When National Geographic released the movie Free Solo, about legendary alpinist Alex Honnold, in 2018, it broke movie theater records for a documentary and then took home the Best Documentary Oscar. In early 2026, more than 6 million people watched live when Honnold climbed the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Netflix. But when he’s not off on these Hollywood productions, the world’s most famous climber can be found at his home near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, just 20 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.
To most visitors, it’s a little-known Las Vegas attraction, but to climbers, it is world famous, one of the top climbing destinations in all of North America, with nearly 3,000 documented routes in a concise area, one of the densest such concentrations anywhere. There is something for everyone, and it’s a place where a total newcomer can give the sport a try, while experienced climbers will have their hands full on routes rated up to daunting 5.14. In between, it has so much moderate terrain it’s been nicknamed “5.7 Heaven.” But unlike most top climbing spots, such as Yosemite, it’s hardly remote, half an hour from some of the largest hotels and best restaurants on earth, and even closer to “local” casino resorts such as Red Rock or the JW Marriott Las Vegas. You’ll be back for dinner.
Best Season / When to Go
You can climb here year round, and the busy season runs September through April, but most climbers prefer spring and fall, not too hot, not too cold, though even in the dead of winter temperatures sometime climb into the 60s.
Where To Climb
Alpinist website the Mountain Project lists a staggering 2,941 climbs, from bouldering and 20-foot sport routes up to 3000-foot ascents with 20 pitches, all in a relatively small area, so the choices are endless, but these are some highlights, by ability.
First-timers & Beginners: The Calico Hills section of the park is most famous for beginner climbing, especially the big Pantry Wall, with various short single pitch 5.7-5.9 routes. A similar dense variety of low-grade pitches can be found in the Schoolyard Area in the First Creek region. The Great Red Book route in the Calico Hills is considered then gold standard for first attempts at multi-pitch climbing, with just two 5.8 pitches. Between these and a few others, Red Rocks has one of the largest collections of entry-level sport routes in the country—nonetheless, first-time climbers should use a professional guide service for instruction (see below) and many half-day and full-day intros to climbing are available.
Intermediate: This is where Red Rocks excels, with more moderate sport and multi-pitch climbs than you can tackle in a lifetime. Choices are endless, but for multi-pitch routes, some super popular choices are Cat in the Hat in the Kraft Crocks area (5.6, 6 pitches), Olive Oil in Pine Creek Canyon, one of Red Rocks’ most famous lines (5.7, 5 pitches) and for a long climb, Solar Slab (5.6, 7-10 pitches). At the high end of the intermediate range, Sour Mash is a good starting point for 5.10 multi-pitch climbing (5.10-, 6 pitches).
For single pitch routes, many intermediates head to the Gallery, an area with 18 sport routes from 5.8- to 5.13c, including several 5.10 and under: That Goode Dude Climb, Gelatin Pooch, Running Amuck, Range of Motion, etc. Black Velvet Canyon is known for its classic quality crack climbs, of which Triassic Sands (5.10) is the most famous.
Advanced: Desert classic Epinephrine is the starting point for many more advanced climbers and while technically “just” 5.9+ it is rated Grade III (4-6 hours) and is a full day climb for many, long and requiring endurance. Black Velvet Canyon has some 5.10 and higher crack climbs of note, while the Pine Creek Canyon area has tall steep faces including the Mescalito Pyramid, known for Dark Shadows (5.8-5.10, with up to 10 exposed pitches).
Visible from far away, the Rainbow Wall is the park’s epicenter of big wall climbing and home to The Original Route (5.12) first put up in 1973 by Red Rock climbing pioneers Joe Herbst and Larry Hamilton, and a highly regarded classic. There are 5 significant trad climbs here, from 5.9 Bird Hunter Buttress to 5.13b Desert Solitaire Free. The most challenging climbing of all is found in the aptly named Trophy Area, which includes Trophy Wall and Secret Wall 13. The “easiest” of the 50 or so routes here is Dodging A Bullet (5.12a), while Secret Wall 13 has half a dozen routes rated 5.13a or higher, up to 5.14a Herbivore Dyno-soar.
Guided Experiences
The beauty of these guided experiences is that they’re for absolutely anyone and require zero experience, and climbing gear is provided. If you’ve always wondered about climbing and want to try it, this is the place! Climbers of all abilities can benefit from experience, tips and local knowledge, and guides will take advanced climbers on tough routes, but instruction is indispensable to first timers and the inexperienced. It may also be a good idea to first hone your basic skills indoor at a climbing gym.
Red Rock Climbing Center (RRCC) combines these, with a large indoor facility featuring 8000-square feet of walls and routes up to 100-feet. It is also home to Red Rock Climbing Guides, operating in the Conservation Area with the permission of Bureau of Land Management. As an example of cost, RRCG charges $250 for a private half-day (4-5 hours) or $350 for two people. Full day (7-8 hours) is $350 & $450. Full day multi-pitch climbing is slightly higher, and these rates reflect the area norms.
The Mountain Guides, out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the birthplace of American mountaineering, is the second oldest guide service in the U.S (1968) and currently has 70-plus certified guides around the West, including Red Rocks. They offer a “Learn to Climb in Red Rocks” intro class, as well as Women’s Climbing Weekends, Half and Full-day guided climbing up to 6 pitches, and Advanced Multi-Pitch Climbing Techniques. Other guide companies of note include the American Alpine Institute, Vertical Pursuits, and High Desert Climbing out of Joshua Tree, CA. There are also local independent AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) certified guides teaching and guiding in Red Rocks, such as Thomas Gilmore, while several other guide services located outside the area do special excursions and multi-day camps to Red Rocks because it is such a premier climbing destination.
More Info
There are three detailed books on the region, Rock Climbing Red Rocks (Todd Swain), The Red Rocks of Southern Nevada (Joanne Urioste) and A Climbers Guide To The Red Rocks of Nevada (Randy Faulk), available at the Visitors Center or local climbing shops.
One of the area’s premier retailers, Desert Rock Sports, is in the same shopping center as RRCC’s climbing gym, just 15 minutes from the climbing area. Other Las Vegas indoor climbing spots include Canyon Ranch Spa inside The Venetian Resort, The Refuge Climbing & Fitness, and Nevada Climbing Center.