Family-Friendly Rock Climbing in Mammoth Lakes

August 11, 2023

Mammoth Lakes offers a vast array of opportunities for families looking to climb together in the Eastern Sierra.

From easy accessibility via bouldering to challenging multi-pitch routes, the scenery and variety will leave everyone from your youngest scramblers to the most proficient in your group, happy they are scaling the heights together.

Where To Go Rock Climbing With Kids In Mammoth Lakes

Quick facts: Bouldering | Beginner-friendly | Horseshoe Lake slabs (Mammoth Lakes Basin) and The Catacombs (Crowley Lake, overlooking Owens Gorge) | No guide required, self-guided

Many families who climb with their children like to start their kids out on the slabs behind Horseshoe Lake in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. For bouldering, another favorite is The Catacombs behind Crowley Lake overlooking the Owen’s Gorge.

Want to explore the region, but aren’t sure where to start? Do you need help assessing your family member’s abilities or have a mixed group and want a private excursion to fit your group? If so, check out the guided climbs and camps available from local guide services.

Guided Family-friendly Rock Climbing In Mammoth Lakes

Ground Up Climbing Guides

Quick facts: Ages 5+ for guided climbs | Group and private options, plus kids’ summer camps | All gear provided (helmets, harnesses, shoes) | Owned and operated by Clay Tyson, local climber and ski instructor

Ground Up Climbing Guides in Mammoth Lakes offers many family-friendly climbing options including group climbs, private guided climbs, and summer camps for kids. The business is owned and operated by Clay Tyson, a local climber and ski instructor with many years of guiding and climbing under his belt. Clay is comfortable guiding a family or group of all experience levels and ages (starting at age 5 and up) and will provide everything you need for the excursion including helmets, harnesses, and shoes.

Family Rock Climbing Trips with Ground Up Climbing Guides

Ground up Climbing Guides works with people of all ages and ability levels; they can craft a fun day for anyone. Their guides are very adept at helping new or experienced climbers find their footing. For reservations and questions, contact Clay at 609-647-4787 or visit the Ground Up Climbing Guides website.

Kids Rock Climbing Camps with Ground Up Climbing Guides

Quick facts: Ages 8-15 | Two-day course | Clark Canyon, 7 miles north of the Mammoth Lakes turnoff | Requires prior climbing experience

Ground Up Climbing Guides offers a Kids’ Climbing Camp for children ages 8-15 at Clark Canyon, just seven miles north of the turn off for Mammoth Lakes on the U.S. 395. The two-day course is offered on several dates throughout the summer and covers rappelling, ‘mock’ lead climbing, belaying and more. Kids will love the introduction to advanced techniques and days full of climbing.

Note: The camp is for children who have some experience climbing as it focuses on more advanced terrain and harder routes.

International Alpine Guides

Quick facts: Age minimum not stated | AMGA-trained and certified guides | 40+ years of mountain guiding experience | All technical gear provided

International Alpine Guides in Mammoth Lakes offers a variety of family-friendly climbing options, as well as options for those looking to expand their climbing skills. With over 40 years of experience guiding the world’s mountains, the company’s local Mammoth Lakes and Sierra Nevada rock climbing guides are professionals trained by the American Mountain Guides Association.

Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing with International Alpine Guides

Join International Alpine Guides every Saturday from late May until mid-September for an intro to outdoor rock climbing. If you have zero rock climbing experience or are a seasoned indoor gym climber, this one-day rock climbing course is great for learning all the basics of outdoor rock climbing. This includes climbing movement on face and crack climbs, belaying techniques and safety protocols, knots for rock climbing, rappelling, basic rock climbing technical systems and Leave No Trace principles at the crag. The 8-hour course is offered on several dates throughout the summer.

Private Day Rock Climbing in the Eastern Sierra with International Alpine Guides

Looking for a great family adventure? Perhaps you are looking for specific rock climbing training? Or maybe you have a specific climb in mind. The AMGA trained or certified guides with International Alpine Guides will show you a great day out on the rocks in the Eastern Sierra.

They are well equipped to take the entire family out for the day on a rock climbing adventure and offer half day and full day classes for singles and groups up to five people (larger groups are possible with advanced notice). No equipment? International Alpine Guides has all the technical gear you’ll need, including rock climbing shoes.

Check out the International Alpine Guides website for a full selection of classes.

Climbing Safety for Families

Both guide services equip climbers with helmets, harnesses, and shoes, and International Alpine Guides’ instructors are trained or certified by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), the industry standard for climbing instruction in the US. For families climbing on their own at Horseshoe Lake or The Catacombs, bring your own helmets and climbing shoes, and stick to routes matched to your least experienced climber.

Plan Your Family Rock Climbing Trip

Whether your family wants a casual afternoon of bouldering or a full day with a certified guide, Mammoth Lakes has an option to match your group’s experience. For help planning other guided adventures, visit our Guided Services page, and for more family trip ideas, check out our Family-Friendly Adventures guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the minimum age for rock climbing in Mammoth Lakes?

Ground Up Climbing Guides accepts kids as young as 5 for guided climbs, with a dedicated Kids’ Climbing Camp for ages 8-15. International Alpine Guides works with families but doesn’t publish a set minimum age, so confirm directly before booking.

Is rock climbing in Mammoth Lakes safe for kids?

Yes, when guided by a certified outfitter. Both local guide services provide safety gear and trained instruction, and beginner bouldering spots like Horseshoe Lake offer a lower-stakes way to start.

Author

Charlotte Kaufman

Charlotte Kaufman grew up in Alaska and started traveling internationally at the age of 16. A sailor since 2005, she and her family were part of a dramatic at-sea rescue in the spring of 2014 while en route to the South Pacific. She has just completed a memoir about the experience and is seeking to publish. Charlotte is the founder of Women Who Sail, a group of over 15,000 female sailors. After losing their sailboat, she and her husband moved their family to Mammoth Lakes, California, swapping adventures at sea for the mountains. In 2017 she founded Mammoth Women Writers, a writing group dedicated to building a community of women and non-binary writers in the Eastern Sierras. Charlotte's work has appeared multiple times in San Diego Magazine.