Bear Butte Lake is located in Bear Butte State Park. This small lake is home to Bullheads, Crappies and Northern Pike. Hiking Bear Butte is probably the most common activity in the park, however there is a small campground and a trailhead for the Centennial Trail.
Bear Butte Lake Campground
This a small campground located on the north side of Bear Butte Lake. There are 15 campsites (detailed description of each campsite here) and a tent area. The sites are non-electric and are available on a first-come first-served basis. The SD game fish and parks has a campground map here. This is a small, quite campground and has a couple of unique rock structures.
Bear Butte Lake Trailhead
Bear Butte Lake has a trailhead for the Centennial Trail. It is located on the south side of the lake. Head north to hike the Bear Butte Summit trail (no pets, horses or bikes on the summit trail) or south about 7 miles to the Fort Meade Trailhead.
This is a great place to enjoy the Black Hills. It is right on the fringe of the forest and is mostly rolling prairie.  This could be a great spot for a day trip. You could be dropped off here, then head the 12 or so miles down to the Alkali Creek Trailhead and get picked up there.
Location
The campground and trailhead are located just across from Bear Butte on Highway 79.
We had some fast moving clouds roll past Deadwood today. I got some great photos of the clouds over White Rocks and even did a time lapse video. Check it out below.
Alkali Creek Trailhead for the Centennial Trail in South Dakota’s Black Hills is easy to find. It is just off exit 34 on Interstate 90, head north into Fort Meade Recreation Area and you’ll find the trailhead in the campground (about 1/2 mile off the interstate).
If you want a short hike, the Alkali Creek Nature Trail begins at this trailhead. The trail is just over 1/2 mile, perfect for families with small children.
If you travel north 12 miles through the rolling prairie and stands of timber you’ll arrive at Bear Butte State Park. The Fort Meade Trailhead will be about the half-way point, there you’ll cross the highway and continue on the trail through the north unit of the Fort Meade Recreation Area.
Traveling south will take you into the Black Hills National Forest. The Elk Creek Trailhead is 11.5 miles down the trail.
The 111-mile Centennial Trail is great for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. I would encourage you to have a Black Hills – Northeast, South Dakota Trails Illustrated Map #751 along. This map has the trail and heads well marked – from Bear Butte down to the Samelius Trailhead south of Sheridan Lake.
15 campsites (detailed description of each campsite here) and a tent area. The sites are non-electric and are available on a first-come first-served basis. The SD game fish and parks has a campground map here. This is a small, quite campground and has a couple of unique rock structures.
Head north to hike the Bear Butte Summit trail (no pets, horses or bikes on the summit trail) or south about 7 miles to the Fort Meade Trailhead.
along. This map has the trail and heads well marked – from