Family Nature Summits: Black Hills Summit

Join local outfitter, Sylvan Rocks, for a day of top roping at world-renowned climbing routes. Your adventure will begin at the Sylvan Rocks headquarters, where you will get fitted for all the gear you will need. After a short drive, you will hike behind the beautiful Sylvan Lake dam to the climbing location (approx 10 min). The cool thing about climbing in the Black Hills is that most of the strength you use comes from stepping, standing, and trusting your feet. You don’t have to be able to do a single pull-up to have fun climbing these rocks! Your guide will also teach you basic skills such as tying into the rope and belaying a partner on the top rope. This trip is appropriate for all climbing levels.

After climbing, you will have free time around Sylvan Lake to eat a picnic lunch and explore one of the most popular places in the park. Pack your suit for a dip in the lake, pop into the general store and eatery, walk the mile Lake Shore Trail, have a drink at the historic Sylvan Lake Lodge, or just find a spot to take in the beauty of the lake. 

Cost: $100

Discover the peaceful side of Custer State Park from a brand-new vantage point. While most visitors explore the park by car, this paddling excursion invites you to slow down and experience the Black Hills from the tranquil, glassy waters of Center Lake. You will receive paddling instruction from a knowledgeable Custer State Park Naturalist. Center Lake is a designated no-wake zone, surrounded by towering ponderosa pines and dramatic granite outcroppings. This program is appropriate for all ability levels and will include a mix of canoes and kayaks. 

Join local outfitter, Sylvan Rocks, for a full day of advanced rock climbing. Although it is called an advanced class, this climbing trip is appropriate for all skill levels as long as you can climb all day. This custom trip operates at a 3:1 ratio, ensuring customized route selection for the group. The small groups will be determined by skill level. On this trip, you can expect to learn how to lead belay, learn about traditional climbing equipment, reach the summit of a formation (likely more than one summit), and climb numerous routes. You will also be taught how to rappel off the summit of a formation (with a backup). This trip is perfect for individuals who want to increase their climbing knowledge and explore more unique climbing in the Black Hills. This trip will take place from Sylvan Lake, but will use customized routes that are different from the beginner class based on the ability of the group. You will climb the remainder of the day and return to the parking lot around 2:00 pm. 

Cost: $210

For the first time, the older half (we know who you are***) of our group will get to walk at leisure (not timed!) all of the uphill. Why didn't we think of that before!? You'll be doing a map reading game, of course, but one we've never used before. Mountain biking (all paved bike paths) is back this year, just two miles (all downhill for the "older" set!) Averaging 35 adults aged 17 to 80 taking part each year, this Thirteenth Annual Adventure “Race” will also have us all looking for those orange orienteering markers on foot (just a mile, not counting detours to give bison a wide berth!) It's a grand total of 2¾ miles on foot, less than last year.

Mostly on trails, you’ll need to decide "Do I go left, or right?" at least a dozen times. (Or for some of us, "Do I follow those other folks or not?" ;) Our Adventure "Race" is really mostly a self-guided map hike to some pretty spots. Not sure of your orienteering map skills?... See Dave L. anytime during the week for some tips and a short "practice course." This event is for anyone with average agility and fitness and with at least a modicum of navigational skills.... So if you are slow-moving but quick-thinking, this may be your event. Or at least pick a teammate smarter than you!

For only the second time, those "competitive folks" at the finish line early can declare for the "long course" category & do another loop looking for markers near the creek and cabins marked on a clear aerial image map. That extra loop is just over half a mile (perhaps less if you go through the Lodge lobby, but we highly discourage that!) The rest of us skip that loop. As always, it's really only a "race" if you want it to be.

For the competitive folks among us, we'll have a "masters" category (both 45+), another 60+, plus our usual single-gender and mixed gender categories... Ok to sign up solo!.... to find a partner, some folks always wait until the start of our event when we explain how it all works.  A challenge, sure. Fun, yes. Our motto: it’s more about the journey than the result!

***Thus, it strategically behooves everyone to recruit as many participants younger than themselves as
possible!...just don't mention to the younger set that they'll have uphill hiking-biking! :-)

Recommended items to bring: a narrow-point permanent red "sharpie" (we'll have some to lend), shoes for hiking-jogging on trails, water, sun protection and/or rain gear as needed, and a compass (we’ll have some to lend)... No GPS/ cell phone nav. app use, just the compass app.

Cost: $30

Join Dave behind the scenes for the adventure race. This is the perfect opportunity to see the adventure race up close and cheer friends as they navigate through the "race". Dave will assign roles based on skill set and ability- this is appropriate for all levels.