Rock Climbing Trips for Teens in the Pacific Northwest

BOLD & GOLD rock climbing trips give you the chance to rise to new heights in some of Washington’s most stunning climbing destinations. Learn the fundamentals of climbing and safety while pushing yourself to take on new challenges, cheer on your peers, and practice trust and teamwork. Every climb includes hands-on learning, leadership opportunities, and moments of reflection to celebrate successes together. From the first foothold to the view at the summit, you'll discover courage, confidence, and friendships that reach far beyond the rock wall.

To help participants and families choose the right BOLD & GOLD experience, we rate trips on a scale of 1–5 for Physicality and Leadership. Together, they offer a sense of the effort a trip asks of campers and the opportunity to build leadership skills it provides. See Trip Ratings >

Rock Climbing

Week-long trips feature routes ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced, with no prior experience needed.

Sea to Summit: Rock Climbing and Hiking Mt. Erie

Mt. Erie is the perfect place to learn to climb or fine-tune your rock climbing skills. Experience the view from the top and discover all this beautiful area has to offer. You will find yourself on trails that overlook the Puget Sound while encouraging others to challenge themselves to new heights. By the end of the trip, you will have a solid understanding of basic rock climbing techniques and will have learned to trust and be responsible for others. Our skilled instructors will teach you everything you need to know to go higher than you thought possible in one of the most dramatic places in Washington.

Physicality: ●○○○○ | Leadership: ●●○○○

Entering Grades: 6–8 or 9–12

Beyond City Limits

young boys outside with an alpine lake behind them

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Experience the outdoors right in your backyard this summer. On this five-day adventure, you will learn new outdoor skills, experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest mountains, and sharpen your leadership skills. With a group of motivated peers ready to take on the challenge, you will travel to unique places where you will rock climb, kayak, or camp. Monday and Tuesday take you on day trip adventures, followed by two nights of overnight camping from Wednesday to Friday. Along the way, you will make new friends, practice leadership skills, and explore the beauty of the natural world.

Physicality: ●○○○○ | Leadership: ●○○○○

Entering Grades: 6–8

Fire & Ice: A Mountain Climbing Adventure to Mt. Baker

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On this mountain climbing adventure, you will attempt to climb Washington’s third-tallest mountain, the majestic Mt. Baker. Together, you and your group will learn how to camp and travel in snowy conditions, cross glaciers, and feel the inspiration of being in one of Washington’s most magical places. If conditions are favorable, you’ll stand on high, looking down on Seattle, and understand the courage and perseverance it takes to be a mountaineer. Previous climbing and/or winter travel is encouraged, and backpacking experience is required.

Physicality: ●●●●● | Leadership: ●●●●○

Entering Grades: 10–12 and Graduating Seniors

Call to the Summit: A Mountain Climbing Adventure

young people at the top of a pass with mountains behind them

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Experience the challenge, beauty, and glory of the Cascade Mountains on this mountaineering expedition. Learn from veteran climbing instructors and build the skills to travel competently in mountain terrain, with opportunities to try rock climbing, develop multicultural leadership, and summit the peak. This trip includes the most mountain climbing in our program and is among our most physically demanding, but it is also one of the most rewarding. If you are ready to give your best every day and work as a team to reach the top, this adventure is for you.

Physicality: ●●●●● | Leadership: ●●●●○

Entering Grades: 10–12 and Graduating Seniors

Trip Ratings

Trip ratings range from one to five based on physicality and leadership, and are intended to help participants and families choose the BOLD & GOLD experience that's right for them.

Physicality is the level of physical difficulty or effort required to complete the distance, hike the elevation, navigate the terrain, and manage the conditions.

Leadership is the number of opportunities participants have to help lead the group through planning and problem-solving, managing camp tasks, and more.

Level One: ●○○○○

Physicality: Day hiking up to 5 miles, front-country climbing with short approach hikes, or flat-water kayaking up to 4 miles. Includes at least one rest day.

Leadership: Focus on exploration, social-emotional learning, and skill building. Participants take on small tasks like cooking, camp setup, journaling, and photography.

Level Two: ●●○○○

Physicality: Backpacking 3–4 miles per day, moderate terrain with under 1,000 ft elevation gain. Front-country climbing with longer routes. One to two rest days.

Leadership: Each participant serves as “Leader of the Day,” exploring responsibility through rotating, slightly more complex tasks.

Level Three: ●●●○○

Physicality: Backpacking 3–7 miles/day with some elevation gain. Coastal trips include tideland navigation; Cascade trips may have steeper climbs. One to two rest days for some trips.

Leadership: Greater responsibility for day-to-day tasks. Instructors step back, allowing the group to work together and practice basic group and risk management.

Level Four: ●●●●○

Physicality: Multi-week itineraries, backpacking 7–10 miles/day, challenging terrain, multiple consecutive travel days. Coastal and mountain routes may include overland crossings and steep gains.

Leadership: Multi-week trips with structured leadership and group management opportunities. Leaders of the Day get peer feedback and guide camp tasks and trail navigation.

Level Five: ●●●●●

Physicality: Advanced climbing/mountaineering trips. Early “Alpine Starts,” technical routes, glacier or snow travel, heavier packs, and extended consecutive travel days.

Leadership: High technical rigor and leadership challenges across physically demanding days. Teens develop advanced wilderness leadership and instructional skills.

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