Needles (Black Hills)

Needles climbing
The Needles, South Dakota, United States
Nearest city	Custer, South Dakota
Range	Black Hills
Coordinates	43°50′28″N 103°32′40″W / 43.84111°N 103.54444°W / 43.84111; -103.54444
Climbing type	traditional face and crack climbing and bouldering
Height	500 feet
Pitches	1 to 4
Grades	5.0-5.13
Rock type	granite, pegmatite
Quantity of rock	years worth ( 2,000 summits)
Development	well developed
Cliff aspect	mixed mainly traditional climbing
Season	spring to fall
Ownership	State park
Camping	none
Classic climbs	Spire Two, 5.3 Innercourse, 5.5 Rum Room, 5.7 Tent Peg, 5.7 Tricuni Nail, 5.8 Trojan Determination, 5.8 Behind The Door, 5.9 Four Little Fishes, 5.9 Hardrocker, 5.9 Needle's Eye, 5.10- Nentucket Sleigh Ride, 5.10 Superpin, 5.10b R Farewell to Arms, 5.10+ For Whom the Bell Tolls, 5.11a Limited Immunity, 5.11b Vertigo, 5.11 Leaning Jowler, 5.12a Walking the Plankton, 5.12b Thimble, 5.12a Outlet CG Boulders
Stars

Spire Two, 5.3
Innercourse, 5.5
Rum Room, 5.7
Tent Peg, 5.7
Tricuni Nail, 5.8
Trojan Determination, 5.8
Behind The Door, 5.9
Four Little Fishes, 5.9
Hardrocker, 5.9
Needle's Eye, 5.10-
Nentucket Sleigh Ride, 5.10
Superpin, 5.10b R
Farewell to Arms, 5.10+
For Whom the Bell Tolls, 5.11a
Limited Immunity, 5.11b
Vertigo, 5.11
Leaning Jowler, 5.12a
Walking the Plankton, 5.12b
Thimble, 5.12a

The Needles of the Black Hills of South Dakota are a region of eroded granite pillars, towers, and spires within Custer State Park. Popular with rock climbers and tourists alike, the Needles are accessed from the Needles Highway, which is a part of Sylvan Lake Road (SD 87/89). The Cathedral Spires and Limber Pine Natural Area, a 637-acre portion of the Needles containing six ridges of pillars as well as a disjunct stand of limber pine, was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976.