Public lands in South Dakota

12 units whose boundary reaches South Dakota, 8.5 million acres counted whole even where a boundary crosses into another state. 6 national wildlife refuges, 2 wilderness areas, 4 national forests and grasslands. Largest first within each type.

Data refreshed September 17, 2026.

National wildlife refuges

All national wildlife refuges →

Refuge · USFWS

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge

19,786 acresNational Wildlife Refuge

Refuge · USFWS

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge

16,734 acresNational Wildlife Refuge

Refuge · USFWS

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge

4,633 acresNational Wildlife Refuge

Refuge · USFWS

Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge

1,394 acresAlso NE

Refuge · USFWS

Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge

953 acresNational Wildlife Refuge

Refuge · USFWS

Bear Butte National Wildlife Refuge

402 acresNational Wildlife Refuge

Wilderness areas

All wilderness areas →

Wilderness · NPS

Badlands Wilderness

64,144 acres2 campgrounds near

Wilderness · USFS

Black Elk Wilderness

13,534 acres8 campgrounds near

National forests and grasslands

All national forests and grasslands →

Custer Gallatin National Forest

3.4 million acres107 campgrounds near

Nebraska National Forest

2.1 million acres12 campgrounds near

Black Hills National Forest

1.5 million acres44 campgrounds near

Dakota Prairie Grasslands

1.4 million acres13 campgrounds near