is equipped with a metal fire ring and a picnic table.
Campsites can be reserved through Recreation.gov, and booking as early as possible is wise for peak-season visits, since reservations typically open several months in advance. Outside the summer season, sites are first-come, first-served, so arriving by late afternoon gives you more choices. During the warmer months you will find drinking water and flush restrooms on site, and each camp loop has its own restroom nearby.
Campground Amphitheater Evening Programs are led by rangers at the amphitheater inside the campground, drawing on the cultural and natural history of the park. Subjects rotate nightly, and the bulletin board at each restroom lists what is coming up. Each session runs 30 to 45 minutes and is open to visitors of all ages. Because events depend on the weather, look at the posted schedule before you plan your evening.
The Elk Mountain Campground Trail starts across from the amphitheater and passes through the transition between grassland and forest. The round trip is one mile. Elk bugling can be heard around dawn and dusk from September through October, so an early morning or evening stroll gives you a good chance to hear it.
