Openings · last 7 days
8
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 8 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-231835
When Cook Lake Rec Area reopens
Cook Lake Rec Area's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
8
Openings · last 90 days
8
Only 8 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026 · of 15 monitored sites
Of the 195 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026): 148 open for online reservation · 36 reserved · 11 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
24.1% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 148 of 195 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026Not open online24.1%
Open site-nights148 / 195
Reserved (of online inventory)36 / 184
Weekday openings99
Weekend openings49
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 99 fall on weekdays and 49 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026September holds the most room. 148 of 195 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 15 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 019 | 11 |
| 020 | 11 |
| 021 | 11 |
| 023 | 11 |
| 024 | 11 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateSun · Sep 20
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable night is Sep 20; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
148 open site-nights across 15 sites at Cook Lake Rec Area, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 21 2-night, 20 3-night, 9 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 20 at site 019.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 60 ft. 15 sites take 25 ft, 15 sites take 35 ft, 14 sites take 40 ft.
All 15 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 019 | 46 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 020 | 48 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 021 | 48 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 023 | 45 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 024 | 56 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 025 | 49 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 027 | 45 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 029 | 46 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 030 | 45 ft | None | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 026 | 39 ft | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 031 | 50 ft | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 033 | 50 ft | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 022 | 50 ft | None | 8 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 032 | 50 ft | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 028 | 60 ft | None | 6 | 3 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
About Cook Lake Rec Area
Overview
Situated in a heavily forested area adjacent to Cook Lake, this campground is a peaceful setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in the Black Hills National Forest in Wyoming. Some sites in the campground are widely spaced and open up to views overlooking the lake, and others sit snugly along a hillside. Separation, rather than vegetation, provide visitors with a sense of privacy. Tall mature trees and grass underbrush give the campground a groomed character.
Recreation
The forest offers accessible recreation for all ages. Visitors can take advantage of opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on moderate terrain. Approximately 4 miles of hiking and bicycling trails are available at the recreation area. Adjacent to the campground is Cook Lake, an ideal spot for fishing and boating. The lake supports populations of rainbow and brown trout, a variety of sunfish, and catfish. The Cook Lake Trail, along with Loop A, has been closed due to a recent landslide. However there are still plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation of all types in the area.
Facilities
The Cook Lake Recreation Area has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. The campground is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water; however, electrical hook-ups are not available. There is also an accessible pier and picnic area as well as walk in access to the lake for small boats (non motorized).
Natural Features
Located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, Black Hills National Forest encompasses nearly 1.25 million acres of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves. Derived from the Lakota language, the words "Paha Sapa," meaning "hills that are black," honor the dark, pine-covered hills rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate mountainous terrain, while elk, deer and pronghorn gather in forests and prairies. Bald eagles, hawks, osprey, peregrine falcon, and hundreds of other bird species can be found in the forest, especially along streams, lakes and rivers. Mountain lions, although rarely seen, also call this area home.
Nearby Attractions
A hike to Warren Peak Lookout Tower makes a scenic day trip for guests.
Devils Tower National Monument is also a great location to visit. Established as the first United States National Monument on September 24, 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt, this unique geological formation is valued for its natural, cultural, and recreational significance.
15 monitored sitesRVs up to 60 ftNo hookupsPets OKFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
Interstate I-90 to exit 199 (Aladdin). North on Rt 111 for 4 miles, left on Farrall Road (Rt 843) for 10 miles to Cook Lake. OR From Sundance, WY, take US 14 west or exit 185 off Interstate 90 to US 14 west, for 1.4 miles to Cook Lake Recreation Area sign at Forest Route 838. Turn right onto FR 838 and go 12.9 miles to FR 843. Turn right and go 5.4 miles to another Cook Lake Recreation Area sign on FR 842. Turn left and go 1.1 miles to campground.
BikingBoatingCampingDay Use AreaFishingHikingPhotographyPicnickingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-231835 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-231835 · Cook Lake Rec Area12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cook Lake Rec Area?
Reservations for Cook Lake Rec Area are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 148 of 195 tracked site-nights are open (75.9%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 8 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 14:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Cook Lake Rec Area?
Campsite Sniper detected 8 site-date openings at Cook Lake Rec Area in the last 7 days, 8 over 30 days and 8 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Cook Lake Rec Area?
20 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 20 at site 019. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Cook Lake Rec Area fit a 35-foot RV?
15 of the 15 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 60 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Cook Lake Rec Area?
September 2026, with 148 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 195.
When is the next open date at Cook Lake Rec Area?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Sep 20 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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