Paddling Bismarck Lake in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Looking for more things to do in the Black Hills near Bismarck Lake?
Hike the Sunday Gulch Trail, go for a swim in Sylvan Lake, or trek to the top of Black Elk Peak!

LOCATION

Bismarck Lake is located five miles east of the town of Custer, South Dakota, off Highway 16A. Although it is not part of Custer State Park, you will pass through the Custer State Park entrance near Stockade Lake to reach Bismarck Lake when driving from Custer.

SWIM

Bismarck Lake isn’t ideal for swimming. Yes, you can swim here, but it’s pretty weedy, and there are better lakes in nearby Custer State Park to take a dip in the water. I suggest Sylvan Lake or Center Lake for a swim. There is no beach at Bismarck Lake.

If you find yourself here with a strong hankering to take a dip, I recommend paddling out into the center of the lake where you won’t find as many weeds. Relaxing in a float tube is another good way to enjoy time on the water. But regardless of any any mysterious underwater murk, Bismarck Lake is a fabulous place to paddle, as you’ll soon see…

PADDLE

The water at Bismarck Lake is generally calm and flat, making it a great, easy place to paddle. In the early morning, all is quiet, and the water is as smooth as glass. It’s also a great place to observe nature, including turtles, herons, and red-winged blackbirds. I even saw a yellow-bellied marmot at close range (although not while I was paddling).

Only non-motorized boats are allowed at Bismarck Lake. There is a small boat ramp at the day use area parking lot. From the campground, it’s convenient to launch from the boardwalk or lakeshore trail, as long as you don’t mind carrying your boat downhill to the lake.

Before you head out, here are some tips and important safety reminders:

• Registration with the state of South Dakota is required for non-motorized watercraft over 12 feet in length. Fortunately, inflatable boats (like ours) are exempt. If you are bringing a non-inflatable boat that is over 12 feet in length from out of state, please check the requirements ahead of time.
• Make sure everyone has a life vest.
• Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and shade hats.
• Consider bringing bug spray. The bug level varies throughout the day, but summer evenings can definitely bring out the mosquitos.

CURRENT INFO

Most of the online information about Bismarck Lake centers around the Bismarck Lake Campground. Both the campground and the day use area are operated by the U.S. Forest Service. For campground reservations, visit the recreation.gov website.

WE WERE THERE

June-July, 2022, when we camped at Bismarck Lake for 8 nights

GOOD TO KNOW

• There is a $5 day use parking fee at Bismarck Lake. If you’re camping at Bismarck Lake Campground, the day use fee is covered.
• Bismarck Lake borders Custer State Park, but is on National Forest land. You do not have to pay the $20 Custer State Park fee to visit Bismarck Lake unless you also plan to visit other locations within Custer.
• No motorized boats are allowed at Bismarck Lake. A small ramp near the parking lot provides access to the lake. You can also launch from the boardwalk or lakeside trail near the campground.
• Bismarck Lake is a great place to camp. We spent eight nights at the lakeside campground, which was a wonderful home base for exploring the Black Hills.
• Vault toilets, drinking water, and picnic tables are available by the day use parking lot. This area was recently redone, and was in beautiful shape during our visit in 2022.
• Leashed pets are allowed.
• Thunder storms are common in the late afternoon or evening in summer. Keep an eye on the skies, and get out of the water if a storm is about to hit.
• Bismarck Lake is a popular fishing spot. You can purchase a South Dakota state fishing license at the Custer Ace Hardware store or online on the Go Outdoors South Dakota website.

HIGHLIGHTS

Bismarck Lake is a peaceful oasis only ten minutes from the town of Custer. Although located on the edge of Custer State Park, it doesn’t receive nearly as many visitors as the more popular (and more highly advertised) lakes in Custer. Bismarck Lake is perfect for a quiet morning or evening paddle, not mention a fabulous place to take in the sunset.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Bismarck Lake is a great place to paddle with kids. Its calm water and small size make it ideal for a short trip, perfect for young attention spans. I paddled the lake with my 11-year-old, and he liked how peaceful it was, as well as the chance to spot wildlife, including herons and turtles. If you don’t have a boat, the boardwalk is a good place to spot turtles and fish (even turtles eating fish, as it turns out).

