The Midwest Climbing festival
The Quartzite Classic is a grassroots climbing festival dedicated to celebrating the past, present, and future of climbing at Devil’s Lake. Our homegrown event will bring climbers together for education, connection, community, and stewardship.
Hosted by the Wisconsin Climbers Association, in partnership with local organizations and businesses, the festival features educational clinics, community gatherings, and stewardship projects to support the sustainability of climbing at Devil’s Lake and across the midwest. Our vision is to honor the past, strengthen our community, and give back to the land that has given us so much.
Mark Your Calendars!
Festival Details
When & Where
October 10th - 12th, 2025
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Devil’s Lake State Park
Skillet Creek Campground
Registration
The Quartzite Classic will offer three different options for registration on a sliding scale.
Standard registrations will be $75, which will include on-site parking, access to tent site camping, admission to the festival, and a wristband for complimentary beer courtesy of Tumbled Rocks Brewery. This rate represents the "true cost" at which we would break even after paying our expenses.
Participants who are able to afford an additional $25 are encouraged to upgrade to a Sustaining registration for $100 total, which will support the WCA in our mission to make the festival accessible to the community. This rate helps offset for individuals who pay the Supported rate.
We therefore offer Supported registration at a cost of $50 for participants facing financial challenges. We recognize that the Supported rate may also be inaccessible to some; anyone is welcome to get in touch for a "pay what you can" option.
Please note that this event is not organized for profit: any revenue above our expenses will be reinvested to support the climbing community in Wisconsin.
Camping & Festival Grounds
All camping and festival events will be held at Skillet Creek Campground, just a stone’s throw from Devil’s Lake State Park.
Tent camping at Skillet Creek Campground, plus a limited number of cabins available - please email us to reserve an accessible cabin at info@wiclimbers.com.
Cabins
A limited number of waterfront cabins are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each cabin sleeps 6-8 people and includes air conditioning/heating, a private bathroom with shower, fridge, microwave, stovetop and oven. Booking a cabin for $600 includes festival registration for one participant who is welcome to share the cabin with up to 7 other festival participants (all of whom must register separately using one of the above registration rates).
Please note that the cabins will be next to the festival and vendor tents, with potentially some tent campers in the grass around the cabins. Important: if you are a wheelchair user, or have other mobility/accessibility needs - especially if tent camping will not work for you - please email us so we can work to accommodate you.
Climbing Clinics
We’re excited to announce some amazing clinics hosted by local Midwest climbing guides!
Saturday (8:30am - 3:30pm)
Introduction to Big Wall Climbing
This comprehensive 2 day clinic will cover fundamental techniques, effective communication, and safe practices for big wall climbing, providing ample time on the wall to refine your skills. This course is suitable for participants who are confident trad leaders and/or multipitch climbers. **Please note that this 2-day clinic is scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday! Participants must be able to attend both days.**
Introduction to Traditional Anchors
This clinic will cover the fundamentals of building top-rope anchors at Devil's Lake with traditional climbing protection, including natural terrain features (e.g., trees). Participants will learn and practice the skills involved in placing and connecting protection to build bomber anchors on the bluffs of Devil's Lake and beyond. This course is suitable for participants of all experience levels.
Introduction to Traditional Lead Climbing
This clinic will introduce climbers to the techniques required for leading single-pitch traditional rock routes at Devil's Lake. Participants will learn and practice the physical, technical, and psychological skills involved in climbing quartzite on lead. This course is suitable for participants who have outdoor climbing experience and understand how to build top-rope anchors with traditional rock protection (e.g., spring-loaded camming devices).
Self Rescue
This clinic will cover fundamentals of self-rescue techniques in single-pitch environments. Topics will include escaping the belay and applications of the munter-mule-overhand. Each participant will receive a new locking carabiner and hollow block from CAMP. This course is suitable for participants who have experience setting top-rope anchors outdoors.
LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group Top-Rope Climbing
This affinity-group clinic will provide an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ climbers to participate in top-rope climbing within a queer-focused space. The clinic is a great way for people to connect with others in the community they might not otherwise cross paths with, and it provides an accessible option to experience a full day of private guiding. This course is suitable for participants of all experience levels.
Women+ Open Climb
This affinity-group clinic will provide an opportunity for Women+ climbers to participate in top-rope climbing within a femme-focused space. The clinic is a great way for people to connect with others in the community they might not otherwise cross paths with, and it provides an accessible option to experience a full day of private guiding. This course is suitable for participants of all experience levels.
Sunday (8am - 3:30pm)
Open Top-Rope Climbing
This clinic will provide an opportunity for climbers to participate in top-rope climbing supported by professional guides. This course is suitable for participants of all experience levels.
Multipitch Efficiency
This clinic will cover transitions and other fundamentals of efficiency in multipitch climbing. This course is suitable for participants who are confident trad leaders and/or multipitch climbers.
Climbers of Color Open Top-Rope Climbing
This affinity-group clinic will provide an opportunity for climbers who are Black, indigenous, and/or climbers of color to participate in top-rope climbing within a BIPOC-focused space. The clinic is a great way for people to connect with others in the community they might not otherwise cross paths with, and it provides an accessible option to experience a full day of private guiding. This course is suitable for participants of all experience levels.
Silver Senders Open Top-Rope Climbing
This affinity-group clinic will provide an opportunity for climbers who are 50 years of age or older to participate in top-rope climbing within a senior-focused space. The clinic is a great way for people to connect with others in the community they might not otherwise cross paths with, and it provides an accessible option to experience a full day of private guiding. This course is suitable for participants of all experience levels.
Vendors
More information coming soon! If you or your business would like to join the festival as a vendor, please email info@wiclimbers.com.
Community Gatherings
This is what climbing festivals are all about! The Quartzite Classic will include:
Vendor exhibitions
Social events
Climbing games
Silent raffle
Local Legend Award
& various other festival shenanigans!
Meetups
More information coming soon! If you represent an affinity group that would like to host a meetup, please email info@wiclimbers.com
Stewardship
The WCA will host a stewardship event on Sunday from approx. 9am to 1pm for volunteers who want to help improve climbing access and give back to the climbing community.