Sylvan Lake (South Dakota)

Sylvan Lake is a lake located in Custer State Park, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States. It was created in 1881 when Theodore Reder built a dam (the Sylvan Lake Water Dam) across Sunday Gulch Creek.[2] The lake area offers picnic places, rock climbing, small rental boats, swimming, and hiking trails. It is also popular as a starting point for excursions to Black Elk Peak and The Needles. A hotel was operated on the shore of the lake in the early 20th century .[3]

Sylvan Lake
Rock formations near lake
Location	Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Coordinates	43°50′44.52″N 103°33′48.57″W
Primary outflows	Sunday Gulch Creek
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	17.3 acres (7.0 ha)[1]
Average depth	12.8 feet (3.9 m)[1]
Max. depth	30 feet (9.1 m)[1]
Shore length^1	1 mile (1.6 km)
Surface elevation	6,145 feet (1,873 m)[1]
^1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The lake was featured in Disney's 2007 film National Treasure: Book of Secrets. The film made the lake appear to be located directly behind Mount Rushmore when in reality it is actually five miles southwest of Mount Rushmore.

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  Swimming and other activities are popular at Sylvan Lake.
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  Rock wall damming the northwest side of Sylvan Lake
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  Path between rocks and lake
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  Paddleboat on the lake
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  View down from Sylvan Lake Water Dam to the Sunday Gulch Creek

See also

• List of South Dakota lakes

References

1. "Sylvan Lake - Custer County, South Dakota". lake-link.com. 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
2. Interactive Hotel Solutions. "Sylvan Lake Lodge". Holiday Junction. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
3. Postcard, us-roots.com.