Moab Tower Pursuits
Overview
“A pinnacle is worth five walls!” – Layton Kor
The historic ascent of Castleton Tower by Layton Kor and Huntley Ingalls in 1961 helped launch the era of desert tower climbing in Southern Utah, establishing the region as a world-class destination for big desert summits.
Our tower climbing programs with The Mountain Guides offer a true bucket-list experience in the Great American West. Experience the adventure of climbing iconic desert towers this year with expert local guides who have decades of experience in the Moab area.
Moab Desert Tower Climbing Overview
A 2 day guided desert tower climbing experience in Southern Utah featuring iconic sandstone formations and world-famous summit routes.
Who It’s For
Climbers looking for a once-in-a-lifetime objective—from experienced climbers seeking classic desert test pieces to first-time tower climbers ready for a guided summit experience.
What You’ll Experience
- Guided ascents of iconic desert towers in Southern Utah
- Climbing a “Fifty Classic Climbs” of North America
- Hands-on instruction and preparation on day 1 to set you up for success
- Learning multi pitch skills
Why Choose This Experience
- Guided by certified guides who specialize in desert climbing
- Access to some of the most iconic tower climbs in North America
- Personalized guiding for your skill level and goals
- Learn new skills and gain multi pitch experience
The Mountain Guide’s two-day Tower Pursuits program prepares and guides you to the summit of one of 20 different iconic world famous sandstone formations. We offer tower ascents for parties of one or two on Tower’s ranging in difficulty from 5.7 to 5.11.
Tower Pursuits requires crack climbing skills that are unique to the Colorado Plateau. If this is your first tower experience our guides are experts at suggesting the best tower for you and teaching you the necessary skill to stand on the summit.
Day 1- This day focuses on preparation for your multi pitch objective. You will spend the day climbing with your guide learning specific skills for climbing a tower. Revisit belay skills by belaying a top rope and lead climber. Rappel skills. Learn how to clean and rack climbing protection along with dismantling anchors. Climbing skills include: Off widths, chimney techniques, hand cracks and finger cracks.
Day 2- Your guide will choose the appropriate objective based on day 1 for the group. You will meet your guide likely early and drive forty five minutes to an hour to the trailhead. Then you will start the objective by hiking in and then climbing the route. Some of the classics include Ancient Art in the Fischer Towers. The Kor Ingles and North Chimney routes on Castleton Tower. These are some of North America’s 50 Classic Climbs.
This climb is for those that have significant multi pitch and climbing experience. To bypass the "prep" day, we need a resume of your climbing history or a referral from another guide.
This climb is incredible, although exposed and some consider it to be more mentally challenging than physically.
The schedule for this climb typically involves meeting your guide pre-dawn at Lion's Park near the Moab bridge. From there, you will caravan to the Fisher Towers trailhead and begin the objective.
Ancient Art via the Stolen Chimney route is a 4 pitch tower rating in difficulties up to 5.10. Most choose to pull on the climbing equipment to assist their ascent, or "french free" the route to focus on getting to the top.
This trip usually takes ~6 hours round trip and you are done early afternoon due to the early start from the trailhead to beat crowds and sometimes the heat.
Tower Pursuits: Price:
1 person - $800
2 people - $550 / person
Please note that due to scheduling considerations, this trip cannot be booked online. Please click here to inquire about specific date for your climb.
Please read through our policies by visiting this page.
Fall – February – May
Spring – September – November
FOOTWEAR
- Approach Shoe - Guide Pick: BD Technician Pro
- Technical Rock Shoe: comfortable fit. -an aggressive fitting climbing, sport climbing shoe is not recommended.
CLOTHING
- Synthetic Shorts for approach (optional)
- Pant for Climbing
- Long Sleeve and/or Short Sleeve Synthetic T-shirt
- Warm Layer for chilly mornings (fleece or light down jacket)
- Lightweight Wind Shell
- 35- 40 Liter backpack
- 15-20 Pack for Multi Pitch / Tower climbs
ACCESSORIES
- 2 to 3 Liters of Water
- Lunch + Snacks for the day
- Sunscreen
- Sun Hat
- Sunglasses
CLIMBING EQUIPMENT The Mountain Guides does provide technical climbing equipment (if you need any of the options on the list please let us know in advance) If you have your own, your are more than welcome to bring use it.
- Harness / Helmet
- 3 Locking Carabineers
- Belay/Rappel Device
- Rappel / Leather / Garden gloves
- Personal Attachment System
Have gear questions? We’re here to help! Email us at moab@jhmg.com.
See more about gear, including recommendations and discounts from our gear partner Black Diamond here.
Located in southeast Utah, Moab is approximately 236 miles from Salt Lake City, 355 miles from Denver, 115 miles from Grand Junction and 458 miles from Las Vegas. Most trips and classes leave from the Lion's Park, near the Moab bridge. Meeting times are determined by the season and guide. Many of our climbing sites are fairly close to town, while Indian Creek, Castle Valley and Fisher Towers take about an hour to get to. Once there however, there are miles of routes with close proximity to one another, making the walking time minimal when compared to the amount of climbing that can be achieved in a day. Climbing around Moab is usually about a 10 to 20 minute drive from downtown. The approaches are very close to the car and routes are located close together.