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
97% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.
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Ponderosa Site
97%
(39)Campfires allowed
Pets allowed
from
for NaN guests$25
/ nightReviews
97% Recommend39 ratings · 37 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.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Ponderosa Site
The privacy on Calvin and Kay’s 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!
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Sharon H.
3 months on Hipcamp
An amazing spot! My dog and I hated leaving. The hosts are super nice and responsive. Highly recommend!!
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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 ❤️
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Collette C.
4 months 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!
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Marissa K.
1 year on Hipcamp
Absolutely beautiful!! You aren’t 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!
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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!
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Cal I.
2 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.
5 months 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.
9 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Ponderosa Site
We loved this camp spot for my family of 5! It’s 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.
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Cindy S.
6 months 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 didn’t 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 wouldn’t recommend trying it in a sedan—my F-150 handled it just fine, but smaller cars might struggle. Make sure you’re prepared for rough terrain if the weather turns.
If you’re looking for solitude, natural beauty, and a bit of adventure, this spot is a gem.
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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.
9 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.
2 reviews
Really gorgeous spot. The road is pretty rough coming in, so take it slow and don't do anything crazy. We could hear the river from where we were and it felt very private.
Keziah M.
18 reviews
This was a little challenging to access, which is exactly what I wanted! I had so much fun. I only wish I was staying longer so I could explore the area. I will remember this when I come back through again. Thanks.
J
Jason B.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent ·
Ponderosa Site
This campsite was amazing. Had no problem getting there in a Buick Enclave. Calvin and Kay were very helpful and welcoming. We enjoyed our night spent here.
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Grady H.
3 reviews
My wife and I enjoyed our stay at the ponderosa. The site was easy to find, clean, private, and the views were great! We would highly recommend anyone to stay here.
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Mason H.
2 reviews
Loved this site. Great tent platform—-and perfectly secluded. Will be using again!
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Pr M.
3 reviews
Wonderful experience! It was very remote and peaceful which is exactly what we were looking for. The view of the woods and hills was incredible! Definitely worth it!
Only thing to note is that the drive up could be tough if you don’t have the vehicle for it. Road is very rocky due to rockslides and you have to drive through two creeks. I have a Honda HRV and it went just fine. Just be cautious if you have a lower vehicle, and make sure you have good tires!
K
Kiersten L.
9 months on Hipcamp
If you need somewhere away from the rush of people but still want to be close enough for the action, this spot is for you. You’ll hear turkeys and lots of birds singing throughout your day, not to mention the beautiful rushing creek nearby to the site that makes it picture perfect. Site isn’t very hard to find, even at night as the path up is slightly lit and very easy to see in the dark, if you have a bigger vehicle like my Silverado, turning around to get into the spot isn’t the most fun, but it’s very doable and worth it to come. The 2 creeks might look large but they are very shallow when you cross them. The hosts were wonderful and answered any questions before I even booked. Come here for a central location that still makes you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere while at camp.
C
Carter S.
6 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Tent ·
Ponderosa Site
I loved the tent camping. So secluded and so so quiet. It was so beautiful. Excellent hosts too!
E
Ethan W.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2025
Tent ·
Ponderosa Site
One of the most beautiful and relaxing places we have ever stayed! So close to stores etc but yet so remote it was wonderful. Had a turkey friend and chipmunks come visit us too. Highly recommend this location!!
Erin J.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2025
16 ft car ·
Ponderosa Site
Amazing hosts, and the most beautiful site. Choose this place to find your serenity!
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Tyler M.
3 reviews
Mixed feelings
· October 2024
18 ft campervan ·
Ponderosa Site
This is a secluded, level site with a nice platform for a tent. The only hesitation I have is making sure you can access the site. The last mile is a tight, rough road. I would not recommend anything over 16 feet given the to be able to turn around to go up the last incline to the site.
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Charles J.
35 reviews
This place was GREAT! Secluded, quiet, gorgeous! The leveled pad for our tent was perfect, it felt really fancy! This site is REALLY close to deadwood, and it just worked out so well for our needs. The drive to get there is remote and feels so exclusive and secret. This was a fun adventure and great intro to Hipcamp!
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Rachel S.
2 reviews
Recommends
· October 2024
Tent ·
Ponderosa Site
Was a great, secluded spot. Clean campsite and gorgeous location in the Black Hills. Highly recommend for tent camping outside Deadwood, SD.
A
Andrew S.
1 year on Hipcamp
This is a fantastic place to stay! Only a few miles from Lead but far enough to get away from the world. The is a very flat site so no need to worry about leveling your truck. It was an adventure finding the site, crossing two creeks and what appears to be an old rail line bed. I would recommend this HipCamp!
Ryan V.
2 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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