Mt Rushmore RV Parking
Parking lot
4.4 (54)
13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751
This location may be clothing-optional or adjacent to adult content. We do not display adult imagery and recommend discretion. Families should verify suitability.
Lake And CreekSD
Mount Rushmore Region Swimming Spots
By Hidden Swimming Holes Team · Record updated
Background: generated illustration, not a photograph of this location.
Separate Horsethief Lake campground information from the historical Hippie Hole routes, with current source limits and no cliff-jumping or safe-depth guarantees.
Swimming permission unconfirmed
Horsethief campground identity is confirmed, but its booking page is not a cliff-jumping permit or verified bathing entrance. Hippie Hole/Big Falls exact route, parking and current bathing permission remain unresolved; one area's services cannot be transferred to the other.
Water type
Lake And Creek
Access
Swimming unconfirmed
Fee
Confirm charges for the destination and activity; no general free swimming claim
Best season
Check current access, weather and notices before choosing a date
Nearby towns
Keystone, Hill City
Water body
Horsethief Lake And Battle Creek Historical Hippie Hole Reference
Location
Map & Directions
Nearby towns
Keystone, Hill City
Place-name search
Mount Rushmore Region: Horsethief & Hippie Hole Planning
Map searches for the named location. Confirm the entrance and current access with the park before you go.
Sources & checks
This is a desk-researched listing. A record update or map check does not confirm current swimming permission or water conditions.
- Swimming rules
- Current swimming permission has not been independently confirmed for this listing. Check with the land manager before entering the water.
- Access location not verified
- The recorded location has no completed source check. Confirm the entrance, legal access, and parking before travelling.
- Record updated
- · This is a data update, not a field visit.
Found an error? Send a correction with the location and a source. How we research listings.
Choose Horsethief Lake or Hippie Hole separately
The archive combines a roadside Horsethief Lake cliff account with two uncertain approaches to Hippie Hole, also called Big Falls on Battle Creek. They are different destinations, not one entrance or facility package. The decades-old depth and jumping anecdotes are not a present safety assessment.
Horsethief has a documented campground
Recreation.gov identifies Horsethief Lake Campground in Black Hills National Forest and supplies a signed campground approach from Hill City via US 16/385 and SD 244. A booking authorizes the booked stay under its rules, not roadside cliff use or an informal bathing entrance.
Read the booking notices in their actual scope
The retrieved campground page posts a no-water-for-the-remainder-of-the-season notice and fire restrictions. Their effective season is not independently established here; confirm applicability with the operator and bring sufficient water rather than assuming a supply. These notices concern the campground, not a new Hippie Hole closure announcement.
Do not use the old cliffs and unnamed roads as an itinerary
The archived 30-to-60-foot jump descriptions, guardrail access and Hippie Hole route alternatives do not establish current permission, safe depth or maintained trails. Ask the Black Hills National Forest for current destination-specific route and restriction guidance. No combined swimming pin, dependable seasonal clearance or site-matched gallery is approved.
Getting There
For a booked Horsethief Lake campground visit, use Recreation.gov's signed campground approach from Hill City via US 16/385 and SD 244. This does not authorize the archive's roadside cliff access. Hippie Hole's unnamed-road and alternate canyon routes remain unverified; seek current district guidance before travel.
Quick Navigation
Access Notes
Horsethief campground identity is confirmed, but its booking page is not a cliff-jumping permit or verified bathing entrance. Hippie Hole/Big Falls exact route, parking and current bathing permission remain unresolved; one area's services cannot be transferred to the other.
Plan Your Visit
Parking & Access
Confirm the entrance, parking arrangements, and legal access with the land manager. A map pin does not establish a public right of access. Follow posted routes and never block gates or driveways.
Regulations & Fees
Horsethief campground identity is confirmed, but its booking page is not a cliff-jumping permit or verified bathing entrance. Hippie Hole/Big Falls exact route, parking and current bathing permission remain unresolved; one area's services cannot be transferred to the other. Public park access does not necessarily include permission to swim. Respect private property and posted restrictions.
Seasonality & Flow
Water conditions can change quickly. This listing does not provide a current safety or water-quality assessment. Check official alerts and avoid entering water when conditions or permission are uncertain.
