Custer State Park: Stockade Lake

Stockade Lake is the largest of the five lakes in Custer State Park, located on Highway 16A just four miles east of the town of Custer. It is the only lake in the park that allows all types of boats — from motorized to canoes and kayaks — making it the go-to destination for boaters and anglers exploring the park. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, and a fishing pier, boat launch, and swim beach are all on site. Two campgrounds flank the lake — Stockade North and Stockade South — offering shaded sites, showers, flush toilets, and large RV spaces. Both campgrounds are set among ponderosa pine forest with easy access to the water. A 1.5-mile loop trail climbs above the north shore through pine forest to a viewpoint with panoramic views of the lake below and Black Elk Peak, Cathedral Spires, and Little Devil's Tower in the distance — one of the more rewarding short hikes in the park. The historic Gordon Stockade, site of the first illegal gold prospecting camp in the Black Hills, sits just nearby and is worth a quick stop.