Castleton Tower, The Rectory, Wall St. and more!
Moab is undoubtedly the outdoor adventure capital of Utah. Surrounded by a multitude of National Parks, including Arches and Canyonlands, as well as the majestic Colorado River, it’s no wonder why so many outdoor enthusiasts descend into Moab to get their desert adventure fix. The Moab area boasts some of the finest desert climbing in the area. It’s a great place to hone your climbing skills, or tackle a desert classic like Castleton Tower.
We offer introductory through advanced level instruction at popular cragging destinations such as Wall St. and the Ice Cream Parlor, both of which are excellent for acquiring basic skills and crack climbing proficiency. We also offer guided climbs on tower climbs such as Fine Jade (5.11a)on the Rectory, or the Kor-Ingalls (5.9) and North Chimeys (5.9) on Castleton Tower.
The best seasons to climb in the Moab area and Utah desert are in the spring and fall; March – early June and September – early December. The weather lends itself to optimal climbing conditions during these time periods, with warm daytime temperatures and cool, clear nights.
Our Guides – Your Instructors
We offer guiding and instruction with IFMGA Mountain Guides & AMGA Certified Rock Guides, insuring you receive the most thorough and competent guiding available. Our guides have climbed and guided in Moab and the Utah Desert more than any other guide service in Colorado and our expert knowledge of the area and it’s routes is unmatched.
2023 Dates
March – June
September – November
Costs
$599 for 1:1
$399 pp for 2:1
$299 pp for 3:1
No Hidden Fees
Includes:
- Guiding and instruction with an AMGA Certified/Trained Guide
- All rock climbing gear (harness, helmet, rock shoes, etc.)
Moab Rock Climbing Itinerary Options
We offer both Private Guiding and regularly scheduled Crack Climbing Courses for your convenience. Contact our office to determine which program is best suited to your background and skill set.
PRIVATE GUIDING
Many of our guests choose this option for maximum itinerary flexibility and the opportunity to climb classic routes such as:
- North Chimneys or Kor Ingalls on Castelton Tower
- Honeymoon Chimneys on Sister Superior
- Fine Jade on the Rectory
- Ancient Art in the Fisher Towers
- other classic routes and climbs in the Moab area
Rock Climbing Equipment List
| Backpack | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | The Osprey Mutant 38 represents an excellent all around performer for Ice Climbing trips in the Ouray Ice Park and surrounding San Juan backcountry. |
| Water Bottles | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | We recommend wide mouth Nalgene (or similar) water bottles for the majority of our programs. Two 1 liter bottles is the standard for days in the mountains. |
| Personal Food | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | Lunch begins when breakfast ends and ends when dinner begins. Bring what you like to eat and consider the length, relative difficulty, weight, and other factors when deciding what to bring in the mountains with you. A variety is always best. Don't be afraid of Mr. T. |
| Sunscreen | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | Essential for all of our programs. SPF 30 would be our minimum recommendation. Typically a 4 oz. bottle will suffice but consider trip length when deciding how much to pack. |
| Belay Device | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | A belay device is a required item on any of our technical climbing or mountaineering courses. While not necessary to have the Guide ATC specifically, we think owning one of these offers additional versatility as you progress and gain additional knowledge about the various levels of functionality provided by a device of this type. |
| Harness | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | The BD Aspect Harness is a great all around performer for all types of climbing - ice, rock, alpine etc. The adjustable leg loops and integrated ice clipper loops make this a solid investment as your do-all harness. |
| Locking Carabiners | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | We recommend at minimum 2 - 3 personal locking carabiners on our climbing courses and any technical private guided program. We prefer classic screw gate carabiners over other types of locking mechanisms. |
| Climbing Helmet | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | A versatile, hybrid-shell helmet for lightweight protection in any discipline, the Vector features excellent ventilation and a ratcheting adjuster. |
Training & Follow Up Climbs
As always, being in excellent physical shape is an important component of our our programs. A good mixture of cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness, and especially core strength will help you to maximize the potential rewards that are possible on a great climbing trip.
Specific to Rock Climbing – it is a great idea to experience rock climbing in a gym first prior to your first experience outside!
Before Your Trip
Familiarity with basic climbing principles such as knots, belaying, rappelling, and other climbing techniques can be very helpful for our Intro Course participants. Though not required, prior gym climbing experience will help you to acquire and assimilate the information covered in our rock climbing course progression as quickly as possible.
Follow Up Climbs
Moab, Utah: Getting There
Moab, Utah is located in the SE Utah Desert, and is near many of the states National Park units such as Canyonlands and Arches National Park. Moab is a hub for all kinds of outdoor adventure, from mountain biking and rafting, to hiking and jeeping. Yes, jeeping.
 The best option for flying to the area is to fly into Grand Junction, CO. Many airline options exist, and because Grand Junction is a major airline and travel destination there are typically many one-way flights to choose from.
 You will likely need a to organize a rental car to drive to Moab, UT from Grand Junction. Typically in the summer months you can choose any type of vehicle but in the spring and fall months please consider that weather can change rapidly in the mountains so an All Wheel Drive or Four Wheel Drive vehicle is worth considering. Below are some approximate driving times to get to Moab, UT.
- Grand Junction, CO: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Ouray, CO:Â 3 hours 30 minutes
- Salt Lake City, UT: 3 hours
 There are a number of great hotels in the Moab area, but we strongly urge you to consider camping at one of the many local campgrounds. A great addition to the experience of spending time in the Utah desert. Plus there really aren’t that many rattle snakes out there.
Program Policies
Registration & Cancellation
Advance Registration is required for this program. You have the option to either call our office and register via phone or utilize our secure Online Reservation System. All participants must read and sign an Assumption of Risks/Liability Waiver and agree to our Reservations and Cancellations Policies.
Inclusions
- Guiding and Instruction with an AMGA Certified/Trained Guide
- All rock climbing gear (harness, helmet, rock shoes, etc.)
Exclusions
- Transportation to Moab, UT
- Hotel costs before, during, or after the program
- Guide gratuity
- Lunch food or snacks
- Personal hiking/climbing clothing
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (recommended)
- Costs associated with weather delays or other variables beyond the control of San Juan Mountain Guides
Book This Trip!
We Offer Online Registration
- Click on Book This Trip
- Select your Program dates
- Enter your Info and Payment
Or, call 800.642.5389 to register
