View source for Sylvan Lake (South Dakota)

{{short description|Man-made lake in South Dakota, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox body of water
 | name = Sylvan Lake
 | image = Sylvan Lake, SD.jpg
 | caption = Rock formations near lake
 | image_bathymetry = 
 | caption_bathymetry = 
 | location = [[Custer County, South Dakota|Custer County]], [[South Dakota]], [[United States]]
 | coords = {{coord|43|50|44.52|N|103|33|48.57|W|region:US-SD_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
 | type = 
 | inflow = 
 | outflow = Sunday Gulch Creek
 | catchment = 
 | basin_countries = United States
 | length = 
 | width = 
 | area = {{convert|17.3|acre|ha}}
 | depth = {{convert|12.8|ft|m}}
 | max-depth = {{convert|30|ft|m}}
 | volume = 
 | residence_time = 
 | shore = 1 mile (1.6 km)
 | elevation = {{convert|6145|ft|m}}
 | islands = 
 | cities = 
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| pushpin_map             = South Dakota#USA
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = Location of Sylvan Lake in South Dakota, USA.
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
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| website            = 
| reference          = 
}}
{{Black Hills and Badlands}}
'''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.<ref>{{cite web | last =Interactive Hotel Solutions | title =Sylvan Lake Lodge  | publisher =Holiday Junction | url =http://holidayjunction.com/property/united_states/south_dakota/sylvan_lake_lodge | access-date =2008-01-11 }}</ref> 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 [[Needles (Black Hills)|The Needles]]. A hotel was operated on the shore of the lake in the early 20th century .<ref>[http://www.us-roots.org/gallery/index.php/South-Dakota/S-A-Longenecker/longenecker0096|Historical Postcard], us-roots.com.</ref>

The lake was featured in [[Walt Disney Pictures|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.

<gallery>
Image:Swimmers_at_Sylvan_Lake_01.jpg|Swimming and other activities are popular at Sylvan Lake.
File:Sylvan Lake rock wall.jpg|Rock wall damming the northwest side of Sylvan Lake
File:Sylvan Lake Rocks and Lake.JPG|Path between rocks and lake
File:Sylvan Lake Paddleboat among rocks.jpg|[[Pedalo|Paddleboat]] on the lake
File:Sylvan Lake Water Dam.JPG|View down from Sylvan Lake Water Dam to the Sunday Gulch Creek
File:SylvanLakeCusterStatePark.jpg|A view of Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, South Dakota.
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of South Dakota lakes]]

==References==
{{commons category|Sylvan Lake, South Dakota}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Black Hills, South Dakota}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Reservoirs in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Custer County, South Dakota]]
[[Category:Black Hills]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Custer County, South Dakota]]


{{SouthDakota-geo-stub}}