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Moving to South Dakota

Original Post
Liz Moore · · Gunnison, CO · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 5

Hi,

I am thinking of moving to South Dakota for work, but I've never been. Job is based in Rapid City. I spent a lot of time in Colorado and the SW, and I've heard there is lots to do outdoors in the black hills area. I like to climb, hike, mountain bike, and enjoy having these opportunities right outside my door. Any thoughts on towns to look for rentals? I have lived in rural environments before, but I also enjoy walking to the bar and coffee shops from my house. I'm 28, and it would be great to live in a town that has a younger population.

Any info helps!

Thanks!!! Liz

Wilson On The Drums · · Woodbury, MN · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 940

South Dakota was the last place on my list of places to move, and when the other places fell through I couldn't have been happier. I would say go for it. We have unlimited climbing around Sylvan Lake/Cathedral Spires/The Needles, Mount Rushmore, Spearfish, and Devil's Tower (shy of 2 hours drive from Rapid). All include sport/bouldering/trad and there's ice not far from Rapid as well. The weather is for the most part great, as I'm writing it is 50+ degrees. As far as rentals go I would start right in Rapid. I'm about 6 blocks from downtown in a small 2 bedroom home that I rent for $650/month. There's not the best scene for the social life, but one does exist with places like the Fire House Brewery/Independent Ale House and so on. I don't bike, but there are a ton of trails right in town at Dinosaur Hill and Hansen Larson Memorial Park, which also has great bouldering. I could go on and on, Rapid is a great place. If you don't move here I'd say put it on your list of places to visit for sure.

Jonathan Marek · · Spearfish, SD · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 2,497

Enjoy yourself and be glad you don't have to move to eastern SD.

Andrew Gram · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,725

Definitely live right in Rapid City, preferably near downtown. I grew up there and moved away in 1995, and I absolutely cannot believe how much better it is there now. Lots of good restaurants and a few good bars downtown, with some good places scattered around the rest of town too. It is fairly happening for a town of its size, but don't expect a young people social scene like boulder. Cost of living is extremely cheap compared to Colorado.

There is awesome year round mountain biking right in town, and the riding in the hills is still some of my favorite i've done anywhere. Decent bouldering right downtown, very good bouldering at the rock maze and limestone climbing at the vc and falling rock within 10 minutes, and world class granite in the needles/rushmore and limestone at spearfish canyon within an hour. Devils Tower is also a reasonable day trip and is phenomenal. Some ok ice climbing, and some very limited downhill skiing. The cross country skiing is great though. Really good fly fishing, even right through town on Rapid Creek. Trails everywhere.

The downside is there is nothing big - 3 or 4 pitches is as big as it gets, and they are definitely hills and not mountains. Flights are more expensive than if you live in a big hub like Denver, and the nearest city of any size is basically Denver 7 hours drive away. I loved growing up there, and I really enjoy going back to visit my folks. It wouldn't be my first choice of places to live if I was young and single, but its a great place to raise a family. I personally would never move back because the no skiing or alpine climbing thing is a showstopper for me, but if those weren't primary interests of mine I'd definitely seriously consider living there again.

Taylor Lais · · Black Hills, SD · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 70

The Black Hills are truly one of a kind. If you dig on sport climbing, live in Spearfish. Then your an hour from the amazing granite of The Needles and an hour from Devils tower splitters. Some of the coolest people I've climbed with live in the hills, I would definately move there if an opprotunity presented itself.

Liz Moore · · Gunnison, CO · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 5

Thanks everyone! I'm convinced! Moving there in May

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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