Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-231843
When Willow Creek Horse Camp reopens
Willow Creek Horse Camp's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
21
Openings · last 90 days
21
Only 21 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 9 monitored sites
Of the 117 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026): 90 open for online reservation · 23 reserved · 4 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
23.1% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 90 of 117 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026Not open online23.1%
Open site-nights90 / 117
Reserved (of online inventory)23 / 113
Weekday openings58
Weekend openings32
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 58 fall on weekdays and 32 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026September holds the most room. 90 of 117 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 0 | 11 |
| 1 | 11 |
| 2 | 11 |
| 6 | 11 |
| 7 | 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
90 open site-nights across 9 sites at Willow Creek Horse Camp, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 10 2-night, 10 3-night, 8 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 20 at site 0.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 99 ft. 8 sites take 25 ft, 6 sites take 35 ft, 6 sites take 40 ft.
All 9 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 24 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 |
| 1 | 26 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 |
| 2 | 32 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 |
| 6 | 99 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 |
| 7 | 58 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 |
| 8 | 58 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 |
| 3 | 60 ft | None | 8 | 8 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 4 | 60 ft | None | 8 | 8 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| 5 | 50 ft | None | 8 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
About Willow Creek Horse Camp
Overview
This horse camp is nestled at the confluence of Willow Creek and Palmer Creek near the Black Elk Wilderness area of the Black Hills National Forest. From this campground, hikers and horseback riders can access a network of trails into the backcountry. The campground is within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. Recently renovated by Forest Service and our Partners, Backcountry Horsemen of America, Willow Creek Campground is a good choice for horse campers.
All campsites 1-9 are horse sites with corrals.
Recreation
Hikers and horseback riders can access the trailhead for the Willow Creek Loop, which provides scenic views of the Black Elk Wilderness. There is also easy access to the Lost Cabin Trail, which offers many views of Black Elk Peak on its descent. Willow Creek Horse Camp provides a good starting point for a day-long hike or horseback ride to Black Elk Peak and Harney Lookout Tower. Both the Willow Creek Loop and the Lost Cabin Trail connect with the Black Elk Peak Trail.
Natural Features
The Black Hills in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming feature a varied landscape of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams and deep blue lakes. The Black Elk Wilderness is its only wilderness area, and it sits in the center of Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. Norbeck is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Its most prominent landmark is Black Elk Peak, which, at 7,242 feet, is the highest point in the country east of the Rockies.
Nearby Attractions
Named for South Dakota's former governor and U.S. Senator, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway offers 70 miles of outstanding sights including Mount Rushmore, which is only 6 miles from the camp, The Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road and Custer State Park. The Norbeck Overlook provides views of Black Elk Peak and Mount Rushmore.
9 monitored sitesRVs up to 99 ftNo hookups6 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
From Hill City, South Dakota, take US 16/385 south for 7 miles. Go east on State Hwy 244. The campground is located across from the Mt. Rushmore KOA.
CampingHikingHorseback Riding
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-231843 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-231843 · Willow Creek Horse Camp12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Willow Creek Horse Camp?
Reservations for Willow Creek Horse Camp are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 90 of 117 tracked site-nights are open (76.9%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 21 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 16:19 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 Willow Creek Horse Camp?
Campsite Sniper detected 21 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Willow Creek Horse Camp?
10 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 0. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Willow Creek Horse Camp fit a 35-foot RV?
6 of the 9 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 99 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Willow Creek Horse Camp?
September 2026, with 90 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 117.
When is the next open date at Willow Creek Horse Camp?
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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