Five stars all the way! First, I had fun and didn't die so, in my opinion, my adventure with Cliffhanger was a big success. Second, the whole experience was seamless. Booking was quick and easy. Their questionnaire about my experience, preferences, etc was thorough. Pricing was fair. They are conveniently located. And the owners do a lot of good work in the community. Third, my guide- Mike C- was just the absolute best. Relentlessly upbeat, patient with my questions, the essence of calm. This young man cheerfully and gently verbally assisted me beyond several points where I would have just... stopped. He was an excellent safety and technique coach but without his encouragement and, again, unflappable calm, I would not have felt as confident or relaxed. He's very gifted and I'm lucky to have been assigned to him as he crafted an amazing experience. Fourth, food was a real surprise! I expected the barest minimum but it was nicer than anything I would have eaten at home! Overall, if you're wanting to rock climb and need a guide, Cliffhanger is the way to go. I have nothing but praise for them. read more

My daughter and her boyfriend were visiting California from NYC. He's the type who loves rock climbing (in gyms) and nature. She's more of a bedrotting indoors kind of girl. So, naturally, I booked a rock climbing day with Cliffhanger Guides in Joshua Tree as my attempt to get her to "touch grass." She was pretty anxious beforehand, being a city kid and all. When the trip started, I even hung out for a bit to see how things looked, and she still seemed nervous when I left. But their guide, Hailey, must be a wizard because when I came back to pick them up, both kids were all smiles. My daughter even said the trip was "fun," which is basically a five-star review coming from someone who would happily bedrot all weekend. Logistics were also smooth: booking was easy, communication was clear, and both of them filled out a questionnaire ahead of time so the trip could be tailored to their experience level. Overall, an awesome experience, and I'd absolutely book with Cliffhanger Guides again. read more

I took my teenager on a trip to the Joshua Tree area. It was our first time. On a whim I decided to book a day of climbing with Cliffhanger Guides. This was 100% the best choice I could have made. It was a great day with my kids. We all had a blast and learned so much about climbing. and, our guides Brad and Dan gave us a bunch of recommendations to make the most of the rest of our visit to Joshua tree. I wish I could give them more stars! read more

We had a really awesome trip through Joshua Tree with Cliffhanger Guides. Andy was really knowledgeable and took us on a scrambling adventure that was a great fit for our family--two fortyish parents and a ten-year-old kid. We tried the mini deserteering adventure, and it was a great pace and length for people who enjoy hiking in nature but may not be ready for a whole-day excursion. We know we got to experience Joshua Tree on a level that many visitors will never see, and we are so grateful! Thank you to your whole team. We will definitely recommend Cliffhangers and book another adventure with you the next time we are in the area! read more

Rock Climbing with Matt was such a great experience! He made sure my husband and I had an amazing time on our first rock climbing adventure. It definitely got a bit challenging for me at times, but Matt was incredibly supportive and gave helpful advice that kept me going. We ended the day with lunch, sharing stories, which made the whole experience feel even more special. Overall, it was fun, memorable, and something I'd absolutely recommend! read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Rock climbing - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

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Outstanding! We had a perfect day with Dan as our guide. Took my 16/yo girl and 13/ yo boy. Only did a half day, but could have easily done a full day. Next time! read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

First time with this outfitter, but I will definitely go back to them for my next JTree adventure! 5 Stars in all aspects. Communication (Avery, the point person, was great!), customer relationships (owner/founder Seth meets every client before heading out for the day!), personalized attention, customized itinerary, and a free lunch. And, most importantly, the guide! Brad was A++. Super knowledgeable (about climbing and the park) and personable. Tailored the day to my desires and skill set. Brad made the day everything I had hoped for and more. If you're trying to decide to which outfitter to choose, I recommend you start with Cliffhanger! read more

My family of 5 enjoyed our JT mini adventure tour with Brad and Kitson. My grown kids had never done outdoor rock climbing before and they had a wonderful experience. We then went through The Chasm of Doom. Brad gave very clear instructions on how to scramble through the tunnels and cracks. It was so fun! Kitson also did a good job staying behind us to make sure no one left behind and gave us a hand when needed. read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Chasm of doom - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

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Fantastic experience for our family of four (kids 8 and 11). Our guide, Matt, picked a great spot, perfect for our abilities, and was patient and encouraging. We always felt very safe. Lunch was surprisingly awesome, I.e. not crappy sandwiches! All in all, highly recommend, especially for families. read more

The high number of 5 star reviews are fully warranted. Our trip was perfectly balanced for the group with a mix of exploring, scrambling, and getting on ropes. The discussion of the rock, plants, animals, and history of the place was excellent and we were better afterwards about how we walked in the park. Planning was easy and we worked around some weather successfully. I recommend a full day because it really didn't ever get boring. The lunch was just right. Safety was always well handled, making the climbs more fun. We had Greg and Mike, who had a lot of local knowledge and clearly enjoyed being out there. read more

