OUR ANNUAL CUSTER STATE PARK CLIMBING FESTIVAL IS HERE!
Join us at Pumpfest, A Black Hills Climbing Festival hosted by the Black Hills Climbers Coalition!
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Black Hills, this event brings together climbers of all skill levels for a weekend of vertical crystal pinching. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or beginner, Pumpfest has something for every climber.
Immerse yourself in the Black Hills community of climbers, enjoy expert-led workshops and clinics, and discover the breathtaking beauty of the Black Hills while climbing among the beautiful landscape of Custer State Park.
This year’s festival will be held behind Sylvan Lake in the Inner Outlet Climbing Area of Custer State Park. While we will not be setting up ropes this year, climbers are encouraged to explore classic routes across formations such as Inner Outlet, Vertigo View, Inner Course, Practice Rock, Paydirt Pinnacle, and Nora’s Wall.
This shift reflects our focus on partner connection, community engagement, and skill development through guided clinics. Whether you’re linking up with new partners or attending a clinic, you’ll have access to dozens of climbs in one of CSP’s most scenic and iconic areas.
(Refer to map layout below for exact location)
Festival Schedule
Friday, July 25th
4PM - 5PM: Speaker Event
Located at the Custer Library (447 Crook St. #4, Custer, SD)
Guest Speakers with Q&A to follow
5:30 - 9PM: Kickoff Social
Located at the South Dakota Outdoor Shop
429 Mt. Rushmore Road, Custer, SD
YoYo Habachi Food Truck available
Lost Cabin Beer Takeover
5:30 - 6:30 PM: Social Hour
6:30-9PM Live Music by Neon Eyes
Learn more about the band below.
Free camping offered in the town of Custer
Generously donated by Don’t Panic
Book your spot below: Van, Car, and Tent site available
Saturday, July 26th
7-8 AM: Yoga & Breathwork
Located at Custer Couthouse Museum Lawn (next to the Outdoor Shop)
411 Mt. Rushmore Rd, Custer, SD
Breathwork led by Chris Pelczarski from Inner Earth Breathwork
Sign up and learn more below!
Yoga Class: Hatha Yoga for Climbers led by Sarah Christiansen
Sign up and learn more below!
8 AM: Climbing Clinic Check In
Location: SD Outdoor Shop
7-10 AM: Coffee, Donuts, & Climbing Partner Meetup
Don’t have a partner for the day? Gather at the Outdoor Shop to fuel up on coffee and donuts, and connect with other climbers looking for partners!
Location: SD Outdoor Shop
8AM - 1PM: Climbing Clinics
Led by Sylvan Rocks Climbing Guide School (Pre-registration required)
Sign up and descriptions below!
8AM - 4PM: CLIMBING in Custer State Park
See map below how to approach the Outlets climbing area
Outdoor vendors will have booths available by the climbing routes
Vendors include: CAAMP, Evolv, Black Hole Resole, & Pain and Movement Physical Therapy
4:30 - 11 PM: After Party
Location: Custer Beacon
5 - 7:30PM Yard Games, Vendors, Crate Stacking, Raffle Prizes
7:30 - 10:30 PM: Live Music by Barstool Prophets
Learn more about the band below.
Free camping offered in the town of Custer
Generously donated by Don’t Panic
Book your spot below: Van, Car, and Tent sites available
Sunday, July 27th
8-9 AM: Yoga & 9am Breath Work
Yoga Located at Custer Courthouse Museum Lawn (next to the Outdoor Shop). Breathwork will meet at 9am at the Cathedral Spires
411 Mt. Rushmore Rd, Custer, SD
Breathwork led by Chris Pelczarski from Inner Earth Breathwork
Sign up and learn more below!
Yoga Class: Yoga Flow and Guided Stretching led by NIkki Massek
Sign up and learn more below!
8-10 AM: Coffee, Donuts, & Informal Climbing Partner Meetup
Don’t have a partner for the day? Gather at the Outdoor Shop to fuel up on coffee and donuts, and connect with other climbers looking for partners!
Location: SD Outdoor Shop
Climbing Information
Map Overview of Climbing Area
The BHCC will not be setting up top ropes for Pumpfest this year due to concerns regarding liability. Instead, we want to encourage community collaboration and involvement by connecting climbers with one another. The map below serves as a general guide to the areas where most people will be gathering and climbing. For specific climbing routes, we will have guidebooks available to review. These guidebooks can also be purchased at the SD Outdoor Shop, Granite Sports, or Roam’n Around.
