Yes, you can haul horses here. We keep portable corral panels on hand for guests to borrow and put up beside their rig, and the national forest ground that wraps around this part of Pleasant Valley Drive means you can tack up and ride straight off the property instead of loading again and driving to a trailhead. We're two miles south of Sturgis, South Dakota, off I-90 Exit 34, so horse campers get a Black Hills campground with highway access, a bath house, laundry and full hookups rather than a bare forest pullout. Mention the horses when you reserve, and we'll match you with a site that has turning room and space for the panels.
Can my truck and trailer actually get in?
Exit 34 puts you on a short, straight run south with no tight town streets to thread. Our RV sites run over 100 feet with 30 and 50 amp service, which is the same length that suits a living-quarters trailer, a gooseneck with a dressing room, or a pickup pulling a four-horse. Big rigs come off I-90 here regularly during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the rest of the season, so you're not guessing whether the turns will work. Call ahead if you're over 40 feet combined and we'll talk through where to put you.
What do I need to bring for the horses?
Everything that goes in their mouths. We don't sell hay or grain, so load enough feed for your stay plus a day's cushion, and bring your own buckets, water tubs and hauling hose. Water is available at full-hookup sites. Bring a muck fork and something to haul manure in, and we'll tell you where to put it when you arrive. Fly spray earns its keep in July and August, and a shade tarp helps on hot afternoons. If you're coming from out of state, check with the South Dakota Animal Industry Board on current health paperwork before you load — a Coggins test and a certificate of veterinary inspection are the usual ask.
Where can I ride from camp?
Trails lead off the Forest Service ground behind us and link into the system that runs south through the Black Hills National Forest toward Custer State Park. Some of that connects with the Centennial Trail, which starts up at Bear Butte north of town. Conditions change with the weather and with logging and fire work, so check the current Mystic Ranger District information before you plan a long day. Riders who want something shorter often do a few hours out and back and are still in camp for showers by late afternoon.
When is the best time to bring horses?
June, September and early October are the easy months — cooler, quieter, and the gravel is in good shape. Rally week in August is a different trip. We don't enforce quiet hours then, generators run, and motorcycles come and go at all hours. Some horses handle that without blinking and some don't. You know yours. If your animal is sound around traffic and engine noise, horse camping during Rally works fine; if not, plan your Black Hills trail riding for a shoulder week.
Anything else I should know?
Fires here are propane only — propane grills and propane fire pits. The Black Hills get dry fast, and that rule holds year-round with no exceptions. Dogs are welcome at sites and need to be leashed, which matters more than usual when there's stock in camp. Miss Suzie's Bath House has hot on-demand showers and coin laundry, there's a dump station on site, and Wi-Fi reaches the sites.
Tell us your rig length, horse count and arrival date when you book, and we'll have a workable spot ready.