Rock Climbing
From single-pitch top-rope outings to committing, exposed multi-pitch traditional routes that ascend 1,000 feet, Colorado and Utah feature the best in guided rock climbing. We offer half- or full-day rock climbing trips, depending on your goals, objectives, and group size. Our AMGA trained or certified guides can accommodate all levels of experience.
We also offer custom courses for climbers looking to learn the basics or improve their personal skillset, such as progressing to lead climbing, high-alpine routes, or placing trad protection. Route grades range from moderate to 5.13 and harder. If you’re unsure where to begin or where you’d like to climb, contact our office at (970) 369-1153 and we’ll design the ideal day based on your experience level, goals, and objectives.
San Juan Area Rock Climbing (Includes Telluride, Ouray, and More)
- Pipeline Wall – Telluride (sport climbing)
- Bilk Creek – Telluride (sport climbing)
- Ophir Wall – Ophir (sport and trad climbing, long multi-pitch)
- Ophir Needles – Ophir (alpine rock climbing, long multi-pitch)
- The Dark Side – Ophir (sport and trad climbing)
- Rotary Park – Ouray (sport climbing)
- Dike Wall- Ouray (sport climbing)
- And more!
To book a San Juan Rock Climbing trip, please click below.
Half-Day - Register Full-Day - Register Family Rock Climbing - Register
Front Range Area Rock Climbing
- Boulder Canyon
- Eldorado Canyon
- Boulder Flatirons
Moab Area Rock Climbing
- River Road
- Wall Street
- Ice Cream Parlor
- Ancient Art
- Castle Valley
- And more!
Black Canyon at the Gunnison
To book a Front Range, Moab or Black Canyon rock climbing trip, please contact the Mountain Trip office at [email protected] or (970) 369-1153.
The following is a list of guide-recommended gear for Telluride and Ouray, Front Range, Moab and Black Canyon rock climbing with Mountain Trip. For trips in the Telluride and Ouray area, we will happily provide all technical equipment, including helmets, harnesses, and rock climbing shoes. Climbers are also welcome to bring and use their own gear upon inspection by one of our guides.
Whatever gear you choose, please make sure it fits well so you fully enjoy your experience in the mountains.
In addition to what we provide and have available to rent, there is also a good selection of gear available in Telluride and Ouray. If you have any specific questions about what you might need, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Mountain Trip office.
Print Equipment
Footwear
| Gear | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Trekking Shoes or Boots for Colorado | Comfortable, well broken in trekking shoes or lightweight boots will work for approaching climbs, the Telluride Via Ferrata or climbing 14ers. Good traction is important for all of the above. Contact our office for more detailed advice! |
Torso Layers
| Gear | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Light Fleece Hoody | Light/mid weight fleece (or wool) top with a hood. You will wear this over your light weight base layer. | |
| Rain Jacket for Colorado | A rain shell can be your most important layer as we often experience afternoon showers during the summer months in Colorado. It should be packable and in good working order meaning that, in addition to being waterproof, it still has a functional water repellent finish and beads water on the surface of the fabric. |
Leg Layers
| Gear | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Softshell Trekking Pants | A lightweight synthetic softshell pant is a great layer that you'll wear every day on a trek or for an ascent of a peak. These are water resistant, breathable and comfortable in a wide range of weather and temps. |
Head and Hands
| Gear | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Sunglasses | Sunglasses are essential in the mountains. Choose a pair that are comfortable and provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. |
Packs and Duffels
| Gear | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing Pack | Suitable climbing packs will be 30 - 45 liters in volume and have the capability of easily attaching crampons, and ice axes if used for a day of ice climbing or if needed for a peak ascent. For a day climbs, any pack in the 30 - 45 liter range will work, but we recommend that you consider the weight of the pack carefully. Overnight, alpine routes require larger (45L) packs that also let you strap your sleeping pad to the outside. |
Climbing Gear
| Gear | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing Helmet | Make certain it fits over your warmest hat and under the hood of your shell. The super-lightweight foam helmets are great, but can get crushed in your duffel bags during travel, so protect your lid! | |
| Climbing Harness | An aspect of technical climbing is hanging in a harness. Having a padded, comfortable harness will make you much happier than will a thinly padded, alpine harness, and, should you find yourself at a semi hanging belay, your legs are less likely to fall asleep from lack of circulation. | |
| Carabiners | 2 locking carabiners and 2 non-locking carabiners. (4 total) | |
| Belay/Rappel Device | A plaquette style belay/rappel device. |
Other
| Gear | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Two (2) One-Liter Water Bottles | You will need two, 1-liter plastic water bottles. Please bring wide-mouth bottles, such as those from Nalgene, as these are much easier to fill than bottles with small openings. | |
| Camera | Most climbers these days use their phone as a camera, but if you plan to bring a dedicated camera, consider a small, light weight point and shoot camera. If you are a photography buff and really want to bring a DSLR, plan for that extra weight with your training! | |
| Lip Balm | Bring a tube of quality lip balm with sun protection (SPF). | |
| Sunscreen | The sun can be intense in Colorado, so please apply high SPF sunscreen prior to your trip and bring a small tube along to reapply during the day. |
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included in the Trip Fee:
- Guidance of our highly experienced Mountain Trip guides.
- All necessary protective equipment where it is required.
- Assistance arranging post-trip activities in the area.
Not Included in the Trip Fee:
- Travel to and from southwest Colorado.
- Personal clothing and equipment per our equipment list. (Please, just ask us if you need anything!)
- Accommodations in Colorado.
- Travel and/or rescue insurance. (The CORSAR card is an inexpensive way to reimburse local rescue groups for costs incurred during a rescue in Colorado.)
- Costs incurred due to evacuation or unplanned departure from the area due to illness or other problems.
- Costs incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of Mountain Trip.
- Costs as a result of force majeure.
Refunds and Cancellations
Mountain Trip recognizes how difficult and disappointing it can be for guests who must cancel trips. Guests must also recognize that, due to the nature of planning trips and contracting guides for specific dates, Mountain Trip also accrues significant expenses in organizing our excursions. We must therefore adhere to a strict refund policy for all guests.
We require 100% payment at the time of booking and at least 72 hours’ notice for cancellations and rescheduling of activities. If you would like to purchase travel insurance to protect a trip in case of last-minute cancellations, you can do so via Travel Guard HERE.
We are happy to work with you to reschedule to a new date, or if you need to cancel entirely, we will provide a full refund with a minimum of 72 hours’ notice. If you cancel inside of 72 hours ahead of a trip departure, or do not show up, you will not be refunded and will have to reschedule by paying full price.
Participants must fit our rated equipment in order to participate on Rock Climbing trips. We use the Black Diamond Momentum Harness, which goes up to a 41-inch waist. If any individual does not fit the equipment we provide, they will not be able to attend.
All requests for refunds must be made in writing and received in our Colorado office. No refunds will be provided for cancellations occurring within the last three days prior to the scheduled date of a trip.
Mountain Trip reserves the right to cancel a trip prior to the departure date for any reason. In such an event, all monies collected by Mountain Trip from trip participants shall be promptly refunded. This is the extent of our financial liability.
Weather Cancellations
We, Mountain Trip and our guides, reserve the right to make all weather-related decisions in regards to the cancellation of trips.
