Horsethief Lake is a peaceful little gem in the Black Hills of South Dakota — a small, pretty lake just two miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, ringed by towering ponderosa and lodgepole pines in the Black Hills National Forest. With a swimming lake, a forested campground, and great hiking right out the door, it's a wonderful and convenient basecamp for exploring the Black Hills.

The lake itself is small but perfect for cooling off on a warm summer day — an easygoing spot for a swim, a paddle, or simply relaxing by the water after a day of sightseeing. Hiking trails lead right from the area into the surrounding hills and toward the famous granite spires of the central Black Hills.

The Horsethief Lake Campground makes it easy to stay: about 36 wooded sites (no hookups) that accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs, including several walk-in tent sites, with picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water. Sites can be reserved on Recreation.gov from roughly mid-May through late September, with a modest nightly fee (dogs welcome for a small fee).

Summer is prime for swimming, while spring and fall are lovely for hiking in cooler weather. Its location couldn't be better — swim in the morning and visit Mount Rushmore, the nearby granite needles, and other Black Hills attractions in the afternoon. Bring water shoes, keep an eye on kids in the water, and pack out everything. For a quiet, scenic, and supremely convenient Black Hills retreat, Horsethief Lake is hard to beat.