Black Hills Rock Climbing Adventures

5 stars

Great. Fabulous. Epic. Fantastic. All the best adjectives to describe the experience we had! Co-owner Jeff, Chris S and Shankar made our first climbing adventure the best it could have been! All 9 of us, ranging in age from 7-45, were total rock climbing newbs but we never felt like it! The whole crew at Sylvan Rocks set about to ensure that we all felt secure and ready to rock. We did the 6HR group climb at Custer State Park/Sylvan Lake. After ample time to practice, we split into 3 groups by ability and hit the big ones (not that the "little" ones were any joke though 😅 🙃) Rock climbing was never, ever on any bucket list of mine but I positively can tell you, each and every one of us will be back! Definitely a highlight of our Black Hills trip!!!! Thanks again from our whole crew!! August 2021.

5 stars

I did two days with Sylvan Rocks, a 6-hour day and an 8-hour day, both with Doug. I'm a relatively experienced climber, so we didn't have to spend any time on equipment orientation, climbing basics, etc. Doug made it a point to do a thorough safety check of the gear I brought, and continued to focus on safety throughout the day, never a careless moment. The anchors he built were bomber, as was his leading and belaying. It was a blast, even if I was climbing well below my ability. Doug knew all the great climbs, chances for summits and excellent views, along with climbs on rocks with spectacular formations. It was clear he was most interested in me having a safe, fun time; he offered suggestions for the itinerary but always left it up to me, and checked in if it seemed like the climbs were frustrating, always ready to alter for something better. We never had to; the two days were full of good climbing. Highly recommended!

5 stars

We were a group of 8 with varying skill levels and our guides were amazing. They worked together to ensure that we all felt comfortable on the wall, set up multiple routes, instructed those that needed it and trusted those that didn't. We all had a great time and learned a lot! I would say this is a must do activity if you are spending any time in Custer State Park.