All Locations > S Dakota > Spearfish Canyon > Sunshine

The Thunderhead Rock Climbing

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

L › R R › L A › Z

	Alice S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Arcing Arm Hairs S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Deluge S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Derecho S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Drizzle S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Dust Devil S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	F5 S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Flash Flood S 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	G.A.S. S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Gale Force S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Golden Showers S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	In On The Killtaker S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Jack Twister S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
	Katabatic Cataclysm S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Monsoon S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Nimbostratus S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Rainbows in the Dark S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
	Ride the Lighting S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
	Ripsnorter S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Smoke and Mirrors S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
	Spring Showers Bring May Flowers S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Squall, The S 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Stormchaser S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Tempest, The S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Virga S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Weather or Knot S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Zephyr II S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a

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GPS:	44.29367, -103.89346 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	31,277 total · 125/month
Shared By:	Greg Parker on Nov 13, 2002 · Updates
Admins:	Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Mikel Madsen, Mark Rafferty Page Updates (admin only)

Description

The Thunderhead has one of the biggest concentrations of hard routes in Spearfish Canyon. The wall is very steep and most of the routes are bouldery. Expect difficult starts on sidepulls, underclings and pockets followed by sustained pocket pulling. A stick-clip is required to clip the first bolt on most of the routes. You'll understand why when you see the wall. Often times, you are in the crux at the first bolt and there is no stopping to clip. So, if you're feeling burly, come prove yourself on these Spearfish Canyon testpieces.

Getting There

To get to the Thunderhead, turn right at Cheyenne Crossing (toward Newcastle) and park at the Sunshine Wall parking area, which is the large pullout on the left about two miles up the road. There is a sign at the back of the pullout that reads "Saunterer's Solitude". Walk up the road about 200 yards until you come to a residence. Directly across the road from their driveway is a faint climber's trail that meanders up the steep hill. A short five minute hike takes you right to the center of the wall.

27 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Thunderhead

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

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 7 ● Nimbostratus Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 26 ● Spring Showers Bring May Flowers Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 51 ● Monsoon Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 8 ● Golden Showers Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 5 ● Katabatic Cataclysm Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 6 ● Weather or Knot Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 4 ● Ride the Lighting Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 9 ● Zephyr II Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 3 ● Rainbows in the Dark Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 60 ● Ripsnorter Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 29 ● The Tempest Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 13 ● Alice Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 8 ● Virga Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c 6 ● In On The Killtaker Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c 5 ● Deluge Sport