What to Expect on a Guided Rock Climbing Trip in Red River Gorge: Schedule, Tips, and How to Prepare
If you’ve booked a guided rock climbing trip with Southeast Mountain Guides in the Red River Gorge—or are thinking about it—you probably want to know what your day will look like. Whether you're brand new to outdoor climbing or transitioning from the gym, this post will help you feel prepared and confident for your adventure.
Below is a full breakdown of what to expect on the day of your trip, how to prepare, and how to make the most of your time on the rock.
When to Arrive & Trip Timing
All guided climbing trips begin with a quick check-in 10 minutes before your scheduled start time. This is an important window for reviewing waivers, completing payment, and meeting your instructor. Your trip officially begins at your reserved start time. We are in the Eastern time zone:
- Half-Day Morning Trip: Starts at 8:30 AM and can last up to 4.5 hours
- Half-Day Afternoon Trip: Starts at 2:00 PM and can last up to 4.5 hours
- Full-Day Trip: Starts at 9:00 AM and can last up to 8 hours
Private, Personalized Climbing Trips
All of our trips are
private, which means your group will have a dedicated instructor and won’t be combined with other clients. This allows us to customize the day to your goals, experience, and pace. Full-day trips are best for individuals and pairs who want to go deeper into skill-building or learn specific techniques. We also recommend full-days for groups of 4 or more people. A lot can be accomplished in a half-day, but keep in mind that outdoor climbing takes more time than indoor gym sessions.
What to Expect at Check-In
At check-in, you’ll complete the following steps:
- Waiver Verification: You can (and should) complete this online in advance. Just use the “Sign Waiver” link in your confirmation email and forward it to everyone in your group. Each participant will need their first and last name and date of birth.
- Note: Participants under 18 will need a parent or legal guardian listed on their waiver.
- Payment in Full: All balances are due at check-in. We actually do not charge anything prior to your arrival.
- Intro Conversation with Your Guide: This is where we talk about goals for the day, check climbing equipment, and make a plan for where we’ll climb.
Prepping for the Climbing Day
Before your trip, we encourage you to let us know about:
- Your climbing experience and goals
- What climbing gear you already own
- Any specific topics or techniques you want to cover
- What kind of vehicle you’re driving (2WD, AWD, or 4WD)
This helps your instructor prepare and make location choices accordingly. You can provide this info during online booking or via phone/email before your trip.
Gear Overview
At a minimum, each climber will need:
- Harness
- Helmet
- Climbing shoes
Additional equipment like ropes, quickdraws, and belay devices (such as a Gri-Gri) will be provided by your guide. You’re welcome to bring your own equipment, as long as:
- All soft goods (like harnesses and slings) are less than 7 years old
- Everything fits properly and is designed for climbing
Having your own gear can be helpful, especially if you’re looking for specific instruction on how to use it correctly.
Choosing a Climbing Location
After goals and gear checks, we’ll decide on the location for the day. We have two main options:
- Onsite Private Crag – Over 30 climbing routes just a 5-minute walk from our base. It’s peaceful, uncrowded, and ideal for learning.
- Offsite Crag – Public
climbing areas in the Gorge. Getting there may involve a drive of 5 to 25 minutes, followed by a hike of 10 or minutes.
Please note: Drive and hike times are part of your guided trip time.
If heading offsite, clients will follow the instructor in their own vehicles.
What to Bring
We recommend packing like you would for a full day of hiking in the woods. Here’s a quick checklist, and we also did a whole post on this topic:
- Small backpack
- Food/snacks
- At least 1–2 liters of water
- Comfortable clothes for movement
- Weather-appropriate layers
- Closed-toe footwear (no sandals)—tennis shoes or hiking boots work well
- Sunscreen and bug spray
We do
not provide food or drinks, so plan ahead!
What Happens at the Cliff
Once at the climbing site, your instructor will go over belaying and safety basics. If you already know how to belay, we’ll do a quick refresher and check-in to make sure we’re using the same language and systems. If you’re new to belaying, no problem—your guide will teach you what you need to know.
After belaying and knot instruction, your guide will set up the first climb and your adventure officially begins!
Customizing the Climbing Experience
As your guide gets a feel for your climbing style and abilities, they’ll adjust the plan to keep the day fun and challenging. This might include:
- Technique tips
- Trying harder routes
- Working through fear or mental blocks
- Learning to lead climb or clean anchors
- Practicing how to fall
We finish the day with a brief recap and personalized recommendations for your next steps in climbing.
Final Thoughts: Prepare, Climb, Learn, Repeat
A guided climbing trip with Southeast Mountain Guides is more than just a day outside—it’s a chance to build skills, challenge yourself, and have a blast in one of the most beautiful climbing destinations in the country. With just a bit of preparation, you’ll get the most out of your time with your guide and leave with new memories (and probably a few sore muscles).
Ready to climb? Book your trip today, and we’ll see you at the crag!
And if you need some ideas for rest days, check out our posts on
family friendly activities,
scenic overlooks, and other
things to do.
