Overview
All-Levels Climbing in the Gorge
- Half Day Trip (4 hours)
- Rock climb and rappel in the New River Gorge National Park
- Your guide will select the best location for your group and skill levels
- Appropriate for beginner and experienced climbers
- Must wear closed toe shoes
- Max weight: 260 lbs
- Min age: 8
- Prices start at $109
High above the New River, walls and cliffs of bullet-hard sandstone emerge from the lush forest that abounds in the New River Gorge. Serious climbers from around the globe flock here for the technical routes to be found, but there’s no shortage of climbing areas for all levels! This New River Gorge rock climbing adventure will take you to one of our two most popular climbing areas for beginners and experienced climbers.
Bridge Buttress is the birthplace of technical climbing at the New River Gorge and is a local favorite. Then there’s the aptly-named Beauty Mountain–a collection of crags at the end of the popular Endless Wall hiking trail and hundreds of feet above the rapids of the Lower New River. Both of these climbing areas offer routes with gigantic handholds, which are perfect for beginners, and more challenging routes for those who’ve been climbing for a while.
No experience climbing? No problem. On this adventure we can show you the basics of climbing before you take a crack at climbing to new heights.
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.
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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.
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 four hours long. Reserved groups will depart in the morning or early afternoon. 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
While there is no age requirement for rock climbing, 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!