Nomadic camping
Best for self-contained campers. There are no toilets, showers, or potable water at this Hipcamp.
Calvin & Kat is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
All to yourself
98% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.
What to expect
4WD recommended
Tent site
8 guests max
Pets allowed
No campfires
No toilet; campers must bring camp toilets
No potable water
No showers
Pack it out
Cooking equipment absent
Picnic table absent
No wifi
Laundry absent
Hot Tub absent
No playground
Things to know
Getting there
Check in: After 2:00 PM
Check out: Before 12:00 PM
On arrival: Head straight to site
Cancellation policy: Moderate
Minimum nights: 1 night
Accepts bookings: 12 months out
Park at listing
No wheelchair access
Max 3 vehicles
4WD recommended
During your trip
Follow the
Leave it better
Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.
Tent-only sites
1 site
High demandInstant book
Ponderosa Site
96%
(55)4WD recommended
Pets allowed
Reviews
96% Recommend55 ratings ¡ 51 reviews
We absolutely loved our time here a perfect little hidden oasis, but not far from town either. We missed the turn initially, and ended up going up the road quite a bit, which was pretty rough, so just keep your eyes out for it and use the gps pin. We canât wait to come back!
L
Libby B.
4 reviews
Recommends
¡ August 2026
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
Beautiful site, I will say I donât recommend bringing a low clearance vehicle, as there is a big hill to get up to the site!! Gorgeous views, and quiet đ¤
M
Makayla K.
3 reviews
The host and listing gave very detailed directions, but arriving at unknown sites in the dark is always a challenge even with great directions.
A couple clarifications I'd offer -
1) The road in, even with the creek crossings, wasn't so much difficult as you need to watch out for the sharp rocks.
2) The road to the site is a little ways PAST the house, not "right after" it (we stood in the dark with flashlights for a minute trying to figure out if this was the road or not).
3) The sign for the road/site is a vertical placard no wider than the width of the tree...I was looking everywhere for a sign, like a rectangular sign that would stand out, but in the dark, we didn't see the sign because it blended in with the tree trunk.
The site:
Worked perfect for us. Really nice to have the platform. We "car camped", but it was nice to stack our stuff above the ground and not in tall grass like we usually end up doing. It was also nice to set our chairs and camp stove on and just overall keep things tidy.
The location:
We were headed to Needles Hwy and Custer State Park, coming in late from Yellowstone and just wanted a good spot to stay in between, where we could get up and get a good head start, without having to hassle in town or with a motel, or deal with people all around us at a campground. This goal was well achieved at this site, and our drive to Needles from Lead was perfect.
R
Rachel C.
8 reviews
Quiet and peaceful, a nice change of pace after the excitement of Deadwood! Highly recommended and the hosts are excellent communicators.
A
Aron P.
4 reviews
Recommends
¡ July 2026
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
Really beautiful private spot! The road getting into the location is definitely rocky so make sure youâre driving the right car.
R
Rachel H.
5 reviews
We were in desperate need of an escape into nature and this place couldnât have been a better decision! My one heads up: trust the reviews that say low clearance cars wonât make it! I ignored the warnings and decided to take my Honda Fit up; we shockingly made it but would have gotten stuck with any rain so we did have to cut our trip short, to no fault of the hosts. Calvin and Kat were super communicative and the directions to the site were easy to follow. We will absolutely be back when we have a car that can handle the road!
M
Maria H.
4 reviews
Recommends
¡ July 2026
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
Loved staying here. Close enough to the town if you need anything but far enough to enjoy the nature. Instructions to find the site were clear.
Bradley K.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ June 2026
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
It was private and quiet, the directions were clear which made finding the site very simple. It was very pretty and Iâd definitely reccomend staying if youâre in the area.
C
Carter B.
3 reviews
Recommends
¡ June 2026
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
This is a wild place! Its close to both Deadwood and Lead, but you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. 4x4 is a must, but that adds to the adventure. The sight is amazing and if adventure is what you're looking for, this is it!
S
Scott M.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ June 2026
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
Great privacy and very secluded. Platform is a nice touch as well. Will come back at some point.
Z
Zach B.
7 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ June 2026
16 ft car ¡
Ponderosa Site
Great place to stay, you have it all to yourself and the surrounding area is beautiful. Just a short drive from gas, a couple stores, and some restaurants.
T
Tyler M.
4 reviews
Recommends
¡ May 2026
18 ft campervan ¡
Ponderosa Site
Great spot outside of town but not too far
Beautiful stars and nice easy dry set up on the platform.
E
Elliot Y.
5 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ May 2026
18 ft truck camper ¡
Ponderosa Site
What a great site! We prefer to boondock and this site fit the bill. It had the added bonus of a low wood deck which worked well with our truck tarp. The road in was just as advertised by the hosts, a little rough, but no worse than a lot of the National Forest roads we camped on as we made our way through the Black Hills. Very convenient for sightseeing in and around Deadwood and Lead.
