About this campground
The original Cement Ridge Fire Lookout was built between 1911 and 1913. At that time it was a one-room log cabin with a shingle roof. In 1921, a crow’s nest with a glassed-in house was constructed. A new lookout was finished in 1941. This is the tower that you see today. Over the years there have been many maintenance projects conducted on the lookout. In 1974, the cab siding, some planks in the catwalk, steps and wall studs were replaced. The interior was repainted, the siding stained, and the catwalk railing and steps were painted. The ground floor window frames and door were also replaced at that time. The lookout is considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and was listed on the National Historic Lookout Register on December 30, 1993. Brochure (.pdf)
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Old Baldy Trailhead (Trail #66)Black Hills National Forest4 mi
- Red Lake TrailheadBlack Hills National Forest4 mi
- Little Spearfish Trailhead (Trail #80)Black Hills National Forest5 mi
- Rimrock Trailhead (Trail #79)Black Hills National Forest5 mi
- Dugout Gulch Botanical Trailhead (Trail #77)Black Hills National Forest9 mi
- Crow Peak Trailhead (Trail #64)Black Hills National Forest10 mi
Explore more South Dakota camping
Cement Ridge Fire Lookout doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby South Dakota campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse South Dakota camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.