Incredible time in J Tree with Matt! Had a group with a mix of experience levels and Matt made sure everyone was challenged and had a great time. Spent the morning top roping Cap Rock over a range of grades. Lunch was really good! Ended the day with a trad climb up to the summit and rappel down! read more

We had the best time climbing and exploring in Joshua Tree with Cliffhanger. Our guide, Danny, was super knowledgeable, competent, and great with kids. Cliffhanger was happy to work with us to tailor our experience to our skill level and what we wanted to experience in the area. Thanks for the trip, guys! read more

Andy and Seth provide an amazing experience. We had such a great time climbing with Andy. We had two kids ages 9 and 12 and two adults. Gave us the perfect amount of instruction and felt totally safe. He's an amazing guide and we enjoyed it thoroughly. read more

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We had two half days with two different Cliffhanger guides and the guides were amazing! The service, knowledge, enthusiasm, support, and guiding from the guides was top notch! Greg and Brad were great guides and good with young kids. They both knew a ton about the flora and fauna of Joshua Tree. What was really great was how much you could tell they love what they do. We felt safe the entire time and I appreciated that they walked the kids through how cams and ropes worked for safety. I really liked how responsive, friendly and professional their admin support team is. Angela was able to find a guide for our family on a super short request while she was working on a federal holiday. And Avery was always really responsive. On the day of the tours, the owner is also there to meet up. And it's nice to put a name to the face and feel like a valued customer. Highly recommend! read more

100% recommend. We had a wonderful time climbing with Andy. Our 5 year old was initially hesitant. Andy did not push him, he just talked him through his options and by the end of the day, Our kid was climbing each route multiple times and getting to the top. More importantly, he loved it and did not want the day to end. The adults had a wonderful time too. Lunch was yummy, healthy and tailored to our dietary restrictions. We will definitely be back. read more

Worth every penny!! I was a little skeptical of spending money on a guide when there are so many great books and pretty easy access climbs in Joshua Tree. But man are we happy we did this! Initially we did a half day and our guide was fantastic, food was healthy and plenty and the climbs were the perfect level of difficulty to be challenging and also achievable. It was so good we swapped plans and did a second half day which was even better!!! We asked for the same guide who knew our abilities and showed us a place we would have struggled to find even with the best guide book, a sniffer dog and a drone... Both days we had the climbs all to ourselves which was likely luck but also testament to our guides knowledge of conditions, sun, wind, temp and likely other groups... We will absolutely be going back to Cliffhanger Guides in the future. If you are thinking of a Joshua Tree climbing trip, book these guys on your first day at the very least. Every other day if they are available and every day if possible! You won't regret it!! Oh and we are a family of four, both kids climbed, parents hung out and enjoyed the scrambling, food, conversation and our guides knowledge of the geology, plant life and history of Joshua Tree. read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Climbing - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

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Highly recommend Cliffhanger. Every step of the communication was easy and simple. We met Jesse at the office bright and early and he was ready for us. What a pleasure it was to climb with Jesse... my partner was a newbie and I am more experienced, Jesse was very flexible and adaptive with us and provided different feedback and support while climbing. We got fun stories, safe routes and good tips from him. We will climb with Cliffhanger again. read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Climbing Reggie dome - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

BEST CLIMBING TRIP EVER!!!!!!!!!! This was truly amazing. Cliffhanger guides is a must do. Greg, Brooks, and Jessy were the best guides EVER!! They supplied us with all the gear, great routes, food and shade. They were very encouraging and helped us get to the top. Greg even came and gave us a geology talk the day before! All and all this was soooooo AMAZING. Would totally do again. Great job Cliffhanger guides! You were awesome. Our class went to joshua tree. We saw many rocks, and cacti. My favorite part was rock climbing. We got our shoes fitted, our helmets fitted and our harnesses fitted. Our rock climbing guides were the cliffhangers, Greg, Brooks and Jessy. They were really nice. They taught us tricks, and we had fun hanging the cams. They also brought great lunch!! All in all we had a great time. P.S. Would recommend them to beginners read more

Fantastic rock climbing outfitter. Organized, punctual, quality equipment, focus on safety and overall good vibes & energy. Andy is THE MAN - awesome guide! read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

Wonderful experience beginning to end. Company is well organized, guide (Hailey) was wonderful, and lunch was good! Hailey is very personable, safety conscious, supportive, genuine, and humble. read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Following up slab, with Hailey belaying. - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

