Sylvan Lake in Custer County, South Dakota
Sylvan Lake in Custer County, South Dakota
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Sylvan Lake in Custer County, South Dakota
This lake has 8 Layers or 15 Layers for HD Version
Sylvan Lake is a 17.3-acre reservoir nestled among towering granite spires and ponderosa pine forests in Custer State Park in the Black Hills of Custer County, South Dakota, sitting at 6,145 feet elevation with a maximum depth of 30 feet across 1 mile of dramatic rock-lined shoreline. Created in 1891 when Theodore Reder dammed Sunday Gulch Creek, the lake was originally called Reder's Lake before being renamed Sylvan Lake, and is stocked with Rainbow Trout for anglers casting from its boulder-strewn shores. No motorized watercraft are allowed on the lake, preserving the acoustic stillness that makes it one of the most serene and dramatic settings of any lake in the American West.
Known as the Crown Jewel of Custer State Park, Sylvan Lake serves as the gateway to some of the Black Hills' most iconic landscapes, including the Needles Highway with its narrow tunnels carved through towering granite formations and the trail to Black Elk Peak, the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. The lake was famously featured in Disney's 2007 film National Treasure: Book of Secrets, filmed to appear directly behind Mount Rushmore, which in reality sits about five miles to the northeast. Custer State Park, one of the largest and most celebrated state parks in the country, surrounds the lake with wildlife drives, bison herds, camping, and the historic Sylvan Lake Lodge on its eastern shore.
A laser-cut wooden map of Sylvan Lake makes a breathtaking and truly one-of-a-kind piece of wall art for any Black Hills home, South Dakota cabin, or western outdoors enthusiast's space. The natural wood top layer traces every dramatic granite-rimmed curve of this iconic reservoir's 1-mile shoreline in stunning detail, while the light-to-dark blue gradient layers capture the clear, cool depths of one of the most visually extraordinary lakes in all of America. A handcrafted gift perfectly suited for Custer State Park visitors, Black Hills regulars, and anyone who has stood at the edge of Sylvan Lake and felt the pull of its wild, granite beauty.
Dimensions:
Small: 8"x12"
Medium: 12"x18"
Large: 16"x24"
Extra Large: 20"x30"
XX Large: 24"x36"
Gigantic 30"x45"
HD Extra Large: 20"x30" - 15 Layers
HD XX Large: 24"x36" - 15 Layers
HD Gigantic 30"x45" - 15 Layers
The difference between standard and HD maps is the number of layers. Standard maps have 1 land layer and 7 water layers. The HD lake maps have 1 land layer and 14 water layers. So twice the detail. The HD Maps are limited to Extra Large, XX Large, and Gigantic sizes only. On the smaller sizes the depth change of the wood is too extreme and you end up losing detail.
Cribbage Boards - 10"x14" - Your choice of Maple or Cherry wood, 2 or 3 runs, and your choice of peg colors.
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About our Maps
Every map is designed and built in Minnesota. Nothing is outsourced and nothing is imported.
- Designed in-house. All art files are created by me, not purchased or reused
- True layered 3D construction. Not engraved or printed
- More layers, more detail. Most competitors use 3 to 7 layers. These use 8 or 15 layers
- Original blue depth gradient. Light to dark blue shows water depth clearly
- Handmade hardwood frames. Built from locally sourced rough sawn lumber, not pre-made frames
These are built to be the most accurate and most detailed 3D lake maps available.
Horn Dog Maps vs Others
True layered 3D construction
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: Sometimes
Designed in-house (no purchased files)
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: Sometimes
Etsy Sellers: No
Made in Minnesota
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Number of layers
Horn Dog Maps: 8 or 15
Other Companies: 3 to 7
Etsy Sellers: 3 to 7
Blue depth gradient water
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Handmade hardwood frame included
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Uses multiple depth data sources
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: Sometimes
Etsy Sellers: No
Custom lakes without delays
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Connection to the lakes
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these actually 3D or just engraved?
These are true 3D layered maps.
- Made from 1/8 inch Baltic birch
- Standard maps have 8 layers. 1 land layer and 7 water layers
- HD maps have 15 layers. 1 land layer and 14 water layers
Each water layer uses a light to dark blue gradient so depth changes are easy to see.
Where are these made?
Everything is made in my shop in Minnesota.
- Design
- Cutting
- Painting
- Assembly
- Frame building
The frames start as locally sourced rough sawn hardwood and are built from scratch.
Do you use real depth data?
Yes, as an angler and map nerd, accuracy matters to me. I use multiple data sources, up to six, to find the most accurate lake contours available.
I would not hang an inaccurate map in my house and I will not send one to yours.
Why buy from Horn Dog Maps instead of Etsy or marketplace sellers?
Most marketplace sellers:
- Buy pre-made cut files, often from overseas
- Have no connection to the lakes
- Cannot verify accuracy
- Have long delays if a file is not available
This leads to lower accuracy and longer lead times, often 6 to 8 weeks.
Because I design everything myself:
- I can create a new lake mockup in about 30 minutes
- You get a more accurate map, faster
What is your lead time?
Most orders ship in 1.5 to 2 weeks depending on the time of year.
Tell me about the Cribbage Boards
These are different from the layered maps and are not something you will find elsewhere.
- Made from a solid piece of Maple or Cherry
- The lake is engraved as if drained
- Then filled with blue tinted epoxy that is still transparent
You can see:
- Channels
- Humps
- Points
- Structure
Additional features:
- 2 or 3 track options
- Choice of peg colors
- Hidden peg storage with a magnetic dovetail slider
- Rubber feet so it does not slide on the table
It is a functional game board and a detailed lake model in one.