The green parking area is where you’ll find the BHCC booth, along with booths from other companies. We encourage everyone to carpool whenever possible, as parking is limited in the area.
Rock Climbing Clinics
Introduction to Rock Climbing
During this two-hour long course, you will learn the very basics of top rope rock climbing. Your instructors will teach you how to move effectively on the rocks, tie in with a figure eight follow through, top rope belay, and more! This course covers the foundational skills necessary to minimize risk while climbing in a single pitch, top rope setting. Please Call 605-484-7585 to fill out waivers before arrival. Equipment provided (Bring your own if you have it)
Saturday July 26, 2025 8:00am (Meet at SD Outdoor Shop)
$25 per person – 18 people max
Instructors: Matt Scherer, Amanda Danduran, & Graeme Breems
Sign up Below
Introduction to Multi-Pitch Sport Climbing
This four-hour long course is designed for those interested in multi-pitch sport climbing. This clinic will cover the basics of moving from sport climbing in a single pitch environment to entering the realm of beginner multi-pitch climbing. We will focus on efficiency, anchor building, and mitigating risk in the multi-pitch environment. Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate; but participants should have an understanding and comfortability with climbing in a single pitch environment.
Saturday July 26, 2025 8:00am (Meet at SD Outdoor Shop)
$45 per person – 8 people max
Equipment NOT provided (Please bring your harness, helmet, shoes, anchor building materials (A variety of slings of different lengths, locking carabiners, non-locking carabiners, cordelette (18ft or more), belay device(s), etc.) Bring any gear you would normally carry while single or multi-pitch sport climbing. Participants will receive 10% off their entire purchase at the South Dakota Outdoor Shop if you need to purchase required materials for the course. Please Call 605-484-7585 to fill out waivers before arrival.
Instructors: Peter Gaeta & Chris Spellmeyer
Sign Up Below!
Self & Partner Rescue Skills
This five-hour long course is designed for avid and advanced climbers that wish to learn the foundational skills used during self & partner rescue. This course will cover isolating a compromised rope, passing a knot while lowering & on rappel, load transfers, escaping a belay into a counter balanced rappel, mechanical advantage, a ‘pick off’ (ex: injured lead climber), etc.
This is an ADVANCED level course, and participants should have a strong rock-climbing background. Participants should be familiar with various belay devices (assisted braking and not), extended rappelling, basic friction hitches, basic knot tying (figure eight, clove hitch, flat overhand, etc.) It is recommended that participants attempt to learn the munter hitch and the munter mule overhand prior to this course. While it is not mandatory for participants to be comfortable with the munter, exposure to the munter & munter mule overhand will allow more time to focus on the technical rescue skills covered in this course. The munter mule overhand is a foundational skill utilized in nearly all components of this rescue course.
Equipment NOT provided (Please bring your harness, helmet, shoes, anchor building materials (A variety of slings of different lengths, locking carabiners, non-locking carabiners, cordelette, belay device(s), etc.) Bring any gear you would normally carry while single or multi-pitch sport climbing). A cordelette (18-21ft long) is VERY important to have for this course. It is also recommended that you bring a form of note taking to best retain key points (photos & video taking is appropriate & encouraged). Participants will receive 10% off their entire purchase at the South Dakota Outdoor Shop if you need to purchase required materials for the course. Please Call 605-484-7585 to fill out waivers before arrival.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 8:00am (Meet at SD Outdoor Shop)
$45 per person – 8 people max
Instructors: Brandon Emery & Doug Plourde
Sign Up Below
Saturday Morning Classes
Hatha Yoga
Class will be a hatha yoga class for all levels. The class will begin with ease and gentleness and gradually flow into some playful elements and postures meant to bring out the smiles, lightheartedness & community connection of Pumpfest. Class will be tailored for climbers with an ongoing focus on fingers & wrists, shoulders, neck, hips & hamstrings. The final portion will include a chance to submerge your body in deep relaxation & explore the freedom found from releasing tension & expectations.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 7:00am (Meet at SD Outdoor Shop)
$15 per person
Instructor: Sari Christiansen
Sari has 25+ years of experience in the movement arts including multiple certifications in over 1,000 hours of yoga training from globally recognized schools such as Iyengar Institute and Anusara School of Hatha Yoga. Sari has taught for Balance Studio, Prima School of Dance, Yoga Studio Rapid City, YMCA, SD Yoga Conference, Black Hills Dance Theatre, Custer County Schools, City of Lakewood, CO, City of Santa Barbara, CA, Yoga in the Park, private lessons and more.
