Ice Climbing

If you like rock climbing in the Black Hills and Badlands, you’ll love a fresh challenge during the winter months when the granite spires are covered in snow, the waterfalls and vertical seeps freeze up and make for some great ice climbing.

Ice Climbing is gaining in popularity and the Black Hills is a great place to get started or polish your skills. There are many climbs that have easy access and no avalanche danger while offering challenges on vertical ice that grows from springs and waterfalls.

Spearfish Canyon is a great place to get out on the ice. Bridal Veil falls is a great place to warm up as it is the tallest of the bunch and is less then vertical most the time. Eleventh Hour Gulch is an awesome top rope site.

Hidden away in a ravine where sunlight is a rarity, ice climbing at Eleventh Hour Gulch begins early in the season and ends late. Enjoy the colorful rock walls in stark contrast to the frozen falls. It’s a short hike to get there, and worth the trip.

Closer to Spearfish you’ll find steep, free-standing columns of ice at Community Cave. The uphill hike is a real calf burner, and can have deep snow, so throw in the snowshoes. If things are formed up right, there is often enough ice for a full day of fun.

A one-hour hike from the trailhead to get to the frozen flows at Crow Peak west of Spearfish is worth the effort, according to those who have tried it. It takes lots of snow and runoff to create a challenging chunk of ice here, so check the conditions before you head out.

Honeybear near Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park often forms up into a fun little flow. If you are looking to really feel the air beneath your boots though, the Black Hills’ tallest ice climb is found on the backside of Harney Peak. A long uphill hike that gets you to the Harney Ice Flow. This ice flow lays within the Black Elk Wilderness area, so please make sure to fill out one of the free entrance passes near the trailhead.

Just like any other outdoor winter sport, you’ll want to dress appropriately. Layering works best. Ice climbing equipment is quite specialized. Along with climbing ropes and harnesses, you will need Crampons and Ice Tools (axes) and of course a good helmet and emergency kit.

Rushmore Mountain Sports in Spearfish, SD is a great place to buy ice climbing gear. The Black Hills Climbers coalition is a local organization that works on keeping trails and climbing routes open and clean. Many of the members are great area resources, so becoming a member is a good way to meet some new climbing friends.

There are currently no guiding services authorized to work guiding ice in the Black Hills. Remember, ice climbing is inherently dangerous, so please make sure you know what you are doing and are properly equipped before heading out for a great adventure.