Nearby Facilities
Nearby places from saved public map data, not necessarily facilities at the swimming spot. Confirm access, hours, fees, and amenities with the operator before you drive.
Map data retrieved 2026-06-15
Free Parking
Parking lot
Keystone, SD 57751
Hippie Hole Parking
Parking lot
4 (28)
Keystone, SD 57751
Horsethief Lake Loop Trailhead
Hiking area
4.7 (60)
SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751
South Hole Trailhead
Hiking area
4.9 (8)
Keystone, SD 57751
Willow Creek Trailhead
Hiking area
4.8 (12)
Keystone, SD 57751
Kemp's Kamp
Campground
4.5 (399)
1022 Old Hill City Rd, Keystone, SD 57751
Cabins & campsite in the ponderosa pines of Battle Creek Canyon offering a heated pool & free WiFi.
Kemp's Campground 1st Entrance
Campground
4.6 (68)
727-751 Old Hill City Rd, Keystone, SD 57751
Public restroomPublic showerRestroomTent sites
Frequently Asked Questions About Mount Rushmore Region Swimming Spots
Are Horsethief Lake and Hippie Hole the same place?
No. The archive describes a lake and a separate Battle Creek waterfall-pool reference with different approaches.
Does a Horsethief campground booking allow cliff jumping?
No such permission is established by the booking page. It does not verify a jump site, safe depth or an informal bathing entrance.
Which current route is documented?
Recreation.gov gives a signed Horsethief campground approach from Hill City via US 16/385 and SD 244. This is not Hippie Hole access.
Is drinking water guaranteed at the campground?
No. The retrieved page carries a seasonal no-water notice; confirm the applicable season and bring sufficient supplies.
Are Hippie Hole's old route alternatives verified?
No. The unnamed-road and alternate canyon directions were not corroborated as current authorized approaches.
Do the campground's notices apply to Hippie Hole?
Not automatically. Their scope is the campground, and this review does not invent a Hippie Hole closure from them.
Highlights
Mount Rushmore Region: Horsethief & Hippie Hole Planning
Distinct managed alternatives explained
No invented swimming pin or gallery
Location & Area Map
Safety Information
Important Safety Tips
- Do not jump, dive or use a rope swing based on historical descriptions
- Current conditions, depth, submerged hazards and water quality are not certified by this listing
Cultural & Historical Context
Historical Background
Historical visitor accounts are retained in archived directions, not presented as current permissions.
Photography Guide
Photo Opportunities
Use permitted public viewpoints only; no site-matched gallery approved.
Conservation & Ethics
Protect This Place
Respect property boundaries and posted restrictions, use authorized routes and carry out waste.
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At a Glance
Best Time to Visit
Check current access, weather and notices before choosing a date.
Difficulty Level
No measured or verified approach to an exact swimming entrance.
Fee
Confirm charges for the destination and activity; no general free swimming claim
Facilities
No verified exact swimming-entry inventory of toilets, drinking water, changing facilities or lifeguards.
Activities
Authorized destination-specific recreation; no verified jumping or rope-swing itinerary
Phone
661-702-1420 (Horsethief facility-information listing); no verified Hippie Hole site operator
Safety & Access Notice
This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.
You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.
Camping Information
Book an authorized campground separately; no camping permission at the historical water entry established.
Loading weather data…
Safety & Access Notice
This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.
- Do not swim where swimming is prohibited, unsafe, or not clearly allowed.
- Follow posted signs, local regulations, closures, and private-property boundaries.
- Assess conditions on site. Water flow, depth, temperature, and underwater hazards change quickly.
- Never jump or dive without personally confirming depth and underwater obstacles.
- Swim with a buddy and consider flotation for weak or non-swimmers.
- Pack out all trash; respect wildlife and fragile environments.
You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.
J
Joshua Havens
Founder & Editor, Hidden Swimming Holes
Joshua Havens created Hidden Swimming Holes to make it easier for people to find — and safely visit — natural freshwater swimming destinations across the United States. He researches access conditions, water quality resources, and land management rules so you don't have to start from scratch. He holds a strong belief that good outdoor recreation information should be accurate, honest about its limitations, and freely available.
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