Cliffhanger Guides

After doing a little research my group of 5 with various skill level and experience decided to go with Cliffhanger Guides and did not regret it. Through out the entire booking process Seth and Sabra were very helpful with planning our trip via email and over the phone. Seth and Sabra recommended a half day followed by a full day, learning the ropes the first day then getting more into it the second day. This worked out perfectly, as we were not too burnt out for the second day. Our guide Roddy was EXTREMELY knowledgeable of all things relating to climbing and Joshua Tree (and a lot more!). Roddy was very patient and encouraging the entire time. At no point did we feel as if our life was in danger.
The lunch they provide is awesome, works really well for those camping in the area that don’t have time to make a lunch. It is perfect for climbing and nice to take a break throughout the day. Our group had a lot of diet restrictions and Cliffhanger was very accommodating to make sure we all had enough.
I would definitely recommend climbing with Cliffhanger Guides. If/​when I go back to Joshua Tree to climb they will be at the top of my list!

Holy crap guys! BOOK WITH THEM! This past weekend me and my girls had a climbing weekend. Sabra was our guide. Guys, she’s amaaaaaaazing. She was energetic, fun, and super knowledgeable. We did a half day trip with her and had an epic lunch. We’re hoping she didn’t hate us, cuz we’ll totally be back, lol. Thanks Sabra!

When the my friend said he didn’t want to go to Vegas for his bachelor party and wanted an adventure, I almost died. So I came up with this idea to go rock climbing since none of us have ever done this or been to Joshua Tree. I contacted Seth to book an appointment and he was a cool easy going guy. Everything done through email which I found great because I’m an extremely busy guy. Everything I needed to know was in his email and before you know it we set up our trip. The hardest part was booking lodging on late notice, but that’s a whole other story. A couple days before our trip Roddy gave me a call to confirm our trip and introduce himself as our guide.
After a little too much boozing the night before, we made it to cliffhanger guides to meet up Roddy. Roddy had all our gear laid out waiting for us. Roddy was the man! Funny guy but more importantly a safe instructor. At no time during the climbs did I ever feel in danger. He thoroughly explained to us noobies what we needed to know to send it. It was my first time rock climbing, so he made us feel at ease climbing these 100 foot rocks. Thanks for getting us home safe Roddy! I’m already trying to rally up the troops for another trip.

My goodness. First of all I never thought I would go rock climbing. The sport always seemed so outrageous and extremely intimidating.
The cool thing is, it totally is and I DID IT!
My brother wanted to spend his last days of bachelerhood on an adventure. His best buddy suggested rock climbing.
He found cliffhanger guides and set the whole thing up.
When we got to our hotel the night before, we joked saying tomorrow would be some sissy boulder climbing, it could not be the real deal, laughed the night away, saying we should be in Vegas acting uncivilized.
Well the sun rose and reluctantly so did we. We did not know that our day would be met with THE MOST EPIC ADVENTURE and all around rewarding day.
Roddy, our guide was incredible. He taught us everything we needed to know, safety first, we got it. He quickly assesed and felt we where capable of more and took us out and pushed us to new heights (literally) .
He was so personable, funny, and extremely knowledgeable. I felt like he went above and beyond, even acting as our personal photographer. He captured moments we will be talking about for the rest of our lives.
Roddy lit our fires, we will be back. I strongly recommend anyone considering rock climbing, this is the place to do it.
All levels, from beginner to extreme maniac climbs, they have it and will guide you all along the way.
Above and beyond, all my best, CLIMB ON!

We had never rock climbed before. We didn’t really know what to expect. We did a ½ day with Kelly and it was AMAZING! One of the most fun ½ days in an outdoor adventure we have ever had. Kelly knew her stuff and was super fun to be with. I can’t recommend her enough! Top notch!

