Wild Swim Atlas

Swimming holes in South Dakota

8 places to swim in South Dakota, each checked for public access. Open a spot for its season, booking rules and how to get there.

8 spots listed7 lakes and tarns1 waterfall pool

8 spots in South Dakota

Public swimming9 mi

Lake Alvin

Lake
Lake Alvin Recreation Area, Harrisburg

Lake Alvin Recreation Area has a designated public swimming area near Harrisburg.

Swimming available38 mi

Lake Herman

Lake
Lake Herman State Park, Lake

Lake Herman State Park has a swim beach on the natural lake.

Public swimming available64 mi

Oakwood Lakes swimming area

Lake
Oakwood Lakes State Park, Brookings

Oakwood Lakes State Park has a public swim beach on a chain of connected glacial lakes.

Swimming available65 mi

Lake Carthage

Lake
Lake Carthage Lakeside Use Area, Carthage

Lake Carthage Lakeside Use Area has a swim beach on the natural lake.

Swimming available311 mi

Shadehill swimming area

Lake
Shadehill Recreation Area, Lemmon

Public swimming is available at the swim beach in Shadehill Recreation Area on Shadehill Reservoir.

Swimming allowed337 mi

Legion Lake

Lake
Custer State Park, Custer

Legion Lake in Custer State Park has a beach and swimming is allowed.

Swimming allowed342 mi

Sylvan Lake

Lake
Custer State Park, Custer

Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park has a swimming beach and swimming is allowed.

Swimming allowed343 mi

Cascade Falls

Waterfall pool
J.H. Keith Cascade Falls Picnic Ground, Hot Springs

Spring-fed Cascade Creek flows over a waterfall into a public swimming pool in Black Hills National Forest.

By type of water