All Locations > S Dakota > Custer SP > Needles Eye Area

Needle's Eye Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map This is our best guess at this area's location.
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Routes in Needle's Eye

L › R R › L A › Z

	Harris-Emery Aid Route T 5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c A1-2
	Needle's Eye T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c X
	Renn Fenton Direct Route T 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Threading the Needle T 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c

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GPS:	43.84169, -103.5458 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	24,223 total · 89/month
Shared By:	Peter Gram on Jul 14, 2002
Admins:	Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Mikel Madsen, Mark Rafferty Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

This rock has a highway named after it, and it is paved right to the base. Every route on this formation is extremely bold with massive ground fall potential. Do not plan on climbing this during the day in tourist season. Hordes of tourists will swarm the base. Although, maybe a ground fall might land you on top of a tourist bus. Climb this in the spring or fall and early or late in the day.

Many famous photos show people stemming up the middle of the eye. However, the most popular route now seems to be a 5.10 route that starts directly from the parking lot. To descend, rappel from fixed anchors using two ropes to the ground.

Getting There

This rock is the main attraction of the Needles Eye area. The approach is stepping out of the car and grabbing the first holds. The crux of the approach may very well be fielding all sorts of tourists' questions.

4 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Needle's Eye

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

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c X 40 ● Needle's Eye Trad 2 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 68 ● Threading the Needle Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 27 ● Renn Fenton Direct Route Trad