Boxelder Creek Walk-In Fishing Area

The Boxelder Creek Walk-In Fishing Area is one of the Black Hills' most rewarding backcountry angling destinations, offering non-motorized access to an undeveloped and unspoiled stretch of Boxelder Creek deep in Black Hills National Forest near the small community of Nemo, South Dakota. The creek holds healthy wild populations of both rainbow and brook trout, and its clear, cold water and forested canyon setting make it as scenic as it is productive. Because it requires a walk in from the trailhead parking area, it naturally filters out casual visitors, rewarding those who make the trek with light fishing pressure and a genuinely wild experience. The headwaters of Boxelder Creek are known among local fly fishing guides as some of the finest brook trout water in the region, while lower stretches hold good numbers of brown trout as well. The area is especially popular in fall when terrestrial insects like hoppers bring fish aggressively to the surface. Surrounding forest is home to elk, deer, and a rich variety of birds.