Winter Climbing Near Rapid City

Hey all!  Considering a move to Rapid City and curious what the options for winter crags are that aren’t ice.  Willing to drive several hours for weekend trips.  Thanks!

That's a cold place.  So is southern Wyoming. . . 

First we have no rope gym.

Bouldering  yes, rope no. That may impact your decision.

That being said outside the options depend on the winter we have.

You might get a sporadic day here and there or even a week or two but overall we get winter, plain and simple. The northern hills gets worse winter usually than Rapid or the Southen Hills. So there are south facing wall opportunities that I have found are good between 10-2 above 18 degrees. Some need it warmer. After 2 the sun is too low and before 10 itd not high enough. 

I cant think of anywhere drivable that's consistently  warm for winter cragging. 

There are a couple walls in Spearfish, and some areas in Rushmore/Custer that get enough sun to climb on in the winter. When I lived up there I considered it a year round climbing area. Sometimes you just have to look for the good good. 

Any day that is 45F and in the sun is good to go.  I did quite a few moderates as early as February this year.  The only month that I haven't climb rock this year was January.    

To each his own but I dont think this is a year round climbable place.

Adam was likely on Garfield on those days I opted to hike cuz it was too cold to climb! 

You are right.  Don't come to the Black Hills to climb. Much better places out there. 

BTW, Primal Wall and The OG are great south facing walls for days when it's cool, sunny, and windless.

The OG approach  mentions the mysterious  230 sign that I often wonder about. 

There is a similar sign at Wrinkled  Rock that gives me pause as well.

Perhaps some aspiring  climbers set them to use as approach beta but in reality they actually  pique  my curiosity  because  I've never seen them elsewhere. 

I'll have to check out OG since I hike there lots  when it's too cold to climb!! 

You should definitely check out the OG.  Looking at your bio it seems that you would qualify.  All of us who have put in the routes there are over 50.   Once the 80s hit it's too warm there in the sun.  I'll be up there this weekend working on a new line

This is very helpful! Thank you everybody(: