Valley View Retreat — Off-Grid Camping & Boondocking in the Black Hills, SD

The sites

Five private sites. No cramped pads.

Spacious, well-spaced pull-in sites — each with a fire pit, a picnic table, and a wide-open view. Plus room for tents. Only five, so when they're gone, they're gone.

🦅

Falcon

Our easiest pull-in for big rigs — long, level, and open to the widest sweep of the valley. Room to spread out.

Check Falcon →

🌄

Eagle

The sunset site. Wide western horizon, front-row seats to the night sky, and a view that earns its name.

Check Eagle →

🌲

Hawk

A little more tree cover for shade and privacy — sheltered and quiet, still wide open above for the stars.

Check Hawk →

🌾

Pheasant

Ground-level and roomy, closest to the trailhead and the homestead. A favorite for first-timers and families.

Check Pheasant →

🦉

Owl

The most private site — set back on its own in the darkest corner. If you came to disappear, this is it.

Check Owl →

Coming Soon

⛺

Tent sites

Plenty of room on soft ground with the same big views. Pack in, pack out, and sleep under the whole Milky Way. Opening soon — ask Madison to add you to the list.

Ask about tents →

The honest part

Real talk: this is dry camping.

Off-grid is the whole point — but go in knowing exactly what to expect, and your stay is all upside.

01

No hookups

No power or sewer hookups yet — full hookups are coming soon. For now, bring solar or a generator (generators are welcome within quiet hours). This is unplug-for-real camping.

02

Bring your water

There's a water tote on site for basic needs, but bring your own drinking water. Come prepared like the seasoned camper you are.

03

We've got the basics

Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table. There's a guests-only dump station on site if you need it.

04

Pack it in, pack it out

No trash service out here. Leave your site like you found it so the next traveler gets the same magic you did.

05

Starlink Wi-Fi, included

Off-grid doesn't mean off the grid. High-speed Starlink covers the camping areas — stream, work remote, or make Wi-Fi calls even where cell is weak. Included in your rate. (Speed tests coming soon.)

06

Cell coverage

Out here, Verizon generally works — AT&T and T-Mobile usually don't. Lean on our Starlink Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi calling to stay reachable no matter your carrier.

07

Community charging station

Off-grid still means you need a little juice — so there's a shared charging station for laptops and phones. And because our power is solar/battery and our Wi-Fi is satellite Starlink (not land-based), a storm or grid outage doesn't knock us offline. You stay charged and connected — we got you covered.

What makes it special

More than a place to park.

Dark skies, a couple of goats and chickens, and views that don't quit — the little things that make people glad they made the drive.

📸 We're updating all our imagery — real photos, video, and aerial drone footage of the property are coming soon.

4,700 ft

Skies that stop you cold

At this elevation, with no city glow for miles, the Milky Way shows up like a smear of light. Bring a chair, lean back, and remember what the sky really looks like.

Little homestead

A little homestead

A few goats and chickens to say hello to, and a hiking trail right out your door. If the hens are laying, you might score a fresh egg with your morning coffee.

Wide open

Unobstructed, every site

No cramped concrete pads, no neighbor's awning in your window. Spacious, private sites with mountain views from nearly every one.

🚲 Mickelson Trail base camp

Riding the Mickelson Trail?

The George S. Mickelson Trail runs right across the road — a trailhead just steps from your site. Long day in the saddle? Skip the 30-mile drive to the nearest hotel. Pitch your tent or park the rig, recover under some of the darkest skies in the country, take a slow morning, and roll right back onto the trail. Bike-friendly, off-grid, and about as close to the trail as a base camp gets.

Make it a Black Hills trip

Base camp for the whole Black Hills.

Most folks have no idea how much is packed into one short drive out here — and this is the heart of the Black Hills. Granite monuments, buffalo herds, alpine lakes, a wine trail, gold-rush history, and the highest peak east of the Rockies — all from one quiet, dark-sky base camp. We're about 15 mi to Edgemont and 23–25 mi to Custer, with the big stuff an easy drive from there.

🗿

The monuments

Mount Rushmore — about 45 minutes north — and Crazy Horse Memorial. Two of the most iconic sights in America; you already know how stunning they are.

🦬

Parks & peaks

Custer State Park's buffalo herds, the Needles Highway, and Sylvan Lake — world-class hiking, including Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak), the highest summit east of the Rockies — plus Wind Cave & Jewel Cave.

🍷

Sip & history

Tour the Black Hills wineries, then wander historic Deadwood — gold-rush saloons, Old West legends, and gaming, all within a scenic drive.

🚲

Right out the door

The Mickelson Trail trailhead is across the road — 109 miles of rail-trail to ride. Plus the Mammoth Site and Evans Plunge in Hot Springs, about 17 miles south.

🏞️

Worth the drive

Spearfish Canyon's waterfalls and scenic byway, Pactola Lake, the legendary town of Sturgis, and Devils Tower over in Wyoming. Already drove across the country? Another hour or two for these is a no-brainer.

Rates & booking

Simple, flat per-site pricing.

No hidden fees, no per-person nickel-and-diming. Reserve by talking to Madison any time — day or night — or call 605-608-9079.

🚐

RV site

$40 / night

Pull-in site, fire pit, picnic table, big views. Dry camp — bring your own power & water. A one-night deposit holds your site.

Book a site →

⛺

Tent site

$28 / night

Soft ground, fire pit, and the whole sky overhead. Pack in, pack out. Opening soon — join the waitlist and we'll hold your dates.

Join the tent waitlist →

A one-night deposit holds your site (and applies to your stay). The balance is charged 7 days before arrival. See the full booking & cancellation policy →

🌄 Where we are: In Custer County, on SD Highway 89 — about 15 mi to Edgemont, 23–25 mi to Custer, and 17 mi west of Hot Springs. Our mailing address says Hot Springs, but we're out on Highway 89, not in town — please don't drive into Hot Springs looking for us; Madison gives exact directions. Sturgis Rally & July 4th weeks book fast — ask Madison about dates & rates.

Booking & cancellation

Fair, simple, no surprises.

We're a small, off-grid, limited-site operation — so the policy is short and we mean it. Here's the whole deal before you book.

01

Deposit

A one-night deposit per site holds your reservation and applies to your stay. It's non-refundable — that's how we hold your specific site for you.

02

Balance

Your balance is charged automatically 7 days before arrival. Cancel more than 7 days out and the balance isn't charged (or is refunded) — you only lose the one-night deposit.

03

Inside 7 days

Cancel 7 days or fewer before arrival, no-show, or leave early, and the stay is non-refundable. The off-grid conditions are disclosed up front, so they aren't grounds for a refund.

04

Peak weeks

The Sturgis Rally (early August) and July 4th need a two-night deposit and are charged in full 30 days out, non-refundable from then. Exact dates show on your confirmation.

Need to cancel or change dates? Email info@valleyviewsd.com — in writing, so we both have a clear record (out here, phone service is unreliable). If we ever have to close for safety, you'll get a rain check or a refund. Every adult (18+) signs a quick liability waiver at check-in — a parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18.

📋 Read before you book: Campground Rules · Liability Waiver (preview)

Always on

Meet Madison. Your campsite advisor — day or night.

It's late, you're rolling through the Black Hills, and you need a spot for the night. Don't dig through booking apps — talk to Madison. She knows every site, checks what's open, quotes the rate, and gets you booked. She picks up at 2 a.m. just the same.

Welcome to Valley View Retreat