Guided Rock Climbing in Red Rock – Las Vegas, Nevada

If you would like to do a longer route that requires an early morning meeting, please request the route by name and the office will work with both you and your guide to set an appropriate meeting time and location.

If you’d like to join a group of climbers, we offer several programs that are regularly scheduled during the core desert climbing season.  Content from these courses may be offered on a private basis as well.

• Outdoor Rock Climbing Intensive Introduction – Learn basic climbing skills and movement techniques in this four-day program.
• Learn to Lead – An introduction to traditional rock leadership, designed for those who have done some outdoor climbing and are ready to take the next step.
• Self Rescue for Climbers – If you’re going up, you also need to know how to come down in an emergency.
• Multi-Pitch Skills Course –  Has the allure of the massive canyon walls in Red Rock finally gotten to you? This is where you begin.
• Aid Climbing and Big Wall Techniques – Learn how to use direct aid and train to climb a some of the biggest and steepest pieces of rock on the planet.
• AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Certification Course and Exam – This program prepares accomplished recreational climbers to become rock climbing instructors.

The Access Fund has identified Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area as the most threatened climbing area in the United States. This is for a variety of reasons, including:

• Proximity to major metropolitan city and the lack of respect that some urban dwellers have for wilderness
• Difficult policies concerning the management of fixed anchors
• Encroachment of housing developments

The Kraft Boulder Trail – completed during Red Rock Rendezvous, 2011 by the Las Vegas Climbers’ Liaison Council and organized by former AAI guide, Scott Massey

The proximity to the city and the ease of access to some of the crags provides those with no wilderness ethics access to a pristine environment. Rare native petroglyphs have been vandalized and litter and graffiti have been a problem.

Fixed anchors have been banned in the Red Rock backcountry since 1998. This particular situation has made it difficult for people to develop new routes deep in the Red Rock wilderness. Fixed anchors such as bolts are often a necessary safety feature needed to connect a series of crack systems on a face. Additionally, they are often used for rappel descents. As such they are a necessary feature in new route development.

Since the turn of the century, there has been an ongoing battle between Red Rock advocates and developers. The developers would like to see the outskirts of Red Rock Canyon turned into housing developments and mini-malls. Obviously, those who love the wilderness character of the Conservation Area are hugely opposed to such a move.

American Alpine Institute guides have been deeply involved in the politics surrounding Red Rock Canyon since the year 2000. Jason Martin, AAI’s first Red Rock lead guide, became involved in the Las Vegas Climbers’ Liaison Council — a local climbing advocacy group — on the Board of Directors. For eight years, Jason worked with the LVCLC on the bolting issue, while also participating in trail-buidling projects, litter clean-ups, graffiti removal projects, and the removal and replacement of old bolts with the American Safe Climbing Association.

In 2004, Jason became involved with Mountain Gear’s annual Red Rock Rendezvous, one of the biggest climbing festivals of the year. Since that time, AAI guides have been supporting and instructing at the event which raises money for the Access Fund, the American Alpine Club, the American Safe Climbing Association, and of course, the Las Vegas Climbers’ Liaison Council (now called the Southern Nevada Climber’s Coalition.

In 2008, Jason moved into the AAI office, taking on a management position in the company. At that time, AAI guide Scott Massey was promoted to the lead guide position in Red Rock. And Scott not only picked up where Jason left off, but expanded significantly on what Jason and other members of the LVCLC accomplished. Scott not only put together a number of clean-ups and trail-building projects, but also replaced literally hundreds of old and bad bolts throughout the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. His work was so prolific that it would be no exageration to say that if you have climbed in Red Rock, you have likely clipped a bolt that Scott has placed.

A WAG Bag Dispenser near the trailhead at Pine Creek Canyon. Originally installed by Scott Massey in the winter of 2011-2012. These have been replaced several times now. Scott Massey

In addition to the other work that Scott was involved with, he also spearheaded a project to help cut down on human waste in the backcountry. Scott installed four WAG Bag dispensers at trailheads. Wag Bags are bags specifically designed for human waste removal. This project helped to cut down on human waste in the backcountry and at the crags considerably.

In 2012, the work that Scott was doing in Red Rock was recognized by the American Mountain Guides Association. He resigned from the American Alpine Instittue and became the Director of Advocacy and Outreach for the AMGA.

AAI Guide Andrew Yasso took Scott’s place as lead guide in 2012. And along with Doug Foust, another local Red Rock guide, they took on the mantle in continued support of advocacy and conservation in the area. Both served on the LVCLC and were there when it officially changed its title to the Southern Nevada Climbers Coalition.

AAI continues to work with the Southern Nevada Climbers Coalition, the American Safe Climbing Association and Red Rock Rendezvous to promote and protect Red Rock Canyon.

To learn more about the issues facing Red Rock Canyon and what you can do about it, log onto:

• Save Red Rock
• Southern Nevada Climbers Coalition on Facebook
• Access Fund