K
Ken H.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ April 2026
18 ft truck camper ¡
Ponderosa Site
Very close to Deadwood, but feels remote. The site is great, views, remote, turkeys gobbling. I loved the final mile of driving after a day of interstate.
Tony F.
3 reviews
Outstanding! Totally private and well kept. After turning around at the Y in the road, access was clear and easy. Just a short drive out of town we bought firewood from the local store. Just beautiful. Would totally stay again.
Miguel P.
3 reviews
Mixed feelings
¡ October 2025
Tent ¡ Group trip ¡
Ponderosa Site
Overall great experience. However. Site is a bit claustrophobic if you were planning on something with more of a view. It is secluded. Feels like youre in the middle of nowhere. Just was expecting something more for the price point.
Noah M.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ October 2025
Tent ¡ Group trip ¡
Ponderosa Site
The privacy on Calvin and Kayâs land is exactly what we were looking for. Also, being able to have a campfire was a must. The communication with them was quick and helpful. We did see some mule deer one morning which was a nice surprise! Being so close to Deadwood was a bonus. Enjoyed our two night stay!
S
Sharon H.
11 months on Hipcamp
An amazing spot! My dog and I hated leaving. The hosts are super nice and responsive. Highly recommend!!
R
Robert B.
2 reviews
Recommends
¡ September 2025
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
The platform was great, having a level tent site was enjoyable and sitting on the edge to put shoes on was an added bonus! Some beautiful hikes along a grassy track just up the road were highlights, we found mushrooms and berries and enjoyed the quiet beauty â¤ď¸
C
Collette C.
1 year on Hipcamp
The location was beautiful! We had some showers over night that lead to us sleeping in the truck but would definitely come to this spot again!
M
Marissa K.
2 years on Hipcamp
Absolutely beautiful!! You arenât too far from town but it definitely feels like it! We stayed for 1 night with our dogs and had such a perfect time. I was a bit worried about the drive to the site but it was fine and we had no trouble. Small suv AWD had no problems in and out, even after it had been raining. 12/10 recommend booking this spot! Host was super nice as well!
K
Kaylee L.
7 reviews
Recommends
¡ August 2025
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
Amazing campsite! We loved that it was a bit of an adventure to get there and the site itself was beautiful and very private. We stayed here while visiting Deadwood (about 15 minutes away) and loved the peace and quiet of the site. Would definitely stay again!!
Marlee H.
3 reviews
Wonderful secluded spot. As others have mentioned, the road to the spot isn't maintained by the city/state, so make sure your vehicle has at least 6in-12in of clearance. The tent platform and fire pit are awesome. I recommend going for a long walk down the road, you will end up near the base of Terry ski area. The host are also great, sent a long message with helpful info. We'll be back!
C
Cal I.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ August 2025
Tent ¡ With pets ¡
Ponderosa Site
We loved camping at the Ponderosa Site! It was private and perfect for our two day stay.
E
Emily W.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ July 2025
Tent ¡
Ponderosa Site
We loved it so much! Perfect mix of getting away while still having access to towns and attractions. Beautiful views and well kept site. Would highly recommend!
Ethan C.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ July 2025
Tent ¡ With kids ¡
Ponderosa Site
We loved this camp spot for my family of 5! Itâs close to town ,but also excluded and felt safe with kids. The road to the site was easy to navigate in our Suburban. We had fun to playing the little creek crossings and coming back to this spot after playing in the black hills during the day.
C
Cindy S.
1 year on Hipcamp
I will be going back to this spot to stay longer than one night. So peaceful and quiet. As I was heading to my tent for the night I spotted two elk heading up the mountain. Very cool thing to encounter.
Audrah D.
8 reviews
Absolutely loved this wild and quiet spot deep in nature. I didnât see a single person while I was there, which made it perfect for disconnecting and enjoying the outdoors. The surrounding forest is beautiful, and waking up to the view from my rooftop tent was unforgettable.
A few things to keep in mind: if it rains, the creeks can rise fast and the road out can become tricky. I wouldnât recommend trying it in a sedanâmy F-150 handled it just fine, but smaller cars might struggle. Make sure youâre prepared for rough terrain if the weather turns.
If youâre looking for solitude, natural beauty, and a bit of adventure, this spot is a gem.
T
Timofey K.
5 reviews
Recommends
¡ July 2025
16 ft campervan ¡ With pets ¡
Ponderosa Site
We stayed here in an apocalyptic thunder, lightening and rain storm! Rained almost 2 inches in 3 hours. The site has a wooden platform, and has a gravel base. It was perfect! No mud and easy to drive out the next day. It was private and the birds were singing. I would stay here again.
A
Anne K.
13 reviews
Perfectly far away from anyone and a short 5-10 min drive into town. I loved everything about this place. We brought our dog who gets obsessed with anyone just passing by, and he was calm the whole time. Very nice!!
Sam F.
5 reviews
Location
Lead, Lawrence, South Dakota, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Calvin & Kat C.
Joined in June 2024Things to do nearby
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