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Bismarck Lake sits on the border of Custer State Park, right in the heart of the Black Hills. If you’re visiting from out of state, slow down and take your time exploring this beautiful region. We stayed at the Bismarck Lake Campground and loved it. Custer State Park also offers several campgrounds (beware — they fill up far in advance), cabins, and historic lodges.

If you enjoy paddling and swimming, there are numerous other lakes to explore in and around Custer State Park. Two we recommend are Sylvan Lake and Center Lake. Sylvan Lake is also the jumping off point for several wonderful hikes, including Sunday Gulch and Black Elk Peak.

Custer State Park is also known for its scenic drives. We drove the Needles Highway to reach Sylvan Lake, and highly recommend taking the extra time to enjoy this winding route during your visit to the Black Hills.

For eight nights we camped at Bismarck Lake. For eight nights, we enjoyed ever-changing views of the water from our campsite, from misty early mornings to technicolor sunsets. And yet… I still hadn’t made it out on the water, and time was running short.

Luckily, I had one last chance. On our final morning at Bismarck Lake, I rose early to pack for our departure. It didn’t take long. As I sat at our campsite, enjoying the quiet of the morning, my oldest son emerged from the trailer.

“Want to go paddle on the lake with me?” I asked.

“Sure,” he replied, stretching his arms with a yawn.

Together we carried our inflatable kayak down the rough trail from our campsite to the lakeshore. A shallow spot near some rocks at the water’s edge looked like a good place to launch. With a quick push from the rocks, we were off.

Bismarck Lake stretched before us like a sheet of glass, barely broken by the ripples from our paddles. J dipped a toe in the water to test the temperature and found it pleasantly cool. We were briefly tempted by the idea of a swim, but the delicate tendrils of pond weeds barely visible below the surface weren’t so appealing. Fortunately, the weeds weren’t thick enough to hinder our paddling.

It was truly a magnificent morning. The sun’s rays were just warming up, so it wasn’t too hot yet, and we had Bismarck Lake almost entirely to ourselves. At least, we were some of the only humans out at this hour. Birds, on the other hand, were plentiful. Although we couldn’t see many of them, we could hear their calls trilling across the lake.

We were fortunate to spot a few creatures as we skirted near the shore. A red-winged blackbird flew amongst the cattails at the far end of the lake, tilting his head at us as his call rang out. Elsewhere, a turtle slipped silently below the water as we passed, and a heron spread its wings, gliding to a rocky perch near the shoreline. Although we didn’t spot one from our kayak, I’d seen a yellow-bellied marmot near the lakeshore trail on two previous mornings. It stood stock still as I approached, perhaps hoping to stay hidden in plain sight.

J and I followed the curve of the lake back toward the campground, marveling at the absolute calm that surrounded us. During our stay in the Black Hills, we kayaked at both Sylvan Lake and Center Lake, but J decided that here, at Bismarck Lake, was the best place to paddle. I had to agree.

As we turned toward the campground, we took a short detour to check out the Bismarck Lake dam. Just beyond the small spillway, a pedestrian bridge crosses the stream as it flows south into Stockade Lake. At this point, we could hear an occasional car driving past on the nearby highway, although the road remained hidden beyond the pines.

We paused by the dam, then pulled ashore along the trail directly below our campsite. Michael and T were up now, and headed down the hill to help carry the boat. After eight nights at Bismarck Lake, I felt a twinge of sadness knowing that this was the last morning I would enjoy the lovely lake view from campsite #5. But ultimately, I couldn’t think of a better way to say goodbye than our peaceful morning paddle. It was the perfect end to a beautiful stay.