Rock Climbing Courses in Tahoe
Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing Course
This beginner-friendly course is perfect for indoor climbers ready to explore outdoor terrain. You’ll learn how to belay in a real-world setting, move efficiently on rock, communicate with a partner, and manage risk while climbing outside. With expert instruction from AMGA-trained guides, you’ll gain the confidence and skills to safely climb top rope routes on natural rock and begin your outdoor climbing journey in one of Tahoe’s most iconic areas.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques Course
This hands-on course is designed for experienced gym or sport climbers ready to step into the world of traditional climbing. You’ll learn how to place cams and nuts securely, assess rock quality, manage rope systems, build and evaluate anchors, and remove gear efficiently as a second. Led by AMGA-trained guides in the granite-rich terrain of Tahoe, this course lays the technical and mental groundwork for leading trad routes and progressing toward multi-pitch adventures.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- Objectives - Take your outdoor rock climbing to the next level with our Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques course!
- Skills
- Types of Gear & When to Use
- Gear Placement (as a leader)
- Gear Cleaning (as a follower)
- Trad Anchors
- Trusting Your Gear
Rock Climbing Anchor Building Course
This course dives deep into the principles of anchor building, including SERENE anchor concepts, gear placement, equalization, redundancy, and common anchor failure points. You'll get hands-on experience in outdoor settings, placing cams, nuts, and building anchors using natural features and fixed gear. Whether you're preparing to lead trad routes, set up top ropes for friends, or tackle longer multi-pitch climbs, this course builds the technical foundation and judgment you need to climb with confidence and independence.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- Objectives - This course is geared toward building rock climbing anchors and the gear you will need in order to do so! This course will teach you the most efficient and appropriate techniques given the type of gear you have and where you'd like to build your anchor.
- Skills
- Traditional Anchors
- Sport Anchors
- Tree/Rock Anchors (Natural)
- Gear placement
All rock climbing courses require at least 3 participants to run.
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 8:00 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 8:30 am - We'll spend the full day learning new skills and putting them into practice!
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:00pm - Course ends
Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing Course / Rock Climbing Anchor Building Course:
- Basic Climbing Experience - In a gym and belaying.
- Basic Rope Skills - It is recommended that you can create the following knots prior to the course:
- Overhand on a bight
- Figure 8 on a bight
- Figure 8 follow through
- Clove hitch
- Double Fisherman
- Basic Fitness - You should be able to spend an active day outside, climbing.
Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques Course:
- Basic Sport Climbing Experience - Including sport anchor building, rappelling, and belaying.
- Basic Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, climbing.
- AMGA Trained Guide
- Climbing Gear & Ropes
- Group Safety Gear: Guide will be equipped with a first aid kit
- Leave No Trace Materials: wag bag
- Meals
- Transportation
- Climbing Harness, Shoes, Helmet
- Guide Gratuities
Not Included
The gear list for your program depends on your level of skill, experience, and your goals for the day(s).
For most programs, the Single Pitch Rock Climbing Gear Guide is perfectly suitable.
If you have the skill, experience and interest in doing multi pitch climbing on your program then please refer to the Multi Pitch Rock Climbing Gear Guide and make sure your have the appropriate gear for your day(s) of climbing.
- Come prepared with your own climbing gear or rent from Blackbird
- If you need to buy any gear, we recommend our friends at Tahoe Sports Hub
Know Before you go
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
- Custom Scheduling: Choose your dates and plan around your availability.
- Tailored Experiences: Itineraries and objectives are adjusted to suit your goals, experience, and fitness.
- Cost-Effective for Most Large Groups: Private programs are typically more cost-effective for groups of 3 or more.
- Flexibility Comes at a Price: For groups of 1-2, private programs are generally more expensive.
- AIARE Courses: AIARE course pricing is based on a group of 6. Running these as a private program with fewer than 6 participants will increase the per-person cost.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
- Fixed Dates & Costs: Scheduled programs have set dates, itineraries, objectives, and pricing.
- Great for Solo or Small Groups: Ideal for individuals or small groups looking to share costs with others.
- Affordable for 1-2 People: Scheduled programs are typically less expensive for groups of 1-2.
- Less Flexibility: Dates fill quickly, and group programs require adapting to the skill level and pace of all participants
- Group Atmosphere: Meet others with similar interests and make some new backcountry buddies!
Note: Any scheduled program can also be run as a private program with customized dates and rates.
Both options offer exceptional guiding and experiences. Choose what works best for you!
Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing Course
This beginner-friendly course is perfect for indoor climbers ready to explore outdoor terrain. You’ll learn how to belay in a real-world setting, move efficiently on rock, communicate with a partner, and manage risk while climbing outside. With expert instruction from AMGA-trained guides, you’ll gain the confidence and skills to safely climb top rope routes on natural rock and begin your outdoor climbing journey in one of Tahoe’s most iconic areas.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques Course
This hands-on course is designed for experienced gym or sport climbers ready to step into the world of traditional climbing. You’ll learn how to place cams and nuts securely, assess rock quality, manage rope systems, build and evaluate anchors, and remove gear efficiently as a second. Led by AMGA-trained guides in the granite-rich terrain of Tahoe, this course lays the technical and mental groundwork for leading trad routes and progressing toward multi-pitch adventures.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- Objectives - Take your outdoor rock climbing to the next level with our Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques course!
- Skills
- Types of Gear & When to Use
- Gear Placement (as a leader)
- Gear Cleaning (as a follower)
- Trad Anchors
- Trusting Your Gear
Rock Climbing Anchor Building Course
This course dives deep into the principles of anchor building, including SERENE anchor concepts, gear placement, equalization, redundancy, and common anchor failure points. You'll get hands-on experience in outdoor settings, placing cams, nuts, and building anchors using natural features and fixed gear. Whether you're preparing to lead trad routes, set up top ropes for friends, or tackle longer multi-pitch climbs, this course builds the technical foundation and judgment you need to climb with confidence and independence.
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- Objectives - This course is geared toward building rock climbing anchors and the gear you will need in order to do so! This course will teach you the most efficient and appropriate techniques given the type of gear you have and where you'd like to build your anchor.
- Skills
- Traditional Anchors
- Sport Anchors
- Tree/Rock Anchors (Natural)
- Gear placement
All rock climbing courses require at least 3 participants to run.
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 8:00 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 8:30 am - We'll spend the full day learning new skills and putting them into practice!
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:00pm - Course ends
Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing Course / Rock Climbing Anchor Building Course:
- Basic Climbing Experience - In a gym and belaying.
- Basic Rope Skills - It is recommended that you can create the following knots prior to the course:
- Overhand on a bight
- Figure 8 on a bight
- Figure 8 follow through
- Clove hitch
- Double Fisherman
- Basic Fitness - You should be able to spend an active day outside, climbing.
Intro to Trad Climbing Techniques Course:
- Basic Sport Climbing Experience - Including sport anchor building, rappelling, and belaying.
- Basic Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, climbing.
- AMGA Trained Guide
- Climbing Gear & Ropes
- Group Safety Gear: Guide will be equipped with a first aid kit
- Leave No Trace Materials: wag bag
- Meals
- Transportation
- Climbing Harness, Shoes, Helmet
- Guide Gratuities
Not Included
The gear list for your program depends on your level of skill, experience, and your goals for the day(s).
For most programs, the Single Pitch Rock Climbing Gear Guide is perfectly suitable.
If you have the skill, experience and interest in doing multi pitch climbing on your program then please refer to the Multi Pitch Rock Climbing Gear Guide and make sure your have the appropriate gear for your day(s) of climbing.
- Come prepared with your own climbing gear or rent from Blackbird
- If you need to buy any gear, we recommend our friends at Tahoe Sports Hub
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsKnowledgeable & experienced - absolutely loved it!
Absolutely loved working with Blackbird Mountain Guides. Zeb was an awesome guide, knowledgeable and experienced, would highly recommend!
Belle J. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsTrad intro and top Rope climb
My intro to trad climbing was amazing, my guide figured out my level adn picked out some great climbs
Julio D.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsLearned so much!
Had an awesome time at the Intro to Anchor Building course at Donner Summit. I feel much closer to my goal of being the most experienced member of a group during an outdoor climb, and being able to assure others of safe practices. We learned so much about redundant anchor systems and Trad gear placement, and the course was introductory enough for those just transitioning from gym climbing, but informative enough for experienced sport climbers to gain substantial knowledge about trad anchors. Zeb was an informative and patient instructor during the academic portion of the class. After the academic portion we tested the skills we learned in my first multi-pitch climb, which alone was an incredible experience. It was very assuring to climb with a highly experienced guide, that took time to explain safety checks, not only to make us feel safe, but to ensure that we gain the knowledge to becoming independent Trad and sport climbers. I am looking forward to more skill building courses, and adventure Rock and Alpine climbs with Blackbird Mountain Guides!
Andrew Q.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsTotally worth it - phenomenal day!
Okay, that was totally worth it! Phenomenal day. Lots of good reassurance that I'm doing the right thing. Plus many new skills to add to my toolkit. I feel like everyone should do one of these classes every 5 years or something like that. Daryl Teittinen was awesome, a good mix between professionalism, teacher and fun person to hang out with. He is a fantastic teacher. Excellent listener and I had great timing and knowledge went to cut me off and direct me to the more important issues/techniques. I'll go climb the rest of the year and come back again next year for some more education. Thank you!
Kirk D.
the blackbird difference
Innovative courses
Professional Guides
Positive Progression
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