Climbing with Hailey was a highlight of our visit to Joshua Tree NP! We were climbing for the first time as a family with two children, 6 and 8. My youngest was very nervous and there was rain in the forecast, so the Cliffhanger team checked in often and gave us some options to set us up for the best experience possible. When it came time for my 6 year old to climb, Hailey was literally there with him every step of the way. He inched up the rocks, and felt so proud when he reached the top. We all felt very supported and set up for a successful morning of climbing, even though we were first timers. After lunch, we were given the option of exploring some caves, which the boys loved. read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

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My friend and I have never been to JTree and/or climbed on our own outside of a gym scenario. When we reached out to Cliffhanger and told them we had the goal of becoming self-sufficient, they fully supported us. They recommend a minimum of 2 full days, which is the perfect amount of time. We learned to lead sport/trad and build/clean anchors. Our guide was awesome and went above and beyond to accommodate my friend and me in our climbing journey.. Lunch was refreshing and didn't activate the rest and digest mode. 10/10 read more

The day we we had scheduled was so windy I was worried if we'd be able to climb. Our guide Joey knew the perfect spot at Turtle Rock that was sheltered from the wind and had routes that were perfect for our abilities. By the end of morning my afraid-of-heights son had made it to the top and said it was the most fun he's had in a long time. Then we celebrated with a delicious lunch. Thank you so much, this was the highlight of our trip to Joshua Tree! read more

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My climbing partner and I went out for a full day with Andy. Andy gave us a great intro to the JT area and allowed us to spend way more time climbing than we normally would. He picked fantastic route options that were ones we would have been unlikely to attempt ourselves. Andy was an amazing guy, and the lunch was wonderful. Would 100% book another day with Cliffhanger! read more

Very rarely do I give a 5-star review, as there's usually something I feel could have been better or improved upon. This place 100% deserves that 5-star review and I would wholeheartedly recommend them for anybody who wants to get the most out of their climbing experience in Joshua Tree National Park! We decided to take a family trip to JTNP and we knew that spending some time climbing was going to be the highlight. Originally we had decided to rent to crash pads, but decided to have an actual guide so that our seven year old son enjoy rock climbing safely well in the park and we could maximize our time climbing since we were only in the area for two days. Before our adventure with Cliffhanger Guides, our son had only climbed in the gym...so everything about this trip was a new adventure for him. Our guide Joey was welcoming, kind, patient, and most importantly knowledgeable. He took the time to make a connection with us, assess the skill level of both my husband and son, and then pick routes that were most appropriate for their levels. As they claimed he noticed that My son was able to complete the routes fairly easily, so he quickly adjusted the next route to be more of a challenge, and continued that process all the way through the end of our experience. Keeping him engaged and feeling both challenged and successful was exactly what he needed. I asked my son how he felt about his experience and he said he had so much fun and felt confident about climbing....he said it made him feel like an adult. Wonderful job and if we are back in the area we would absolutely use them again! read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Amazing guide and wonderful day in Joshua Tree! - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

My 12 year old daughter and I had a great half day with our guide Tyler from Cliffhanger. I don't climb but my kid does, and I wanted to take her for an outdoor experience in JT. After some research I went with Cliffhanger. Super glad we did! The routes were perfect, the lunch was delicious, it was a great half day. read more

Took our church group climbing with this great outfitter today! We had an incredibly fast check-in process since all of our waivers were completed ahead of time. They got our entire crew outfitted with gear in about 20 minutes, and headed into the park. Our guides were attentive, safety oriented, but high energy and extremely informative. All of our crew had a fantastic time and were coached up the rock by awesome professionals. The side excursion to The Chasm was a plus!. We had Jess, Ed, Tyler, Char, Adam, Matt and Emily as guides. All pros and connected well with our crew. Informational, educational, entertaining with plenty of adrenaline for the first time climbers. Highly recommend. Have fun! PS Extra shout out to Tyler for a high energy safety + instruction presentation. Kept us all laughing while we learned. read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

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I had a great experience with Cliffhanger (and Jessy, my guide) recently. I love Joshua Tree for climbing, but the route grades are stiff and I generally feel safer with more experienced climbers there. Hence booking a guide. Jessy is so knowledgeable and was the perfect guide for the day - he spent some time teaching me things I wanted to learn about trad climbing, and he picked some new routes that were exactly what I needed (best multipitch in the park, I had never been before!). Overall - super communicative, friendly guides, the lunch was really good, and they took great care of me. I'm already thinking about when I can book with them again. Highly recommend. read more

Andy & Danielle were amazing, and this trip included one of the best picnic lunches I've ever had. Funny, knowledgeable, great guides that made sure everyone was safe, had a great time, and went out of their way to give encouraging coaching to other climbers in the area. Hands down the best way to spend an afternoon in the park. read more

