South Dakota Guidebooks

Let's Rock: Washington

Purchase this book

An extensive chapter on all the easy and moderate stuff at the Needles, plus all the classic main crags in Washington and a bunch of newly developed/discovered areas - the North Bend Exits and Keechelus, Cle Elum, Yelm, Kitsap, Vantage, Tieton, Mazama, and Banks Lake. Also, neighboring crags with similar driving distances such as Squamish, Oregon and Idaho. Plus, some bonus chapters covering the best of Utah, Nevada, California, South Dakota and Kentucky. The guidebook features - GPS coordinates. - Detailed route beta. - Easy to read maps. - Clear images from the start of each route. - Camping and approach information. Everything for those new to the sport or looking for moderate climbs 5.0 to 5.10d

Palisades State Park: A Climber's Guide

A wonderfully detailed book by Johnson and Smolnisky focusing on Palisades State Park. Color pictures and marked routes.

Let's Rock: Washington

Purchase this book

An extensive chapter on all the easy and moderate stuff at Spearfish, plus all the classic main crags in Washington and a bunch of newly developed/discovered areas - the North Bend Exits and Keechelus, Cle Elum, Yelm, Kitsap, Vantage, Tieton, Mazama, and Banks Lake. Also, neighboring crags with similar driving distances such as Squamish, Oregon and Idaho. Plus, some bonus chapters covering the best of Utah, Nevada, California, South Dakota and Kentucky. The guidebook features - GPS coordinates. - Detailed route beta. - Easy to read maps. - Clear images from the start of each route. - Camping and approach information. Everything for those new to the sport or looking for moderate climbs 5.0 to 5.10d

Spearfish Canyon

South Dakota

Rock Climbs in The Needles

Likely the first guidebook / Pamphlet put out for the area by Herb and Jan Conn. The Conns were the first to start ticking off the many summits back in the 50s. This book is more or less for historical purposes as finding a copy would be very hard present day. The guide mainly covers the Sylvan lake and Cathedral Spires areas.

Recommended Climbing Routes in The Needles of Custer State Park in The Black Hills of South Dakota

A pamphlet style book that was put out by local John Page. It covers the Sylvan Lake area with a few routes in the ten pins and Needles eye area.

The Needles of South Dakota Part 1

The Needles of South Dakota Part 1 also known as Cindy Tolles Guide is a good guide that is out of print currently. The areas covered in the book are: Sylvan Lake, Needles Eye and Ten Pins. Complete with hand drawn topos and a few color pictures of formations.

Black Hills Limestone Rock Climbing Vol. 1

Purchase this book

This comprehensive new guide book will cover all the limestone sport climbing in the Black Hills. It will include Spearfish Canyon, Victoria Canyon, Falling Rock and Bethlehem Canyon. Over 718 routes are featured with full color wall photos and lots of killer action shots.

You will be able to purchase the guide directly from Mike, through the website http://www.blackhillsclimbingguide.com (still under construction), or through Sharp End Publishing. Links and updated information will be added as it becomes available.

The Needles - A Climber's Guide to the Black Hills Needles

Purchase this book

From the Extreme Angles website:

The Needles are a fantastic wonderland of rocky granite spires tucked deep in the Black Hills. The climbing here is legendary; from the wild face climbs that lead to table top summits, to giant “chicken head” knobs which sometimes need to be slung for gear! The Needles of South Dakota are a must for anyone looking for adventure. Included in this full color guide are detailed descriptions, precise topos and even tear-out route cards for some of the longer routes—no more toting the book along on long climbs. The Needles was heavily researched and includes many historical photos and anecdotes. It is an essential for those that dream of going or those who are on their way.

-Full color throughout
-Sewn binding
-Ultimate selection of the very best spires
-Full coverage of the Moonlight Ridge sport climbs (70 bolted lines)
-Intensive, precise rappel information
-Nearly 70 full color maps and topos
-Geographic color-coded tabs for quick reference
-Tear-out route cards
-Scads of classic photos
-Hilarious stories

The Needles of Rushmore

Purchase this book

Nearly 30 years since the release of Paul Piana’s Touch the Sky, The Needles of Rushmore is a fully comprehensive update to the mystical treasure map of the granite in the Southern Black Hills (east of Harney Peak). The book includes over 900 detailed routes from Palmer Gulch to Remington Road, including the popular sport climbing area, Mt. Rushmore. The Needles of Rushmore transcends guidebooks with the creative work of coauthor, Andrew Burr (senior climbing photographer of Climbing magazine). Combine this stunning photography with the meticulously sculpted route descriptions and The Needles of Rushmore sets a new benchmark for rock climbing guidebooks.

Touch the Sky: The Needles in the Black Hills of South Dakot

Purchase this book

This book is the most comprehensive published source to the Black Hills Needles. It includes many of the standard destinations of the Needles and also has very obscure areas as well.