The outdoor recreational activity of climbing is the focus of this part of our web guide.
This may include mountain climbing, rock climbing, ice climbing, or canyoneering. Tree climbing would also be appropriate for this category.
However, we have a separate category for extreme Rock & Ice Climbing, and retail sites for Climbing equipment, gear, supplies, and other products are featured in a separate category within our Shopping & eCommerce area. Climbing walls and gyms can be listed in the Local & Global category corresponding to their geographic locations.
Outdoor climbing challenges the mind and body. Whether scaling rugged cliffs, navigating frozen waterfalls, or ascending towering trees, climbers uniquely connect with nature.
Rock climbing is one of the most recognized forms of outdoor climbing. It involves ascending natural rock formations, from sheer cliff faces to boulders, using a combination of strength, technique, and specialized equipment. There are different styles, including sport climbing, where climbers follow pre-placed anchors, and traditional climbing, which requires placing gear for protection. Popular destinations for rock climbing include Yosemite National Park in the United States, Kalymnos in Greece, and the limestone peaks of Thailand. When I lived in Southern California, my son and I enjoyed the rocks at Joshua Tree National Monument.
Mountain climbing can present the ultimate challenge. However, mountains come in various shapes and sizes, so they are not all as unforgiving as Mount Everest, K2, or Denali. Still, climbers will likely face obstacles, from loose scree slopes to steep ridges and altitudes that may test a climber's physical limits. The most challenging mountains require endurance, strategic planning, and resilience in extreme conditions. None of them should be undertaken haphazardly. Not paying close attention to where I was going, I got lost on Bagley Mountain in Maine several years ago, and it's less than 900 feet high, with a road going most of the way to the top.
Ice climbing presents an entirely different set of challenges than rock climbing. Climbers ascend frozen waterfalls, ice-covered cliffs, or glaciers using crampons, ice axes, and specialized gear. The unpredictability of ice requires careful attention and adaptability. Canada's Banff National Park and Norway's Rjukan offer challenging ice climbing experiences.
A less conventional form of climbing, at least for adults, is tree climbing. Unlike rock or ice, trees provide a living, organic structure that climbers navigate using ropes, harnesses, or pure agility. Aroborists, conservationists, and adventurers scale towering trees for research, recreation, or to experience their dense canopies and fascinating ecosystems.
Some outdoor climbing experiences incorporate ropes beyond the standard safety gear. Rope courses and aerial parks offer structured challenges where climbers traverse suspended obstacles, climb rope ladders, or dangle between trees. While less technical than rock or ice climbing, these activities introduce climbing principles in a controlled environment.
Regardless of the terrain, outdoor climbing offers a sense of achievement, adventure, and connection with nature. These activities require problem-solving skills, mental fortitude, and physical endurance.
Recommended Resources
Housed in the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado, the AAC is a non-profit organization with over twenty thousand members. The AAC advocates for American climbers domestically and around the world, provides grants and volunteer opportunities, hosts local and national climbing festivals and events, maintains a climbing library and mountaineering museum, and manages several facilities as part of a larger lodging network for climbers. An online store is included.
https://americanalpineclub.org/
American Mountain Guides Association
Formed in 1979, the AMGA represents the United States to the 21-member International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, the international body responsible for guiding standards and education worldwide. AMGA is a non-profit organization that provides support, education, and standards for US-based mountain guides. It also offers training courses and certification exams in rock, alpine, and ski mountaineering. Member information and programs are featured.
https://amga.com/
Founded in 1999 to fund climbing routes in Hawaii and Guam, Climb Aloha is a climbing shop based in Honolulu, Hawaii. It has since grown into a hub for climbers, offering climbing gear, training, and rope access services. They also work on maintaining and developing climbing routes, using high-quality materials like titanium bolts. Besides their products, they offer training for professionals and recreational climbers. Contacts for shop inquiries, training, and contacts are posted.
https://climbaloha.com/
Climbing is an American rock climbing magazine first published in 1970. In 2007, Skram Media, the publisher of Urban Climber Magazine, purchased it. The magazine is currently owned by Outside, an outdoor magazine headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. It is published nine times a year. Featured articles, news, climbing skills, gear reviews and reports, travel information, climbing culture, and a regular feature entitled "Weekend Whipper" are featured. A mobile application is available.
https://www.climbing.com/
The Climbing Business Journal is an independent news outlet covering the indoor climbing industry. It provides the latest coverage on climbing industry news and data, gym developments, best practices, risk management, competitions, youth coaching, and route-setting. Included is an industry guidebook, interviews, home-waller resources, podcasts, webinars, and a calendar of events. Other resources include membership information, job opportunities, and contact data.
https://climbingbusinessjournal.com/
Global Organization of Tree Climbers
Founded in 2007, GO Tree Climbing has members, facilitators, and instructors worldwide. Its signature event, the Tree Climbers Rendezvous (TCR), is held in different locations across the United States and worldwide each year, working with local organizations. Its Recreational/Technical Tree Climbing program is highlighted, and member climbers, facilitators, and instructors can be found on an interactive map. TCR schedules, membership information, news, and informational articles are included.
https://www.gotreeclimbing.org/
International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation
Commonly known as UIAA for its French name, Union internationale des associations d'alpinisme, the organization was founded in 1932. The UIAA Safety Label was created in 1960, was internationally approved in 1965, and has a global presence on five continents. Its commissions, member federations, and library of publications are featured, along with its sustainability, safety, and climbing sports programs, grades, standards, special projects, social media, and contacts.
