Elevation: 5,339 ft
GPS: 43.8807, -103.4619
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 119,550 total · 469/month
Shared By: Peter Gram on Jul 1, 2002
Admins: Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Mikel Madsen, Mark Rafferty
Access Issue: Check NPS for Closures Details

Description

Emancipation Rockphormation is the epitome of Mount Rushmore climbing, a must do for any visiting climbers. Although much climbing is legal here, make sure that the rock that you are on is legal to avoid trouble (large fines and possibly jail for climbing or hiking in the wrong places). Boundary signs are in place to avoid crossing into the restricted areas.

This said, the legal areas on this wall are a great place to go. Relatively long routes (3 pitches) are found, and a lot of good cracks are available. Also, a wicked looking spire called Dire Spire is in the area which has some good routes on it.

7/1/10 ATTENTION: The boundary line has changed and is no longer the major gully. The new boundary is the top of White House Wall. This means the routes are still in the legal limits but you MUST RAPPEL and cannot walk-off White House Wall!

Getting There

From the stoplight at Mount Rushmore, drive about 1 mile away from Keystone and park at a pulloff on the right side of the road. This pulloff should be quite near Dire Spire, a large independent spire just east of the road.

89 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Emancipation

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V3 6A
 18
The Cavity
Boulder
V7 7A+
 12
Atomic Decay
Boulder
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 34
Slant Crack
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
 32
Conn Route
Trad 2 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 193
Garfield Goes To Washington
Trad 3 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 28
Aces High
Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 23
Royal Flush
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 19
Garfield's Forgiven Affair
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 28
The Engagement
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 18
Political Prowness
Trad 4 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13
 21
Wife Sentence
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 31
Smear Campaign
Trad 3 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 19
Read My Clips
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 13
Chemical Wire
Trad
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 9
Tap and Die
Trad, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Cavity Emancipation Bo… > Upper Emancipation
 18
V3 6A Boulder
Atomic Decay Emancipation Bo… > Manhattan Boulders > Atomic Boulder
 12
V7 7A+ Boulder
Slant Crack White House Wall
 34
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Conn Route Dire Spire
 32
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R Trad 2 pitches
Garfield Goes To Washington White House Wall
 193
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 3 pitches
Aces High Political Gamblers
 28
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Royal Flush Five Card Draw
 23
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Garfield's Forgiven Affair White House Wall
 19
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
The Engagement Dire Spire
 28
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Political Prowness White House Wall
 18
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 4 pitches
Wife Sentence White House Wall
 21
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 Trad
Smear Campaign White House Wall
 31
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad 3 pitches
Read My Clips Pennsylvania Ave.
 19
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Chemical Wire White House Wall
 13
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad
Tap and Die White House Wall
 9
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad, TR
More Classic Climbs in Emancipation »

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