Sylvan Lake (South Dakota)

Sylvan Lake
Rock formations near lake
Sylvan Lake Sylvan 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)
Average depth	12.8 feet (3.9 m)
Max. depth	30 feet (9.1 m)
Shore length1	1 mile (1.6 km)
Surface elevation	6,145 feet (1,873 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Sylvan Lake is a lake located in Custer State Park, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States. It was created in 1891 when Theodore Reder built a dam (the Sylvan Lake Water Dam) across Sunday Gulch Creek. 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 .

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.

• 
  Swimming and other activities are popular at Sylvan Lake.
• 
  Rock wall damming the northwest side of Sylvan Lake
• 
  Path between rocks and lake
• 
  Paddleboat on the lake
• 
  View down from Sylvan Lake Water Dam to the Sunday Gulch Creek
• 
  A view of Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, South Dakota.

See also

• List of South Dakota lakes