As a marketing manager with Mountain Hardwear I was tasked with planning an experiential marketing trip. The trip would include one of our key retail partners, Gear Coop. The goal for the weekend was simple. Rally staff and customers from Gear Coop and Mountain Hardwear to share in an epic weekend of camping, climbing, and community.
An essential element to the trip was finding a guide service that could accommodate our unique needs. For starters we had a large group of 30. The 30 climbers varied greatly in ability level.
When I started asking my colleagues for suggestions, one guide company quickly dominated the conversation. Cliffhanger Guides was a pleasure to work with from the first phone call, to the last email. Not only did they handle our large group, but they provided safe climbing opportunities for every ability level.
The guides focus on safety was first and foremost. This was especially comforting with so many participants. The level of instruction provided was invaluable. Best of all, every guide seemed genuinely happy to be there.
I’m psyched to work with Cliffhanger again. They are the upmost professionals, with an infectious passion for climbing.
Big thank you to Seth, Sabra, and the entire Cliffhanger Team!

I did a one day trip with Cliffhanger guides and I was incredibly impressed. They were fun & easy-​going, professional & safe, knowledgeable & thoughtful. Mike was our guide and we had a great time with him. The food was really tasty too! I’ve been with several of the guiding companies in Joshua Tree and this was definitely my best experience yet.

Cliffhanger guides were incredible! I been on one other professionally guided outdoor climbing trip before and it was not even comparable to the quality experience I had with Cliffhanger.
Seth and Sabra are the type of people who go above and beyond what is expected of them.
My climbing partner and I had a breathtaking trip up a four pitch route in Joshua Tree, guided by Seth. We told him our skill level and he picked out the perfect route for us on the fly. We were looking to learn more about multi pitch and trad climbing as most of our experience is with top rope and single pitch sport routes. We learned so much. Seth taught us about proper pro placement, setting up belay stations, climber etiquette, and shared stories of some of his adventures. He brought a snack to munch on at the top of our route which had the best views around, carried our water for us and even took photos on his own phone and emailed them to us. We both felt very safe and secure the entire time.
After the multi pitch day we had an incredible lunch. healthy and substantial and plenty of variety so that even picky eaters would find something to enjoy. Then we went over to hop on some of the top ropes that were set up (we were in a huge group) and all of the guides were very serious about safety, which I appreciated. One of the guides even taught us a new self rescue knot and Sabra recommended a great juice spot for us to stop at on our way home. They were also great with time management. making sure our large group were able to get the most climbing in as possible and didn’t waste time farting around.
Overall it was a great day that I will never forget. All the Cliffhanger guides are extremely knowledgable about climbing, rope management, Joshua Tree, and just all around kind, fun, and interesting people.

We chose Cliffhanger Guides to go rock climbing with in Joshua Tree for my bachelor party. We researched around and went with Cliffhanger Guides, and they did not disappoint. The team we corresponded with before our visit was prompt and professional, and our guides the day we went out — Roddy and Kelly, were fantastic. They set up some great routes for our group, which included a mix of novice climbers and a few more experienced climbers. I really appreciated how enthusiastic and fun our guides were, and they really made me feel special as the groom to be. They also provided a simple but delicious snack lunch that none of the other guide services we researched provided. Roddy also got some great shots of our group and sent us some pictures afterwards, which we really appreciated.
I’d love to visit the area again and will definitely call on Cliffhanger Guides for some epic rock climbing in Joshua Tree. Thanks, guys!

Super great staff of professional rock climbers!
So glad we went with Cliffhanger Guides! Rob led us on several great climbs — perfect for our two boys (ages 10 and 13). He knew everything about climbing and safety! He was a natural with kids and made us all feel at ease! What a cool guy! We felt blessed to get to hang out with him! We stopped half way through the day for a lunch of cheese, turkey, crackers, roasted veggies and dried fruit.
Then, Rob also took us on a hike through the «Chasm of Doom”– a huge mound of boulders. My boys will NEVER forget it!
At the end of the day my son said that Rob, our guide, was probably the nicest guy he had ever met:)

Totally amazing.
Seth, Mike and Carl. Literally rocked our group of 12 novice climbers. Informative, educational and safe. Provided a top notch well guided experience.
Thanks Seth.

