Inclusive Rock Climbing Programs

Who is the Inclusive Rock Climbing program for?

Our Inclusive Rock Climbing Program is designed to create a welcoming, supportive environment for anyone who has felt underrepresented or overlooked in the climbing community. Led by Mojave Guides instructor Zia Zhao, this program offers the opportunity to explore Joshua Tree in a space that prioritizes connection, encouragement, and fun, whether you're brand new to climbing or have years of experience.

If you've ever felt like climbing wasn't for you or struggled to find a sense of belonging in outdoor recreation, we hope this experience helps change that. Our goal is to make rock climbing accessible and enjoyable for people of all backgrounds, identities, ages, and skill levels, including LGBTQ+ and non-binary climbers.

Like our traditional rock climbing programs, this private experience is fully customized to your group's goals and experience level. Our Rock Climbing Programs are all private and you will not be grouped with another party.

This program takes place in single pitch terrain. If you want to climb multi-pitch, please contact us to check for availability.

Ready to climb? Book your private Joshua Tree climbing experience.

Check Availability Below

NOTE: Please use the tabs below to select Half Day (AM), Half Day (PM), or Full Day, then choose the number of participants in your group. These rates are for our standard 4:1 guest-to-guide ratio. Groups larger than 12 people may want to choose our Large Private Group program instead, which is offered for a lower per-person price and run at a 6:1 ratio. Please contact us for details.

Meet Your Guide, Zia Zhao

Zia was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but didn’t develop a taste for outdoor adventure until their early twenties, when they got their first seasonal job guiding at a Via Ferrata in West Virginia. Zia became fascinated with the bold, old-school trad crushers that would summit the nearby Seneca Rocks. Despite a fear of heights, Zia decided to become one of those super awesome climbers themself. They pivoted from a career in animation to touch rocks full-time, and the rest is history.

Since then, Zia has traveled the United States in their semi-reliable van, guiding and climbing from the hills of Appalachia, to the Colorado Rockies, to the California desert. In the infrequent moments Zia is not rock climbing, you can find them parked somewhere in the desert, drawing comics, reading books, walking their potbellied dog, and thinking about what they'll climb next.

FAQ

    • All necessary equipment is provided free of additional charge.

    • Our guide to participant ratio is 1:4, so if you have more than 4 participants in your party you will have multiple guides, which means even more climbing!

    • Rock Climbing is offered in half day (4 hours) and full day (8 hours) formats. If you wear out early or decide that climbing isn’t for you, we can switch it up with a tour of one of the park’s unique corridors, a nice hike, or some technical skill building (like how to make a climbing anchor, etc.) on the ground. In fact, consider the Full Day option if you have the time, it’s a better deal than the half day!

    Inclusive Climbing tour start times

    • Our programs are set to default start times of 8am and 1pm, but we are happy to change this once you have made a reservation. In most cases, changing the start time will result in a shorter overall program because your guide is likely booked for a program after yours, and because the sun sets early for much of our season. We will do our best to accommodate your requests.

    What to expect at the park

    • You will need to follow your guide into Joshua Tree National Park in your own vehicle, probably a half hour or less. You will be required to show or purchase a park pass to enter. Please make sure your vehicle has plenty of charge and/or fuel when you arrive.

    • Some programs will choose to stay in one spot to maximize the number of climbs you do and others will choose to move around and see more areas. It’s totally up to you and we can play it by ear because it’s just us!

    After the Inclusive Climbing tour

    • Our days end out in the park. Keep this in mind when you’re planning. You might want to drive around and see some sights or to watch the sunset and unwind afterward.

    Please visit our FAQ page or contact us if you have any further questions.

  • Our default meeting location is the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor’s Center parking lot (6554 Park Blvd. Joshua Tree, CA 92252) You will receive a booking confirmation with a map link and more details. Meeting location is flexible, please contact us to arrange an alternative

  • We do not provide snacks or beverages in an attempt to keep our rates low for you. Nice “grab n’ go” lunches can be purchased at the Roadrunner Café, which is attached to the Visitor’s Center where we meet though.

Our Inclusive Climbing program was created by Heather Smallpage in 2023 and is now led by Zia Zhao.

Learn more and book your climb!