All Locations > S Dakota > Custer SP

Sylvan Lake Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Sylvan Lake

Dam, The 0

Hideout, The 2

Isolated Spires 14

Middle Earth 58

Outlets 157

Photographers' Peak Area 33

Sylvan Lake Bouldering 55

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Elevation:	6,000 ft	1,829 m
GPS:	43.84554, -103.56351 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	443,998 total · 2,487/month
Shared By:	Mikel Madsen on Sep 12, 2010 · Updates
Admins:	Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Mikel Madsen, Mark Rafferty Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

Sylvan Lake is a beautiful lake in the heart of the Hills. Sylvan Lake was formed when Sunday Gulch was damned up. It is one of the many man made lakes in the Hills. It is nestled in Custer State Park and it is part of the needles highway. Sylvan Lake is the beginning of trail #9 which goes to Black Elk Peak. (7,242 ft)

What many don't know is all the bouldering that can be done around the Sylvan Lake Area. This area not only has some of the hardest problems as of now but has a history like the Gill Boulder first climbed by the man himself John Gill. Homestar (V11) was first done by Chuck Fryberger. The hardman route is King of Town first ascent by Matt Tschol v13/v14. Posting this because more than half the people I talk to in the Hills never knew these existed.

Getting There

Start out going WEST on MT RUSHMORE RD/US-16 ALT/US-16A/CUSTER ST/SD-89 toward N 6TH ST. Continue to follow MT RUSHMORE RD/CUSTER ST/SD-89.- 0.6 mi
Turn LEFT onto US-385/SD-89.-4.9 mi
Turn RIGHT onto CR-313.-1.6 mi
Turn RIGHT onto FOX RIDGE RD.-0.2 m
Stay STRAIGHT to go onto CR-685.

319 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Sylvan Lake

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

5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a 122 ● Conn Route Trad 2 pitches Photographers'… > Aquarium Rock
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 84 ● Second Breakfast Sport Middle Earth > Towers of Teeth > Ephel Duath
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 237 ● Conn Diagonal Trad 3 pitches Outlets > Outer Outlet
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 55 ● Of Quartz It Goes Sport Middle Earth > Far Downs
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R 39 ● California Boys Sport, TR Outlets > Dam - Back Side
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 54 ● Retable Route Trad, Sport 3 pitches Outlets > Inner Outlet
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c 206 ● Kamps Crack (Classic Crack) Trad Outlets > Inner Outlet
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 45 ● Left Wing of Smaug Trad Middle Earth > Far Downs
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 101 ● Waste Knot Sport Middle Earth > Towers of Teeth > Ephel Duath
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 32 ● West Buttress Trad 3 pitches Outlets > Outer Outlet
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 69 ● Four Little Fishies Sport Photographers'… > Aquarium Rock
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 49 ● Three Rings for the Elven Kings Trad Middle Earth > Erebor
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 38 ● Sex Never did this to my hands Trad Outlets > Vertigo View
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 30 ● Nick of Time Trad Outlets > Outer Outlet
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 48 ● Two Year Plan Trad, Sport Outlets > Inner Outlet