Overview
Full-Day Climbing for Enthusiasts
The New River Gorge has long been the epicenter of rock climbing in Central Appalachia, and it continues to attract devoted climbers with its bullet-hard sandstone, world-class routes, and stunning scenery. This Guided Rock Climb–Full Day trip is great for beginners and intermediate climbers looking to experience a variety of rock, push their limits, and build their technical skill sets.
Your guide will take you to some of the most popular climbing areas around. Bridge Buttress is the birthplace of technical climbing at the New River Gorge, and Beauty Mountain is a collection of crags at the end of the Endless Wall hiking trail. You might be able to visit both areas! Discuss your goals and skill level with your trip leader, and our guides can tailor your day.
Every group is led by experienced guides who have tons of technical skills and climbing know-how. They’ll be there every minute to help you navigate each route and to keep all participants comfortable and safe.
Resources
FAQ
What’s Included
We’ll provide all the safety gear you need, like your helmet, harness, and sticky-rubber rock shoes. If you’re a more experienced climber who has your own gear (including chalk), you may use it at the discretion of your guide. Full-day trips also include lunch, which will be provided either on the Adventures on the Gorge campus or at the crag.
What to Wear and Bring
Closed-toed shoes are required. You may want to bring water, snacks, a small daypack, and appropriate clothing based on the weather forecast (sunglasses, brimmed hats, rain or wind jackets, long or short pants).
Trip Time
This trip is about eight hours long, including an hour for lunch. Reserved groups will depart in the morning. Climbing trips are offered throughout the main season. Summer is best for warm weather, but the best temperatures for gripping the rock are actually in the spring and fall.
Reservations
Reservations are encouraged for this adventure. Climbing areas are heavily regulated by the National Park Service, so group sizes are limited in any given area. Large groups may be separated for this reason.
Most rock climbing trips will continue during rainstorms, which are typically brief enough that you can just take shelter under an overhanging while the storm passes. It’s perfectly safe to climb wet, slippery rock since all of our climbs are “top rope” style, with the safety rope secured above you.
Requirements and Limits
There is a maximum weight of 260 pounds per participant. Maximum group size is 12 participants, with no more than four participants per guide. Guides will provide all belaying unless the trip leader determines otherwise. Trip locations may change depending on the weather, the presence of other climbing groups, or at the guide’s discretion.
Safety
Climbing comes with inherent risk. After all, gravity never sleeps! At Adventures on the Gorge, we offer types of climbing that are lower risk and with multiple back-ups built into our rope systems. Never scramble around cliffs without being tied in and on-belay, always keep your helmet on when below the cliff (even if you’re not climbing), and listen to your guide’s direction and advice. Every guide is extensively trained in first aid, belaying, and vertical rescue techniques.
Indoor vs Outdoor Climbing
Climbing gyms are an excellent way to build fitness, but the types of moves you do indoors may not translate to climbing techniques for real rocks. If you’ve been climbing in 5.10 in the gym for several months, don’t be surprised or disappointed if you get shut down on a 5.7 outdoors!