Pactola Lake — Attraction in Hill City

The campground was beautiful and well maintained, with large, wooded sites that offered plenty of privacy. The hosts were very friendly and helpful throughout our stay. That said, the sites weren’t very level and were a bit tricky to back a trailer into, so keep that in mind if you’re towing.

The lake itself was stunning, clear, calm, and perfect for boating. We rented a boat from the marina, which was a smooth and enjoyable experience. The only drawback was that the boat didn’t come with an anchor, which made it a little challenging to stop and swim or fish. Though with how deep the water was, an anchor may not have made much of a difference.

During our visit, the staff mentioned the lake was about 10 feet low. Unfortunately, that meant there was no beach access, which was a disappointment for our kids who were hoping to swim. To make up for it, we spent a day at nearby Lake Sheridan, where we’ve camped before, and enjoyed a fantastic beach day there.

One big plus was the Pactola Marina store. It had all the essentials: beer, snacks, marshmallows, propane, ice, and more. It was super convenient not having to drive into town...

Nice lake but HIDDEN DANGERS. Launched my boat there for the first time this week, early Sept. Was about 200 yards off shore when my depth finder indicated a depth of 2.5 feet. Thought it was wrong but when I look to the side I could see the bottom as clear as day. No markers, directly out from boat ramp.. I could have jumped off and stood there in knee deep in water.. My guess is I am not the 1st so -WHY IN THE HELL ISN'T THIS MARKED AS A HAZARD? It is a very nice lake and the water is clear and clean if you know the...

We had to stop as we were driving by. It's one of the most beautiful lakes I have seen. I can only imagine being able to spend the day on a boat and fish on this lake. There were quite a few people swimming. They looked like they were having a blast. The water and the surrounding views made it look so serene. The only negative was the public restrooms. They were not in the best shape. They needed a good cleaning. I would stay away from the restrooms. If the restrooms were clean, this would...