I had a blast with the Cliffhanger Guides. As a beginner, I was not sure what to expect when we got out to the location, but this outfit had all of our equipment (which was in excellent shape) setup, ropes tied off and ready to go. They ran through a very helpful training session, and instead of just telling us the proper technique, they got on the rock and showed the «right way» and «wrong way». This was really helpful when they were coaching while I was up on the rock.
And the lunch was top notch :)

We brought a team of executives, with various skill levels, and they did an amazing job finding challenging stuff for all of us. Their attitudes where great and their attention and focus on taking care of safety was very professional.
On top of that they did some great coaching (beta) for each of us, which made for a very successful day.

Where do I begin?! I can’t imagine finding a better guiding service in JTree — or anywhere else for that matter! My girlfriend and I spent 3 full days with Seth, who co-​owns Cliffhanger guides with his wife, Sabra, and had a complete blast! There’s a lifetime of climbing at Joshua Tree and Seth knew every little nook and cranny of the park — that’s what 20 years of guiding will do for you! With my girlfriend and I being the typical urban gym topropers with little outdoor experience, I knew that our Trad Climbing course would be a tall order in 3 days. Seth laid out the perfect curriculum that fit in the technically intensive instruction we needed but still provided plenty of time to just get on some fun routes and have a blast. On the first day I was nervous to lean back on a perfectly good anchor but by the end of day 3 I was confidently top belaying my girlfriend on an anchor I built after leading the route. Seth made my girlfriend and I feel 100% safe the entire time. Not once did I feel that I was ever put in danger.
Cliffhanger guides is a top notch service and I’d be crazy not to mention the awesome lunches that they provide as well. Just sitting here and typing this is making me crave some wine soaked cheese and artichoke hearts!
Another thing worth pointing out, which is important and has been reflected in a lot of these reviews, is that my girlfriend and I never felt like clients during our stay. Seth and Sabra were unbelievably hospitable and friendly. Seth dove into every lesson with enthusiasm and treated us like old friends. This really can’t be understated. In fact, they were so casual that I paid Seth for the course in between a celebratory beers after our last day of climbing.
Really, this is a truly unique experience that goes beyond just a day of climbing. These are the people you want to hang out with in Joshua Tree. Hire Cliffhanger guides and you won’t regret it!

What a wonderful experience! From the initial email correspondence all the way through the completion of our trip these guys showed top quality service. Our group ranged from age 11 to 32 and was a mixture of beginning to advanced level climbers. Seth and Sabra took the time to really break down form and technique to those of us who needed it, while at the same provided challenging climbs for the experienced members in our group. Every single person had a blast!
We will definitely be booking more fun adventures with Cliffhanger Guides!

I could not be more pleased with my choice of using Cliffhanger Guides! Fun, Safe, Informative, & Awesome! I will definitely be using them again!

This outfit still gave me an amazing time. It was so nice to have someone know where all the climbs were, instead of me walking in circles all day with a guide book. I had some physical limitations with my upper body, so Seth planned mostly slabs, as per my request. I feel lucky to have stumbled upon these guys, and will be back as soon as I can.

