Los Angeles Rock Climbing Guide Services

We meet at the trailhead, fit everyone with shoes, a harness and a helmet, and walk to the crag together. While your guide builds anchors, you'll learn the essentials: tying in with a figure-eight, how belaying and lowering work, and the commands climbers use to talk to each other. Then it's climbing time: a mix of routes picked to match your group, with coaching on footwork and movement along the way.

The day is planned around the people climbing, so tell us your goals. Some groups want to try as many routes as possible; others want to learn to belay each other or rappel. Just tell us.

Half days run 8:00am–12:00pm or 1:00pm–5:00pm; full days run 8:00am–4:00pm. In the summer heat (May–September) mornings start an hour earlier, and winter afternoons wrap up by 4:30pm to beat the early sunset. The calendar shows the exact time for your date.

Need a different start? Mention it in your request and we'll do our best, though shifting a half day can shorten it if the guide has another trip that day.

It depends on the crag we pick together. Your confirmation email includes the exact trailhead, a map pin and parking notes. Most groups drive themselves and follow the guide's directions; please carpool where you can. Roadside parking at Stoney Point and Texas Canyon fills up fast on weekends.

Included: your certified guide, climbing shoes, harness, helmet, chalk, ropes and all technical gear, plus state park day-use parking for one carpool vehicle where a fee applies (e.g. Malibu Creek).

Bring: 2–3 liters of water per person (more for a full day), snacks or lunch, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a warm layer, and comfortable athletic clothes that you can stretch in (skip the jeans). Closed-toe shoes or sneakers for the walk in.

No, so pack your own snacks and lunch. On full days we take a proper break at the crag. Malibu Creek and Stoney Point both have grocery stores and cafés within a few minutes' drive if you'd rather grab something on the way.

Absolutely. Most of our guests have never climbed outside, and plenty have never climbed at all. We top-rope, which means the rope runs through an anchor above you and your belayer takes in slack as you climb, so a slip usually means a short stop on the rope rather than a fall. Climbing always carries some risk; your guide manages every anchor and double-checks every knot and harness to keep it low.

Gym climbers are welcome too: we can focus on outdoor skills like reading real rock, cleaning anchors, rappelling, or learning to lead on bolts.

As easy or as hard as you want. LA's crags have routes from beginner-friendly 5.4 slabs to 5.13 test pieces. Your guide picks a progression that keeps everyone challenged without being overwhelmed. First-timers usually start around 5.5–5.7, and returning climbers can push into the 5.10s and beyond.

Kids 6 and up are welcome on standard trips, and families are some of our favorite groups. Anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian on site who signs the waiver. Multi-pitch trips are 14 and up.