Elk Haven Horse Camp

Elk Haven Has great Riding one of the camps where you don't have to load up to ride to Mt Rushmore and all other riding is Gorgeous! Your horses are right next to you so you can keep a close eye on them most all the corrals for your horses are covered from the weather . They also have a Rib night on Thursdays that are AMAZING but you have to call in on Monday to get on the list but well worth the wait !!

I recently stayed at Elk Haven Horse Camp for a full week (my second time there). I absolutely love this place. You have access to so many beautiful trails right out of camp. The scenery from camp is awesome. There is a huge front porch where you can hang out and check your messages. The pens for your equines are right in your campsite so you can keep a close eye. They serve breakfast and lunch (both delicious) and a "to die for" rib dinner on Thursday. The store is filled with a ton of cool stuff - western and Sturgis. The best thing though is the owners, Jim and Sheri, who are so kind and really make you feel at home.

This is my second year in staying at Elk Haven Horse Camp and I will be coming back every summer. I haul my mules across the country and have a lot of experience in rv camping and primitive camping. There are water and electric hookups at each site and pipe corral pens for your mules or horses. There are several trailheads that lead from the campground into the Black Hills or Custer State Park. They have a store with fabulous western/cowgirl/trail riding gift items along with provisions for your camper. They serve breakfast and lunch everyday and Thursday is the only evening in which they serve an awesome dinner of BBQ ribs! Jim Smith and his wife Sheri are wonderful folks that are dedicated to the camping industry, they are good people that make you feel at home. Jim is very knowledgeable about the trails, has a supply of trail maps and also has a stock trailer for rent. I did peak in the cabins - they are well kept and clean with very nice bedding. Hay is trucked in from a local barn - let Jim know how many bales you need. Keystone, Hill City and Deadwood are nearby; you will be entertained and busy between riding your mule and visiting these towns. I highly recommend Elk Haven Horse Camp - this is mule country where God smiles down on you. (\_/) - Review provided by RV Park Recommendations & Reviews Facebook Group

Three or stars is not enough - ten is about right. This is my second year in staying at Elk Haven Horse Camp and I will be coming back every summer. I haul my mules across the country and have a lot of experience in rv camping and primitive camping. There are water and electric hookups at each site and pipe corral pens for your mules or horses. There are several trailheads that lead from the campground into the Black Hills or Custer State Park. They have a store with fabulous western/cowgirl/trail riding gift items along with provisions for your camper. They serve breakfast and lunch everyday and Thursday is the only evening in which they serve an awesome dinner of BBQ ribs! Jim Smith and his wife Sheri are wonderful folks that are dedicated to the camping industry, they are good people that make you feel at home. Jim is very knowledgeable about the trails, has a supply of trail maps and also has a stock trailer for rent. I did peak in the cabins - they are well kept and clean with very nice bedding. Hay is trucked in from a local barn - let Jim know how many bales you need. Keystone, Hill City and Deadwood are nearby; you will be entertained and busy between riding your mule and visiting these towns. I highly recommend Elk Haven Horse Camp - this is mule country where God smiles down on you. (\_/) - Review provided by RV Park Recommendations & Reviews Facebook Group

Made reservation for an RV site. Prior to my trip, Jim the owner/manager called and asked if he could switch sites with me, due to over booking issues. Was very confusing and stressful, thinking I was going to have to move camp halfway through the week. When I arrived at the camp late in the day, after a 15 hour drive, I was shown to my "campsite". (literally a stop in the middle of a gravel road). There were NO hook-ups at my site. Jim stated that I would have to hookup at the next site over, which was just under 100 feet to the plug in and water. Me thinking I had an RV site reserved brought a normal 25' water hose and a 110 extension cord for other electric things, Having a normal 30 amp plug on my trailer, I did not bring a 30 amp adapter. When I asked Jim about an adapter, he stated that he didn't have one, and could get me one the next day. He was very non-caring, almost to the point of being rude, about the fact I had no power or water. He did say, he could get me water for the evening. So, after dragging out 100ft of water hose and my having to ask other campers, if they had an adapter, I was able to get water and electric. (Mind you, the electric cord and water hose, not only ran through my camp, but also the camp next to mine where I had to plug up, since it was on the backside of their trailer.) I also had requested two pens and was only given one. The Store/Restaurant hours are 7 am to 7 pm, but this is only if Jim does not have other errands to run and does not consider the customers in camp a priority. Many campers went without a hot meal on Tuesday night, due to rainy weather and the store/restaurant was closed before 5 pm, because Jim had to go to Rapid City to buy Ribs for a big dinner he was hosting on “Thursday”! I felt this was very inconsiderate and unprofessional. And last but not least. The camp did not really feel like a “Horse Camp”, other than there are horse pens. The camp is right on a Very BUSY highway. There is constant traffic, with a lot of motorcycle traffic and noise. Nothing quiet or relaxing about the location. When you first pull up, the Store has two huge flags, saying STURGIS on them. And when you enter the store, everything you first see if Sturgis and Motorcycle orientated. The horse stuff is actually on the backside of the store. As a whole this was a bad experience with this camp site. I camp all over the country and normally do not have these type of issues. I will not be recommending this camp. (Actually heard Hays Creek was nicer), and I won’t be returning to this camp. **Only decent thing is right on the trail head, no major riding to get to it.