| 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 / 43.8457000°N 103.5634917°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. | |
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| Southwestern South Dakota |
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| Sculptures |
| Geologic and natural history |
| Mountains |
| Caves |
| Forests and wildernesses |
| Lakes |
| Scenic byways |
| Historic sites |
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.[1] 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 .[2]
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. -
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.
