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September 2023 by Rachel Watts
We have nothing but rave reviews for Sylvan Rocks! My husband and I went on a 6 hour tour with Ryan and it was our favorite day in the Black Hills. We don’t have an extensive climbing history but Ryan made sure we had a day tailored to our skills and goals. If you’re hesitant about booking a longer day than the 4 hour intro, just do it! We climbed 4 different routes, summited huge rocks, and had an awesome day. This is a MUST DO in Custer State Park. When you’re done, stop by the South Dakota Outdoor Shop in Custer for some local beers and outdoor gear.
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September 2023 by Levi Blumanhourst
My family had a great time learning to climb with Sylvan Rocks. Our instructors, Ryan and Bears, were very accommodating to beginners ranging in age from 10 to 40. They explained everything that we would be doing during the class and made sure safety was a priority. Each of the instructors talked to the participants in a personal way to learn more about them and worked to make them more comfortable. After taking the four hour introduction class I could easily see taking a longer class to learn more specifics about the sport.
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September 2023 by Kristine L.
Brandon & Chris are phenomenal guides! Their philosophy on guiding and instructing made the entire climbing experience positive and productive for the whole family. I trust these guides with my life
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August 2023 by Jennifer Miles
Top notch guide service in a gorgeous area!! Brandon, Chris, Zane and the crew treated our variable aged and experienced group of 18 like true pros! It was amazing how they adapted to the group, made everyone feel secure and comfortable, and gave us the ability to climb to our levels. I highly recommend the 6 hour group climbing experience. Would recommend this guide service to anyone interested in exploring the black hills vertically.
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August 2023 by Mindy Danke
Bears and Ryan were so encouraging and wonderful! We highly recommend this company, they're very experienced and have a great shop.
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July 2023 by Ryan Bateson
I linked up with Brandon and we climbed some classic Conn routes at the Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park. He was safe, knowledgeable and a great climbing partner. Would suggest getting out to climb the area whether you are experienced and in need of a partner or if you'd like to see what climbing is all about! Thanks Brandon- see you next time!
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July 2023 by Andrea K.
Had a fantastic 2 day devils tower climbing experience with our family of 4. Our two guides, Doug and Zane were incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and made the experience exactly what we had hoped for. They allowed us flexibility to have different experiences and were successful in getting my husband and son to the summit of devils tower and my daughter and I to become more experienced crack climbers without feeling like we missed out by not summiting. Would highly recommend this climbing company and grateful to have found them!!
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July 2023 by Eric Lager
My wife, 8-year old daughter and I stayed in the Black Hills for six days and our family climb with the instructor Lindsay was by far our best experience of the trip! Sylvan Rocks has a beautiful facility in the town of Custer and the entire process of checking in, getting our gear, instructions and the actual climb was flawless. Not only did we feel safe the entire time but we learned so much about climbing. Our daughter is hooked now on climbing and our only regret is that we do not have a Sylvan Rocks in Charleston SC. I can’t recommend this experience enough, we made memories that will last a lifetime thanks to this great climbing school in Custer and our instructor Lindsay!
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July 2023 by Romaine Kocer
I highly Recommend Sylvan Rocks! I spent three days climbing with Chris Lile. We climbed some of the Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park and Devils Tower in Wyoming. Chris did an awesome job guiding and would recommend him to anyone looking for a really fun (and safe) adventure!
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July 2023 by Angela Beitelspacher
My family loved our time with Sylvan Rocks! My family of four (two adults/two kids) did the four hour Discover Adventure. Our instructor/guide, Ben, was so friendly and did a great job making us feel comfortable. Ben taught us a lot and was very encouraging and patient. Brandon, the owner, was also incredibly friendly and helpful in booking our reservation. We can't say enough good things about our experience with Sylvan Rocks. We can't wait until we can climb with them again!
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July 2023 by Martin Kerrigan
A dream come true!!! When we surprised our 7 year old son with a climbing experience Sylvan Rocks was the perfect company for our day. Coming from New York we didn't know what to expect. We arrived at the shop location were everyone was so helpful with getting us situated with all the gear necessary for the climb. We got fitted with helmets, harnesses and climbing shoes. With a short walk from the parking lot, next to the majestic lake, we arrived at the climb site. Our instructors Chris , Doug & Bears were amazing at showing us the basics for climbing. This experience was amazing for our son. Might have even started a new outdoor adventures for our family. I would highly recommend Sylvan Rocks for anyone looking for an adventurous way to explore Custer park or the Black Hills. We will 1000% be back for more fun!!! Thank you Sylvan Rocks!!!
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July 2023 by Matt Ciaramitaro
Brandon and his team did an incredible job hosting our large group (80+) The climb site was amazing, there were plenty of routes and challenges of various levels. It's hard to get teenagers excited about much these days and they had an absolute blast climbing. I would highly recommend sylvan rocks for your family or group!
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July 2023 by Angie Madden
Highly recommend!!! My 10-year old daughter had been asking to go rock climbing, so when we stopped in the area on our vacation, I found Sylvan Rocks online. When I went to see if there were any openings for the next day, however, they were booked. I sent an email asking whether we might be able to climb, and Brandon gave me a call back. When he found out that we would only be in Black Hills for one day, he signed us up for a 6-hour rock climbing adventure and took us out himself! My daughter and I had an amazing time. Brandon coached Samantha through her first experience climbing outdoors and tailored the climbs to our skill levels and interests. It was a fabulous experience, and I hope we can do it again if we come out this way in the future.
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May 2023 by Adam H.
Truly a fantastic experience climbing in Custer State Park near Sylvan Lake. Communication was timely and professional, attention to safety was top-notch, the guides were easygoing and encouraging, the gear was top-notch (we used their climbing shoes and helmets), and the location was beautiful. The park has anchors drilled into the rock already, so everything was top-roped with maximum safety. I'm a bit sorry we didn't go longer. One small criticism: they could have asked a bit more about our climbing skills before they chose a location, but it was still relatively challenging for all of us (two adults age 50 and 52, two young adults ages 18 and 21). Highly recommend!
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May 2023 by Sarah K.
Amazing two days of climbing with Chris and Cheyenne, in the Spires in Custer (highly recommend!) and then up Devil's Tower. We felt like we were in great hands - flexible and great expertise. Thanks, Sylvan team!