Recently, I booked a half day rock climbing session with Cliffhanger Guides. I was nervous, as I have only climbed indoors and being high up is definitely one of my fears. However, rock climbing is something I have always dreamed of.
Our Joshua Tree rock climbing guide was Seth. From the moment we met him we knew we would have a fun time. He is very friendly and you can tell that he knows what he’s doing.
For our first climb, we did a multi-​pitch route, with the first pitch being somewhat easy/​average so that I could get used to how high up we were. It was still exhilarating, and it was exciting when I reached the top. The second pitch we went straight up, and boy was that scary and fun at the same time. Seth never made me feel unsafe, and I think this is why getting an experience rock climbing guide is important. I knew without him I probably would have never done this.
Before we went to our next climb, we had lunch. Cliffhanger Guides provides an amazing lunch. The lunch they provided was gourmet and very delicious. There were vegetables, hummus, an assorted tray of delicious cheeses, dried mango, crackers, prosciutto, sparkling water, and caramel cookies that I know I will be searching the store for when I get home. Nothing about this meal was cheap, and that could easily be seen. Everything was top notch and I could tell that Cliffhanger Guides spends their time to make sure that the whole Joshua Tree rock climbing experience was amazing. I’m a big foodie so of course my mouth is watering right now. They also can customize the lunch if you have any dietary restrictions, so that is another plus as well.
For our next climb, Seth decided to up what we were doing. This climb was a little scary when I stepped back to look at it, knowing that we were climbing straight up. However, Seth always made me feel very safe and always let me know that he had me on the rope and that I was secure.
Having Seth as our guide let me be able to enjoy our trip much more. I knew that he knew what he was doing, and I knew that he was an expert. He also helped me overcome some hard parts and talked me through some climbs as I was doing them.
Next time we are in Joshua Tree, we will definitely be using Cliffhanger Guides. They know what they are doing and made our experience something that we will be talking about for a long time.

These guys are freaking awesome!!! Perfect if you have a smaller group and are looking for some 1on1 teaching. Trust me this experience was worth every penny.
My friend and I booked them for two days, i learned more in those 2 days than I have in the past year climbing. Seth and their friend Felipe are clearly very capable climbers and I felt 100% safe the entire time. They had us climbing things I would have thought impossible to climb at our skill level (Face climbing, crack climbing and multi pitch). Felipe taught us how to build anchors and then climb on them as well as a solid introduction to placing gear. Lunch was great and provided a well needed mid day break from some pretty intense climbing/​learning. We finished up the second day in the dark, since all three of us wanted to keep climbing. I can’t imagine there are to many climbing services out there that are willing to go as far above and beyond as these guys are.
This climbing adventure was really the icing on the cake of our month long road trip. We definitely saved the best for last and the next time i’m in CA I will definitely be giving these guys a call.

My boyfriend and I booked a half day with CG and had an amazing time.
First we spoke on the phone with Sabra, who was awesome and friendly, and clearly well organized, as she gave us all the info we needed and walked us through the process. We’re total beginners at climbing so it was great to feel comfortable right away.
Seth led our climb and, just like the other reviews here say, he is an amazing guide. Straight off the bat we could tell he knows his stuff (almost 20 years of guide experience), and wants you to have a great experience. And we did! Most importantly for me, I really trusted him and felt safe the whole time. We spent the morning learning on «the bunny slopes» and building our confidence for a bigger climb in the afternoon.
I have to take a moment to give CG an extra high five for the lunch they provided. It was really well done. They asked ahead of time if we had any dietary restrictions. We told them that I was glutarded. (Some people call it «Gluten Free». I prefer to call myself glutarded.) We ate fresh veggies, hummus, rice crackers, olives and roasted peppers, prosciutto, and GOOD cheeses. He brought us sparkling water to drink. It was the perfect meal for our day– delicious, but light enough that I didn’t feel tired or weighed-​down afterward.
The climb he picked for us in the afternoon was perfect for our skill level. He really challenged us and was so great about coaching us through the difficult parts. I personally am a total scaredy-​cat when it comes to things like this, and I certainly was a little freaked out at times during my climb, but it felt so good to overcome those feelings and get to the top! Seth is an amazing guide.
I would highly recommend Cliffhanger Guides to anyone. They’re extremely knowledgable (check out Seth and Sabra’s bios on the website– both have an impressive history) and they’re wonderfully warm and friendly people who care about giving you the best experience they possibly can. Winning combintaion!!!