FAQ

Where is Sylvan Rocks located? 

We meet our guests at the climbing location of choice with our new mobile office.  Inside the new trailer there is plenty of room to come in, try on shoes, and complete the necessary paperwork in comfort.  We strive to be the most convenient part of your Black Hills vacation... one stop shopping, and a heck of a lot of fun.

If you feel your guide did a good job, it is certainly normal and greatly appreciated.  Your waiter brings you food, your climbing guide takes you on the experience of a lifetime, and back home safely....

Where will we climb?

Many options exist:

Within the Needles of Custer State Park there are the Outlets behind Sylvan Lake, the Ten Pins along Needles highway, the Cathedral Spires, Needles Eye area, and many more granite Spires..  

We also offer climbing tours at Mount Rushmore Climbing Area, Devil's Tower National Monument, and Palisades State Park (on the eastern side of South Dakota).  If you are climbing with us for several days, we will generally choose a different area each day based on your abilities, desires, and the teaching objectives for the day. 

Do I need to be able to do a pull up in order to rock climb?

No. Attitude is everything.  One of the best things about rock climbing is that so many people enjoy it at so many levels.  If you are eager to learn, enthusiastic and in reasonably good shape, you'll enjoy climbing outdoors.  Best of all, with the great sticky rubber climbing shoes we supply you spend most your time standing on your own two feet.

Most the rock here in the Needles leans in a bit.  The climbing here demands that you stand up on your feet and skeleton and use your hands and arms to balance.  As the routes get harder, there is more need to pinch the crystals and use more pull down power, but proper technique is much more important than strength.  Climbing should be a full body movement.  You might discover some muscles you rarely use, but most any person with the desire to rock climb and the ability to enjoy adventure walking (or a walk around the block) can enjoy climbing.

How high will we climb? 

The depends on the course you take, your ability, and comfort level.  The climbing routes up the Needles of Custer State Park range in length from one to three pitches.  A typical "pitch" is 100 feet.

Is it normal to be scared or afraid of heights? 

In a word, YES.  That fear is what keeps us alive.  It makes us vigilant in our safety procedures.  It makes climbing outdoors fun and exciting.  The fear of heights and climbing should never totally go away, but with education and proper understanding of the safety equipment it should be controllable.  Its that little voice in your head that keeps you alive...sometimes its just good to turn the volume down a little!

How strong is the equipment? 

Climbing gear has come a long way from the hemp ropes, steel carabiners and pitons of yester year.  The nylon climbing ropes and aluminum carabiners of today are amazingly strong and when properly used make rock climbing quite safe. 

How far will we have to hike? 

The climbs behind Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park and around Mount Rushmore can generally be reached with a 10-15 minute walk.  The approaches for Cathedral Spires and Devil's Tower are generally up hill and can take from 20 to 50minutes from the car.  We strive for more climbing and less walking.

Where are the best places to climb? 

Each route and rock carries its own unique character.  We will take you up a variety of routes and let you make that decision for yourself.

How many students are in each course?

Our standard courses are taught with a maximum of three clients to one instructor. We keep our ratios low to maintain a high level of safety and personal attention.  If you book a course as an individual or a party of two, we may match you with someone else of similar interest, ability and goals. Private and guaranteed closed party lessons are also available for all programs.   Families larger then three often book our climbing courses with the understanding that we will scale back our outdoor climbing goals and adapt your class and higher client to guide ratio such that our high level of safety is maintained while enjoying the great summits climbing in the Black Hills has to offer.

How young can children be to take your courses?

Children can take most of our courses. We ask that kids under 16 be with a parent or group leader who is on the course.  For families who are visiting with children, we feel that you can best judge when your child is ready for rock climbing.  We do not set an age limitation, but work with parents to set up climbing experiences we feel are appropriate.   In general, we find that about any four year old or older child with good verbal skills will have fun rock climbing at thier own level.  Parents must be present to sign liability waivers for all minors prior to us setting out for a climbing course.

What time do courses begin each day?

Most courses meet at 8 am each day and usually finish up between 2:30 and 4:30 pm. Some guided climbs such as those on Devil's Tower may start earlier and go later. We will take a few minutes on the morning of the first day to outfit you with rock equipment (rock shoes, harness and helmet) and then head right out to the crags.  We will try to work with you if starting at 8 am won't work, but otherwise please be on time so that we can get stared, go climbing, and be back down before afternoon thunderstorms begin.

We have a 30-day cancellation policy.  You must give us 30 days notice to change or cancel your reservation to avoid forfeiting your deposit of $50 per day per person or $200 per youth group.  If we cancel a course we will provide a full refund, but please understand that once you book a course, we will have a guide scheduled to work and in line with industry standards owe that person for being scheduled.  For a full explanation of our policy, please click the link above.

What is the policy for rain or bad weather?

Rock climbing generally isn't as much fun in the rain, but we can still do a lot of good teaching, and have a great semi-sheltered spot to work in.  If it is raining in the morning as we are getting ready to go or if there is a 90% or more chanced of rain we will try to reschedule or provide a full refund.  If the weather is climbable we like to go out and have a good time despite the conditions (bring some warm waterproof clothes).  We often focus on ground school tasks while it’s clearing up and generally get plenty of climbing in when a shower moves through (everything dries fast here once the sun returns).  If the weather does not allow for your entire day of climbing we will work with you, and do our best to reschedule, but once your day is half over we will not issue refunds due to weather. 

What are the tipi like piles of trees I see all over the Black Hills forest? 

Because we have suppressed natural wildfire for so long, the Black Hills National Forest and forests all over the West are unnaturally thick with trees.  Custer Park and National Forest have crews out thinning the pine growth in order to reduce fire danger and promote “healthy” forests.  There are literally tens of thousands of piles waiting to be burned during the winter months when there is snow on the ground.

Where is your favorite spot to climb? 

The towers at Frey near Bariloche, Argentina were really really memorable climbing, but we keep coming back to and enjoying the rocks near our home in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  The granite spires and crystal pinching are truly unique and the face climbing here is definitely some of the best in the world.

What is it like on the top of  Devil's Tower? 

Well, we hope that we can take you there so you can see it for yourself.  Until this happens, imagine a Wyoming prairie hilltop that you can’t see the sides of (a really tall hill).   It’s grassy, and there is an old piece of wood, probably an old rung from the original stake ladder, stuck in a cairn of rocks at the highpoint.  On a nice day, it’s very pleasant to sit up there and enjoy the 360 degree view.

What is the AMGA? 

To quote their website “The American Mountain Guides Association is a non-profit organization that seeks to represent the interests of American mountain guides by providing support, education, and standards.”  They are the authoritative voice in the guiding world.  They offer classes and certification of individual guides and climbing schools by setting high safety standards of operation.  Sylvan Rocks is an  accredited  climbing school.

Why should I climb with a guide? 

Time and safety.  We take great pride our profession.  We are well trained and eager to pass on the traditions of climbing outdoors to beginning and experienced climbers.  We take an inherently dangerous activity and efficiently teach you how to mitigate the hazards and "safely" enjoy it.  We give you the tools to quickly expand your bag-o-climbing-tricks to become a safe, solid climbing partner who moves efficiently up routes.   We know how to access the routes in the maze of granite spires here in the Needles of Custer State Park and the Black Hills so that you can spend more of your vacation summiting the classics climbing routes instead of wandering around looking for them.  We teach the tools needed for a lifetime of Adventure.

Contact Sylvan Rocks for information on South Dakota Vacation Packages.