The Mount Rushmore Climbing area known as the Monster is the bunch of granite in the middle of everything. Get yourself a Mount Rushmore map or guide book of the climbing areas to find it. Briefly though, it's about a mile from the Black Hills National Forest / Mount Rushmore east entrance on Highway 244. Park at the wide spot in the road and head off the north side of the road to the Mt Rushmore climbers registration box.

Selected climbing routes.

Gossamer: 5.7 This line is a favorite for photographers looking for a great Mount Rushmore photo. From the Mount Rushmore Registration Station, hike east and in between the tall granite formations along a fairly well defined climbers trail that more or less ends at the start of the route. Some climbers take a stopper to protect the opening moves that lead to the bolted arete above. The route can be hard to build a top rope anchor on, as it traverses so much that when you rap, or let the climbing ropes hang, you end up across the rock from your starting place. There is a TR or lead that follows the rap line. Popular climbing route for the Mt Rushmore area.

Kodah: 5.9+ This great route is on the Axe Edge. From the Mount Rushmore Climber Registration head west up the trail past the trail to Gossamer around the next huge granite mass and though some hallways to a big blade of rock about 80 foot tall. Kodah takes the NW arete to the summit, and begins on the west face near a crack. Take some pro for the opening crack then clip the bolts on the face to the top.

Breast Stroke 5.11 Take the water groove up the Axe Edge on the SE side. Follow the line of bolts up a sustained climb to the summit. Pull hard on bomber rock!

Contact us to book your Black Hills Climbing trip.