https://www.theuiaa.org/
Organized as a non-profit, the Keep Climbing Federation is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children battling life-threatening illnesses. They organize mountain climbs to support various charities focused on childhood cancer and other serious diseases. They host the annual "Climb for the Kids" events, where participants take on challenging summits to raise money for pediatric cancer research and support. Sponsorship opportunities and a shopping page are featured.
https://keepclimbingfoundation.org/
The MAA is dedicated to climbing, mountaineering, rock climbing, and ice climbing. They offer events, training, and expeditions for enthusiasts who share a passion for mountain adventures. The non-profit organization operates commercially in the Tahoe National Forest and on private land in the Tahoe area, while functioning non-commercially elsewhere. The MAA emphasizes teamwork, responsibility, safety, and the pursuit of climbing experiences. An online store is included.
https://mountainascent.org/
Maintained by Adventure Projects, a Boulder, Colorado company, and REI, Mountain Project is a guide to more than 300,000 climbing routes across the world, which can be found by entering a number of variables to determine the type of climb desired, including locations. Optionally, a keyword search may be used, or visitors to the site may browse the Project's top ten classic rock climbing routes, or a climbing gym directory. A partner finder, and a discussion forum are included.
https://www.mountainproject.com/
The Mountaineers is an alpine club in Washington State. Founded in 1906, the Seattle-based club is organized as an outdoor recreation, education, and conservation non-profit organization. It hosts a wide range of outdoor activities, primarily alpine mountain climbing and hikes, as well as classes, training courses, and social events. The club runs a publishing business, "Mountaineers Books," with several imprints. Volunteer opportunities and contacts are posted.
https://www.mountaineers.org/
Based in Mebane, North Carolina, Piedmont Tree Climbing offers public and free tree climbing experiences, including guided climbs for individuals, camps, schools, and other organizations in the Triangle and Triad regions of the state. They also host public tree climbs on weekends from March through November at their farm in Efland, North Carolina, with climbs open to participants ages six and up. They provide all the necessary gear for a safe experience. Schedules are posted.
https://www.piedmonttreeclimbing.org/
Professional Climbing Instructors Association
The PCIA is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality education for climbing instructors. They focus on cultivating a network of trained professionals who uphold high standards in climbing education. The PCIA offers various certification programs to ensure instructors are well-equipped with the necessary skills. Its history, organizational structure, board of directors, programs and courses, various climbing resources, and contact data are provided.
https://www.pcia.us/
The Oregon-based organization is focused on mountain climbing instruction and activities. They offer a mountain climbing school each spring, covering rock and snow techniques. Founded by climbers from Salem, Oregon, in 1959, the non-profit offers its climbing school, as well as club climbs and other activities, an annual banquet, a Luau, and wilderness first aid classes in March and October. Its membership requirements are featured, along with schedules, trip reports, and contacts.
http://santiamalpineclub.org/
Southern California Mountaineers Association
The SCMA is a climbing club that brings together skilled climbers from the Southern California region. Founded in 1986, it evolved from the Sierra Club's rock climbing section, which dates back to the 1930s. The organization offers year-round climbing trips to destinations like Joshua Tree, Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Red Rock Canyon, and Tahquitz/Suicide. Members are required to pass a comprehensive safety exam or complete its rock climbing safety course.
http://rockclimbing.org/
TCI is a global organization dedicated to promoting tree climbing as a safe and enjoyable activity for people of all ages. They offer training programs for both recreational and professional climbers, ensuring that climbers use proper techniques to protect themselves and the trees they climb. Founded in 1983 by Peter Jenkins, a former rock climber and arborist, the organization has since developed safety and training protocols that have become standard worldwide for recreational tree climbing.
https://treeclimbing.com/
Trees Company Recreational Climbing
Claiming to be the Kansas City area's only certified recreational tree climbing guide service, Trees Company features individual and group adventures for climbers of all ages, programs tailored to individual abilities, and professional instruction and supervision. They provide all of the climbing equipment and safety gear, including the trees. Its programs include a climbing session through the Olathe Parks & Recreation Department, aerial retrieval, and several other programs.
https://treescompanyclimbing.com/
Based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Treetop Explorer offers tree climbing adventures and training for both beginners and experienced climbers, including training classes and private or group climbs. Included are open climbs, open-advanced climbs, Girl Scout climbs, recreational department climbs, group climbs, and private climbs, as well as beginner and advanced climbing courses, a calendar of events, volunteer and employment opportunities, informational articles, and contacts.
http://www.treetopexplorer.com/
Upper Peninsula Climbers Coalition
The UPCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting climbing areas in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. They own Slug's Bluff, Michigan, the state's first climber-owned crag, and they work with over twenty different landowners to ensure access to other climbing spots. Membership and support information, featured climbing areas and events, active projects, and contacts are provided, and an online store offers branded stickers and other products.
https://www.upperpeninsulaclimbing.com/
Formed in 1968, USA Climbing is the national governing body of the sport of competition climbing in the United States. The non-profit organization promotes sport climbing, which comprises three competition disciplines: bouldering, lead climbing, and speed climbing, in elite, youth, and collegiate formats. USA Climbing is recognized by the IFSC, IOC, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Team USA, memberships, and contacts are posted on the website.
https://usaclimbing.org/
WCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving access to climbing and promoting stewardship in Washington State. The organization works with land managers, property owners, and climbers to ensure that climbing areas remain open and well-maintained. Their efforts include advocacy, education, and direct action projects like trail maintenance and conservation initiatives. Membership information is provided, including its chapters, advocacy issues, and climbing areas in Washington.
https://washingtonclimbers.org/
