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Elevation: 5,196 ft
GPS: 43.8864, -103.467
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 232,693 total · 879/month
Shared By: Andrew Gram on Jun 24, 2002
Admins: Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Mikel Madsen, Mark Rafferty
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Description Suggest change

South Seas is an excellent place to begin sampling Rushmore. There is an abundance of excellent sport routes from 5.6 to 5.13 here, and a smattering of trad routes as well. Most routes end on top of spires requiring raps to get down, which means there aren't very many routes to toprope. No approaches take longer than 30 minutes.

Must do routes include Waves, Solitaire, Lead Fillings, Mr Critical, and Ladies in Love.

Getting There Suggest change

South Seas is just a few miles from the faces on Mt Rushmore. From Rapid City, take Rushmore Road(US 16) up into the hills. Exit at SD244, drive through Keystone, and drive up past the faces. The parking lot is the large pullout at the Mt Rushmore National Monument sign as you are leaving the monument heading west on 244. Descend the trail on the north side of the road, and the spires come into view in about 20 seconds.

119 Total Climbs

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Location: South Seas Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at South Seas

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 270
Second Hand Rose Arete
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 158
Solitaire
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 174
Shark's Breath
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 302
Waves
Sport 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 84
Lead Fillings
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 59
W.A.S.P. (center variation start)
Trad, Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 21
Climb-Us Interuptus
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 84
The Pollinator
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 30
Cereal Killer
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 41
Anaphylactic Shock
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 90
Mr. Critical
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 43
Boylesque
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 41
Beetle Juice
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 33
Ladies in Love
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 8
Mothra
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Second Hand Rose Arete Hornets Nest
 270
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
Solitaire Borneo
 158
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Shark's Breath Sharks Fin
 174
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Waves Shipyard Rock
 302
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport 2 pitches
Lead Fillings Child's Molar
 84
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
W.A.S.P. (center variation… Hornets Nest
 59
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, Sport
Climb-Us Interuptus Java
 21
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
The Pollinator Hornets Nest
 84
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Cereal Killer Cornflake
 30
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Anaphylactic Shock Hornets Nest
 41
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Mr. Critical Hornets Nest
 90
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Boylesque Bird's Nest
 43
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Beetle Juice Hornets Nest
 41
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Ladies in Love Bird's Nest
 33
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Mothra Hornets Nest
 8
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in South Seas »

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