All Locations > S Dakota > Needles Of Rush… > Mt Rushmore Nat… > Emancipation

Dire Spire Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Dire Spire

L › R R › L A › Z

	Conn Route T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
	Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid T 5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
	Engagement, The S 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Impeachable Offense T 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Punching In A Dream S 5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c
	Questionable Ink T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13
	Snakebite Evangelist S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

Explore this area in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	5,351 ft	1,631 m
GPS:	43.88032, -103.4617 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	11,175 total · 41/month
Shared By:	Andrew Gram on Jul 2, 2002
Admins:	Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Mikel Madsen, Mark Rafferty Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Check NPS for Closures Details

Description

Dire Spire is the impressive spire that looks like an evil pitchfork just past Mt Rushmore. There are a few sport routes on it, but the only way to tag the summit is an old-fashioned Needles runout pitch. This is my favorite summit at Rushmore.

Getting There

Park in a pullout below the spire, and bushwhack up to the base. This is one of the worst approaches at Rushmore, though it still doesn't take more than 20 minutes or so. Be careful not to stray into the signed off limits area - doing so will get you a huge fine and will probably get the area closed.

7 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Dire Spire Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Dire Spire

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R 36 ● Conn Route Trad 2 pitches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 24 ● Impeachable Offense Trad 2 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 32 ● The Engagement Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 5 ● Snakebite Evangelist Sport