Rock climbing guides and rock climbing classes at Joshua Tree National Park and Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks, Idyllwild.

Rock Climbing Instruction in Southern California

Since 1983, Vertical Adventures rock climbing school has been Southern California's rock climbing school leader, setting the standard of professionalism with our low student to instructor ratios, excellent safety record, and exceptional rock climbing guides.

In 2008, Vertical Adventures Rock Climbing School was honored to be ranked as the #1 rock climbing school in America by Outside Magazine, in their list of America’s top adventure schools, and in 2011 our rock climbing school made the list of msnbc.com's "Top Ten Outdoor Adventures."

Our rock climbing school instruction is offered year-round. From September through May our group rock climbing classes and guided rock climbs are held at Joshua Tree National Park, located in the high desert north of Palm Springs. One of America's most popular rock climbing areas, with over 8000 routes to choose from, Joshua Tree has ideal weather for rock climbing in the fall and spring, and is the best site in the country for rock climbing during the winter season.

Summer temperatures are generally too hot for rock climbing all day long at Joshua Tree National Park, although our Joshua Tree rock climbing program offers half-day private lessons during the summer season to climb in the shade of early morning or late afternoon/evening when temperatures can be surprisingly comfortable. All of our rock climbing classes can be booked as a private lesson or private group class during the summer Joshua Tree rock climbing season.

During the summer season Vertical Adventures' Idyllwild Rock Climbing School offers rock climbing classes at Suicide Rock, and guided climbs of Idyllwild's Tahquitz Rock, which at 1,000 feet high is Southern California's tallest rock formation, and one of the best rocks in the country for traditional, multi-pitch rock climbing. Located in the beautiful pine forest above the town of Idyllwild, in the San Jacinto Mountains, at an elevation of 7000 feet, Tahquitz Rock offers ideal conditions in the summer months for guided rock climbs.

Our rockclimbing classes and guided rock climbs have enabled many to attain goals they never thought possible. To the newcomer: I invite you to experience the joy and exhilaration of rockclimbing in Southern California.

With over 8000 rock climbing routes, Joshua Tree National Park rock climbing combines easy access for rock climbing classes plus great variety, providing the perfect venue for a rock climbing class or guided rock climbing.

Bob Gaines, Director A.M.G.A. Certified Rock Climbing Instructor AMGA Certified Rock Instructor

Vertical Adventures Rock Climbing School Director Bob Gaines is an American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified Rock Instructor. Bob is also a member of the AMGA Instructor team and teaches the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course and is an examiner for the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Exam. Bob has been a Joshua Tree rock climbing guide and instructor since 1983, when he founded Vertical Adventures' rock climbing schools at Joshua Tree National Park and Tahquitz and Suicide Rock Idyllwild. Vertical Adventures’ Joshua Tree rock climbing school program includes our Joshua Tree rock climbing class instruction, Joshua Tree rock climbing classes, Joshua Tree rock climbing courses and seminars, and rock climbing guides for Joshua Tree National Park. Our Joshua Tree rock climbing season for our regularly scheduled group rock climbing classes and private group lessons is from September through May. We offer half-day rates for guided rock climbing and private group lessons in June, July, and August at Joshua Tree National Park. Our Joshua Tree rock climbing program and guided rock climbs operate under commercial use permit at Joshua Tree National Park. Our Idyllwild rock climbing school and guides, which includes our one-day rock climbing classes, multi-day rock climbing courses, group rock climbing instruction, and guided rock climbs at Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks, operates in June, July, and August at Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks, Idyllwild, under special use permit of the U.S. Forest Service, Idyllwild. Vertical Adventures Rock Climbing School Director Bob Gaines' latest guidebook is Best Climbs Joshua Tree National Park, featuring 252 of the finest routes in Joshua Tree National Park.