The Chopping Block Climbing Area lays just south of the North West Mount Rushmore entrance along highway 244. Park along the road at the Black Hills Forest signs or at Wrinkled Rock Trail head. From Wrinkled Rock take the trail beside the bathroom across the highway, into the Black Elk Wilderness past routes like Stinger, and Veiny and many more newer lines that have been bolted up. From the entrance signs take the trail to the south past the Mount Rushmore Climber Registration Station and up the hill past routes like Evergreen and its companion Ate One Today.

This area holds a ton of classic climbs in a small place. Here are a couple to think about.

Evergreen: 5.9 One of my favorites, this classic route is found up hill on the main trail past the registration station. It's on the left of the trail, on a rock called Pine Tree. The base holds a boldery schist roof start that leads to an open v and the route climbs up a line of bolts from there. Take some draws and 2 ropes to use for the rappel. Great face climbing. As mentioned above. Ate One Today shares the same start, but traverses out right and up. Similar climbing. Watch for rope drag.

Valdez Overhang: 5.9 A great place to go get a little pump on while you're getting strong. Continue up past Evergreen. Head across a flat section and drop into a hallway. The route will be on your left up an overhanging line of bolts. Short and sweet, you can get down with one rope.

Baba Cool: 5.9 This sweet line is on the Chopping Block formation. Your going to need a Mount Rushmore Map of the climbing areas to find it. Once there, you'll clip your way up 6 bolts through face climbing goodness. One rope will get you back to terra firma,and you can enjoy the other classic lines of the area.

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