She currently teaches at the Trailhouse Arts in Custer, SD. https://www.trailhousearts.com/classes-events
Instagram: sariniki.artnsoul
Sign up Below!
Becoming Lighter on the Rock Through Breath
Looking to have more low gravity days? Breath is the conduit. Our breath controls our frequency, what we feel, what we carry. Through an hour of guided breathing with music, you'll embark on a surprisingly profound journey that will help you feel more in tune with yourself and reconnect you to your heart. You'll learn to climb from the heart - to climb with breath, not with force - through conscious breathing. Come get a taste. If you booked a clinic, we will be back at the Outdoor Shop by 8:30 for gearing up.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 7:00am (Meet at SD Outdoor Shop)
$20 per person
Instructor: Chris Pelczarski
Sign Up Below!
Sunday Morning Classes
Yoga Flow & Guided Stretching
Class will be a yoga flow and guided stretching to help aid in recovery from the previous day of climbing!
Sunday, July 27, 2025 8:00am (Meet at SD Outdoor Shop)
$15 per person
Instructor: Nikki Massek
Signup Below!
Becoming Lighter on the Rock Through Breath
Looking to have more low gravity days? Breath is the conduit. Our breath controls our frequency, what we feel, what we carry. Through an hour of guided breathing with music, you'll embark on a surprisingly profound journey that will help you feel more in tune with yourself and reconnect you to your heart. You'll learn to climb from the heart - to climb with breath, not with force - through conscious breathing. Come get a taste.
Sunday, July 27, 2025 9:00am (Meet at Cathedral Spires Parking Lot)
Instructor: Chris Pelczarski
$20 per person
Sign Up Below!
Guest Speakers
Murray LaHood Burns | Black Hole Re-Sole
Murray has been resoling climbing shoes for the Black Hills area for over a year now. In addition, his focus lately has turned to producing custom climbing shoes based on each customers foot shape. Murray is excited to share what he has learned about building shoes, and how he developed his own process of going from a 3D scan of the climbers foot to a quality fitted shoe made from proven materials like suede and Davos rubber.
Luke Ross
Luke Ross was born and raised in the Black Hills, where he began climbing in 2002 and received his first camera at the age of 10. With a lifelong sense of adventure, he has found his dream in combining his passions for climbing and photography. In addition to these pursuits, Luke also enjoys mountain biking, kiteboarding, and anything that gets the heart rate up.
Dave Rone
Dave Rone started climbing in 1976, and has extensive experience with big rock, ice, and alpine routes. He fell in love with the Black Hills during his first trip in 1979, and he and Mary Jo have lived near Custer since 2018.
Free Camping in Custer
Don’t Panic LLC is proud to host Pumpfest camping at The Pond, a unique 10+ acre private property on the Mickelson Trail just north of Custer, SD! Don't Panic LLC equips outdoor adventurers with essential wilderness medicine skills, ensuring they can confidently respond to emergencies in remote, challenging environments.
Key Information for Your Stay
Car, van, tent, and hammock camping are available Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27. No RVs or pull-behind trailers due to space and road constraints.
Register to Camp: Fill out the registration form by clicking the button below.
Directions: Directions will be emailed to registered climbers by Thursday, July 25th.
Water: There is no potable water available on site. Please ensure you bring all the drinking water you
need.
Restrooms: A designated outhouse with a bucket toilet is located at the northern end of the property;
however, we encourage you to lighten your load before you arrive!
Fires: Please only have fires in the two designated fire rings. Always ensure fires are completely
extinguished and never left unattended. Be aware of any local fire bans.
Leave No Trace: We are committed to preserving this natural environment. Please pack out everything
you pack in, leaving no trash or waste behind.
Pets: Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Please ensure all pet waste is bagged and packed out.
For more extensive information about the property, including detailed rules and photos, please visit our Hipcamp page