Custer State Park holds 71,000 acres of beautiful land and is home to an endless supply of world class granite. These granite formations hold some of the best rock climbing in the United States. Custer State Park was the first state park in South Dakota, and to this day remains the largest state park. Custer State Park is loaded with hiking trails, scenic drives, and wildlife.
Devils Tower, the nation’s first national monument, is located just outside of Hulett, Wyoming. Devils Tower is a sacred landmark to many Native American Tribes, and thus deserves high respect when visiting and climbing. Devils Tower was formed from magma cooling under the surface of the Earth, as the soil eroded away, it left behind Devils Tower. The tower boasts some of the greatest crack climbing in the world and is home to over 140 different climbing routes.
Mount Rushmore is arguably one of the most visited national parks in the country. The granite carving houses the faces of past presidents; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Aside from the tourist attraction of the park, it is also home to 1,278 acres of beautiful forest, loaded with some of the best granite rock climbing in the country.
Palisades State Park, located just north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a truly beautiful destination. Palisades is home to Split Rock Creek, which flows through the middle of the park, and forms vertical cliffs on either side. These cliffs, made of Sioux Quartzite, are home to the best rock climbing in Eastern South Dakota.
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My boyfriend and I booked a 6 hour session with Shankar, and had a fantastic time! We both have indoor climbing experience, him some outdoor climbing experience, and we were afraid that we wouldn't find climbs that were "just right" for us. Shankar did an excellent job picking climbs for us, he made it fun, and we felt super safe the entire time. I highly recommend booking with him at Sylvan Rocks!
My son and I did an introductory climbing day a couple of years ago with Sylvan Rocks. That day made my son fall in love with climbing. Last week, we returned for a three-day climbing session, and it was even better than the first. Our guide Shankar gave us three amazing days that culminated in my son's ascent of Spires 2 and 3 of the Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park. He was patient, good-humored, and laser-focused on safety while dealing both with my beginner's mistakes, and with my son's need for technical training. While he pushed me to stretch my limits, there was never any point at which I felt it was inappropriate. And, we got to the top of the "Aquarium." On top of all that, Shankar's just a really cool guy. I feel that we got more than our money's worth out of this experience, and we will be back to climb again with Sylvan Rocks.
As a group of a 7 y/o who proved to be a bit afraid of climbing very high, an adult female who was afraid of heights, and 2 adult males (with slightly varying fitness abilities), all 4 of us had a great time. Our guide Brandon was extremely patient and able to challenge all of us and make us all feel like we really accomplished something! The area we climbed was challenging enough without being too challenging, and offered great views. None of us had ever rock climbed on real rocks before, but yet we felt extremely safe the whole time. As a company, they were extremely flexible with us making a last minute reservation. This is easily my number 1 suggestion for a thing to do while in the area!
As the only AMGA Accredited Guide Service in the area, we are committed to a high standard of climbing professionalism. The AMGA is an internationally recognized association offering courses, exams and certifications designed to certify guides and instructors as well as accredit businesses.