Moab

Rock Climbing in Moab, Utah

Moab is one of the great climbing destinations on earth. Perched on the Colorado Plateau between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, this small desert town offers a stunning variety of rock climbing — from soaring sandstone towers and world-famous splitter cracks to single-pitch sport routes just minutes from downtown. The Mountain Guides are the only AMGA-accredited guide service in Moab, and our guides have spent decades climbing and guiding in the desert. Whether you’re a first-time climber or an experienced trad leader chasing Castleton Tower, we’ll put you on the right route with the right instruction to make your Moab climbing trip unforgettable.

Our Moab Climbing & Canyoneering Programs

Moab Classic Crack Climbs: Spend a day with a guide climbing the iconic crack routes that put Moab on the map. Pioneered by legends like Earl Wiggins and Charlie Fowler, these routes are a piece of American climbing history. Your guide will assess your ability and build a hit list matched to your experience.

Tower Pursuits: Our signature two-day program prepares and guides you to the summit of one of 20+ iconic desert towers. Day one focuses on skills — crack technique, anchor systems, rappelling — and day two is your summit day. Towers range from 5.7 to 5.11, with options for first-timers and experienced leaders alike. Castleton Tower, Ancient Art, and the Fisher Towers are among the classics.

Indian Creek Crack Climbs: Widely considered the best crack climbing in the world. Miles of parallel splitter cracks line the walls leading into the Needles District of Canyonlands. Our guides know these cracks intimately and will get you on the right route to build or refine your jamming technique.

Crack Climbing Classes: New to crack climbing? It’s a completely different discipline from gym or sport climbing — and Moab’s sandstone is the perfect classroom. Our intro classes cover technique, tape gloves, and movement on Moab’s classic cracks. Family programs for kids ages 5+ also available.

Canyoneering: Take a break from the vertical and explore Moab’s dramatic slot canyons. With over 20 years of experience guiding these canyons, we offer trips ranging from family-friendly half-days to technical full-day adventures with rappels, narrows, and arches.

Women’s Climbing Weekend: A two-day clinic for women and non-binary climbers. Learn the art of crack climbing on warm desert sandstone, taught by experienced female and non-binary guides. Options for both beginner crack clinics and advanced tower pursuits.

Moab’s Climbing Areas

Moab’s climbing is spread across several distinct areas, each with its own character. Wall Street and Potash Road offer accessible single-pitch and multi-pitch routes just minutes from town on hard Wingate sandstone. Castle Valley is home to the famous desert towers — Castleton, the Rectory, and Sister Superior — about an hour from Moab. Fisher Towers features the Titan and Ancient Art, with climbing on softer Cutler sandstone unlike anything else in the desert. Indian Creek, about an hour south, is the world capital of splitter crack climbing. Our guides know all these areas intimately and will choose the best venue based on your goals, ability, and conditions.

Why Climb with The Mountain Guides in Moab

The Mountain Guides are the only AMGA-accredited guide service operating in Moab. Our guides are AMGA-trained and certified professionals with decades of experience on the Colorado Plateau. We provide all technical climbing equipment, keep group sizes small, and tailor every trip to your experience level and goals. Our Moab office has been guiding here for over 20 years, and we know these routes, rock types, and conditions better than anyone.

When to Climb & Getting Here

The best climbing season in Moab runs from March through May and September through November, when temperatures are comfortable in both sun and shade. Summer months can exceed 100°F, and winter brings occasional snow at higher elevations. Moab is located in southeast Utah, approximately 236 miles from Salt Lake City, 355 miles from Denver, and 115 miles from Grand Junction, Colorado. Most trips meet at the Red Rock Bakery on Main Street in downtown Moab.