Beginner Group Rock Climbing in Joshua Tree National Park

Great experience, truly enjoyable and guide was very knowledgeable. Things to remember to have long sleeve and pants protect you when you slip and gloves are a plus to protect your palms.

Great experience with James Murphy as our guide. It was a highlight of our trip and this group of first time outdoor climbers is eager to climb again! Murphy was very positive, explained things well, put safety first, and taught our family group a ton about the mental, physical and technical aspects of climbing. He kept it simple, fun and engaging for the whole session. Taught us all that climbing is about failing and overcoming those failures, and gave us the training and encouragement to allow us to achieve our goals (we loved that he started the day asking us about our goals and then helped us identify and accomplish them as the day progressed). Catered to varied skills and needs expertly, from a Mom who was a bit hesitant to Dad and Daughters 20 and 17 who were eager to learn and explore. We highly recommend Murphy and Mojave Guides if you are thinking about climbing at JT NP. It’s an amazing place and even more amazing when you are climbing!

Climbed with Murphy and Emery, both solo and with a group of friends. Phenomenal experience in every way. The guides were thoughtful, safe, professional, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and fun.

I had an amazing experience with Mojave Guide Emery in Joshua Tree! We did two top-rope climbs, and he was incredibly professional, knowledgeable about the area, and, most importantly, made me feel completely safe—like, zero chance of dying, which is always a plus. As a first-time outdoor climber, I really appreciated how patient Emery was. He explained the techniques clearly, answered all my questions, and helped me work through the routes in a way that made me feel comfortable. The climbs were the perfect level of difficulty—challenging and just outside my comfort zone, but never in a way that felt unsafe. Beyond climbing, Emery made the whole experience fun and engaging. We explored some caves by scrambling under rocks, which was an unexpected highlight. He also pointed out cool rock formations, plants, and shared fun facts about the area, which added so much to the adventure. Overall, Emery is a fantastic guide and great company. Whether you're a beginner or experienced climber, I’d 10/10 recommend!

As true beginners we were pretty excited. Our guide Taylor was patient and very relaxed- which in turn made us relaxed. Couldn’t recommend Taylor more- he was skilled, friendly and surprisingly funny.