Climb Moab sandstone with a private guide, tailored to your group
4 - 6 hours
Guide, harness, helmet
Get an outdoor introduction to rock climbing on Moab’s sandstone walls with a private guide focused on your group. Choose an easy, moderate, or difficult outing customized to your goals.
Meeting point is in Moab, Utah. Minimum age is suggested at 6. Climbing shoes are not included, and are available to rent.
Groups under 10: cancel 2+ weeks out for a full refund; within 2 weeks but more than 48 hours out, charged a $20/person deposit; within 48 hours, no refund. Groups 10+: 10% deposit required and non-refundable unless guides cancel due to weather; balance due within 48 hours.
Wear closed-toe hiking shoes and hiking clothes appropriate for the weather. Bring water in bottles (about 1–2 liters per person for 4–6 hours) and food or snacks. Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a camera are optional, and an extra puffy layer can help in colder months.
No. Technical gear is provided, but climbing shoes are not included. You can rent climbing shoes.
A minimum age of 6 is suggested for rock climbing trips.
Moab, UT
Jake, Kai, Joe, Eliza, Skyeler, and the rest of the crew have built something genuinely special in Moab. Reviewers consistently rave about the depth of knowledge their guides bring, whether it's geology, local wildlife, or plant life, with many noting it transformed a fun outing into a real learning experience. The booking process gets just as much praise as the trips themselves, with Kai in particular highlighted for taking time to understand what guests are actually looking for and matching them to the right adventure. The range of experiences on offer is broad, from multi-day hiking itineraries across Arches and Canyonlands to canyoneering routes with 200-foot rappels that you simply couldn't find on your own. Families with kids, school groups, and solo adventurers all show up in these reviews, and the guides seem genuinely skilled at calibrating the experience to the group. One Seattle school has been returning every year for six years, which says a lot about consistency. Safety protocols are mentioned frequently and always in a reassuring, confidence-building way rather than feeling restrictive. It's hard to find a single complaint across the board, and that kind of sustained reputation in a competitive outdoor guiding market is worth paying attention to.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed 4 full days of guided hiking with Desert Highlights. I called Kai prior to booking and she listened carefully as I explained our past hiking experience and what we were looking to accomplish. We spent one day in Arches, one day in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky, one day in the Canyonland Needles and one day in Bureau of Land Management. The hikes were exactly what we were looking for in terms of length and distance. Our guide Eliza was very professional, knowledgeable and fun! We were very happy that we used Kai's recommendations for lodging and restaurants. We will recommend Desert Highlights to our friends.
Jack Berger
April 29, 2026
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed 4 full days of guided hiking with Desert Highlights. I called Kai prior to booking and she listened carefully as I explained our past hiking experience and what we were looking to accomplish. We spent one day in Arches, one day in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky, one day in the Canyonland Needles and one day in Bureau of Land Management. The hikes were exactly what we were looking for in terms of length and distance. Our guide Eliza was very professional, knowledgeable and fun! We were very happy that we used Kai's recommendations for lodging and restaurants. We will recommend Desert Highlights to our friends.
Jack Berger
April 29, 2026