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It was such an awesome experience! Our guide Greg was super informative and also really fun to talk to. Our half day trip was totally worth it considering we got an extra hour (5 hours compared to other companies 4 hour half days) and we had lunch provided by the company. The lunch was also very good and refreshing. The climbs were tough but totally due-able for our skill level. And Greg always let us figure it out for ourselves but stepped in at the perfect time if we did need advice or help. read more

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We had a fabulous time yesterday. Joey got to our climbing spot early and got set up. Skyler outfitted is and showed us the way. And then the 8 of us spent the day climbing a variety of courses of varying difficulty. We ended with a delicious lunch. I couldn't recommend these guys more! read more

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Great day climbing with Andy. He was an experienced guide who really knew the route. He knew how to make the half day climbing experience really fun for my daughter and husband. read more

We could not have asked for a better climbing experience in Joshua Tree! If I could give Cliffhanger Guides more than 5 stars I absolutely would. Zach was quick to answer all of my emails and Seth sent a really nice follow up email as well. Their building is easy to find and there's a free parking lot right out front. They asked for our sizes and experience level before we got there so when we arrived everything was laid out and ready to go. Our guide was Jeremy and he did a fantastic job! He picked out routes that were right at our skill level and weren't crowded. We had the whole area to ourselves at our first stop and only got stuck behind one group with no one behind us at our second. Jeremy was full of tips and he helped us learn about both climbing and belaying. Thanks to his guidance we definitely feel more prepared to go climbing on our own. Lunch was great. Cliffhangers packed a cooler full of goodies from Trader Joe's, it was the perfect light, healthy lunch. If you have a big appetite though I would plan to bring snacks, especially if you do the all day climb. We'll never forget this experience, especially since we got engaged at the top of our last route of the day!!! So grateful to Jeremy for going along with it and capturing video and photos for us. I can't recommend Cliffhanger Guides enough, you will not be disappointed with the experience!! read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

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I'm scared of heights, so I would never go rock climbing on my own. However, my mom planned this trip and rock climbing was the main highlight. Side note: I think I did a pretty gob job considering I was a rookie with a fear! Our guides were Seth and Jesse. Both guys are super passionate about what they do and also very friendly and easy-going! Great teachers, too. Nobody in my family knew much of anything to start and we quickly learned how to wear the equipment, how to tie the knots and how to communicate with everyone about the climb! You first go to their shop to get fitted with gear and then follow your guide through the west entrance of Joshua Tree and to whichever rocks you're going to climb. Be sure to bring plenty of water and wear pants regardless of the temperature. You will get scraped up a bit. You're climbing nearly-vertical rocks in the middle of the desert - what do you expect?!? Not one person in my family went home scratch-free and we still have nothing but good things to say about our experience! read more

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Skyeler was a great guide. He read our individual skill levels well and was super encouraging. He thought us so much about what goes into climbing, safety, and trusting your environment. Highly recommend and the lunch was very worth it. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thanks for the memories! read more

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Writing for Triple B Adventures out of San Diego. I cannot recommend CliffHanger Guides enough. Personally for me I am terrified of heights and lack self- confidence but these guides are 100% able to make anyone feel comfortable on a rock read more

Absolutely amazing experience with Jessy as our guide! His expertise and passion for rock climbing made the day unforgettable. He provided clear instruction, selected incredible routes, and motivated/coached us throughout the climb. His positive demeanor and knowledge of the area added to the adventure. Thank you, for an incredible day--we'll be back for more! read more

Cliffhanger guides were professional and fun from start to finish. Our group of 2 adults and 2 teens had a fantastic half day experience. We conquered a variety of different routes with competent and gentle guidance from our guide, Jessy. The vibe was relaxed, supportive and encouraging. Highly recommend for all ages and abilities. They will help you find success on the rock! read more

My spouse and I had a wonderful half-day trip with Cliffhanger Guides. Due to the weather conditions, we had to change our travel plans last minute. Avery showed great flexibility and helped us reschedule. Tyler was a fantastic leader, and each step of our journey was meticulously planned and executed. We felt both safe and deeply immersed in nature's grandeur. Highly recommended. read more

What an amazing crew. They took nearly 20 of us in and Tyler, Matt, Jesse, Sarah and Joey all did an amazing job. What I appreciated most was that one of the kids in our group was struggling to get to the top but one of the instructors really encouraged him to not give up and overcome this obstacle. Once he was able to reach the top, the whole party cheered and celebrated this moment ... though seemingly small, it's these small events that really encourage young kids. Thank you all the instructors here and I highly recommend anyone visiting Joshua Tree to partake on this adventure. We are already talking about next year's trip and Cliffhanger is on the agenda for sure! Keep up the great work! read more

Cliffhanger Guides - Climbing Near Me - Joshua Tree, California