2017-01-14 05:50:39
A small, but scenic geologic wonder, Palisades State Park is nestled among the sheer cliffs overlooking the Split Rock Creek just a short half-hour’s drive from Sioux Falls. The park offers the regular menu of outdoor recreation opportunities, including camping, hiking and picnicking. But it also offers a unique form of outdoor excitement for the more adventuresome at heart. Palisades is one of just a few premier rock climbing sites in the Midwest. Numerous climbing routes are easily accessed and provide a wide assortment of climbing experiences. Sioux quartzite formations play host to a variety of face and crack climbs, with even a few hidden bouldering sites thrown in for good measure. Whether top-roping a novice route on South Wall or Rattlesnake Rock, or a more ambitious route at Swing Set Cove or on Positron, climbers from all over the Midwest make the trek to Palisades to take on the forces of gravity. When you think of rock climbing, you don’t always have to venture out to the mountains. Sometimes a prairie oasis like Palisades State Park may offer more than meets the eye. And the views experienced while hanging from a rope fifty feet above the waters of Split Rock Creek are quite different than those experienced by other park visitors. It’s all a matter of perspective! The nearby city of Garretson, just two miles north of the park, provides all the services necessary for an extended visit. Palisades State Park is just 10 miles north of I-90 off Exit 406 near Brandon. A Palisades climbing brochure is available at the park, by mail (call 605-594-3824) or on the Palisades page at www.gfp.sd.gov. For more info, contact Palisades State Park, 25495 485th Avenue, Garretson, SD 57030.
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