Are you hoping to get outside in the coming months? Whether it’s your very first day at the crag or you’re a seasoned climber planning a trip somewhere new, hiring a guide can completely transform your experience.
Climbing guides bring a wealth of knowledge to any outdoor adventure. They know the best routes at every grade, how to move efficiently through a crowded crag, and how to manage technical systems safely and smoothly. They’re not just strong climbing partners, they’re instructors, mentors, and often your biggest cheerleaders when it counts.
Last fall, I had the opportunity to spend six guided days in the Gunks (Shawangunk Mountains in New York) with Rise Outside. My guides (shoutout to Andy and Eric!) were patient teachers and incredible supporters as I worked toward my goal of sending some first trad leads. Over those six days, I gained confidence in technical skills such as placing gear, building gear anchors, and managing multi-pitch systems, as well as sharpening soft skills like route-finding and decision-making.
If you’re thinking about heading outside this spring, here’s how a guide can help you get the most out of your next climbing adventure:
If It’s Your First Time Climbing Outside
Climbing outside for the first time is an adventure! There’s nothing better than fresh air, sunlight, and the challenge of route-finding outside when you've traded rainbow-colored plastic holds for real rock.
Working with a guide on your first outdoor day is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success. If you don’t yet have all the gear or technical knowledge, they’ve got you covered. A guide can tailor the day to your goals, whether that’s simply experiencing outdoor movement for the first time or beginning to learn foundational outdoor systems and skills.
That added layer of security translates directly into comfort and confidence. Instead of worrying about what you don’t know, you can focus on climbing, learning, and enjoying the magic of being outside.
If You’re Visiting a New Climbing Area
Climbing trips make for amazing adventures, and exploring a new crag is half the fun! With so many routes and hidden gems to discover, a guide can help you navigate it all with ease.
A local guide knows the area inside and out. They can take you to the must-do classics, recommend hidden five-star routes that suit your style, and help you avoid the busiest sections on a perfect fall weekend. If you’re traveling solo, they’re also a built-in climbing partner who help you tick off that summit goal. Because guides spend season after season working in the same regions, they know where to go based on conditions, your ability, and your goals. No more relying on only Mountain Project and guidebooks for beta.
Traveling with friends? Guides often work with pairs or small groups and can structure the day so everyone leaves stronger and more confident for the next adventure.
Climbing outside introduces an entirely new skill set: rope management, anchor building, rappelling, cleaning routes, placing gear, multi-pitch systems that can be overwhelming to learn on your own.
Our gyms offer outdoor development classes, from Anchor Building Fundamentals to Sport Climbing and Crack Clinics, and those are excellent first steps. It's great to learn some skills before you get outside, but transferring those skills from a controlled gym setting to the crag is where things truly click.
Working with a guide gives you space to practice and refine those systems under professional supervision. You can focus on learning and progressing without carrying the full mental load of risk management. Working on those skills hands-on with a guide there to coach you can help you level up faster without added stress.
More Than Just Climbing
Whether your goal is confidence, adventure, skill-building, or simply making the most of a special trip, hiring a guide can be a game-change in your outdoor climbing journey.
From cheering me through my first trad lead, to navigating multi-pitch routes that avoided the crowds, to recommending the best spots to eat less than five minutes from the crag (looking at you, Mountain Brauhaus), working with guides have shaped some of my favorite days outside.
If you’re ready to take your climbing beyond the gym, explore our guiding partners and member benefits for some of our trusted partners and member discounts! And if you’re in the Northeast and dreaming of world-class climbing at the Gunks, I can’t recommend Rise Outside enough.