ROCK CLIMBING LESSONS BOULDER

EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME WITH A TOP-RATED Rock CLIMBING GUIDE

Alpine to the Max is the only independent, certified guide dedicated to providing personalized rock climbing lessons in Boulder. You’ll adventure through the Front Range with Max, while learning the fundamental skills, concepts, and techniques to make you a more confident rock climber. Whether you're new to the sport or an avid climber, we’ll help you accomplish your goals with a day of fun in the mountains, custom-tailored to you.

Photo of person finishing a rock climbing lesson in Boulder, Colorado

YOUR CERTIFIED GUIDE TO CLIMBING THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Alpine to the Max is your AMGA-certified rock and alpine guide to the top venues in and near Boulder County. Founder Max Lurie is the only guide offering custom rock climbing lessons in Boulder, with hands-on instruction and personalized plans based on your skill level and goals.

Our mission is to provide our climbers with the knowledge and safety to experience the mountains like never before. With over a decade of experience scaling some of the world's most challenging venues, Max is uniquely qualified to offer you rock climbing lessons in Boulder, whether you have no past climbing experience or are an experienced climber looking to take things to the next level.

AN OVERVIEW OF OUR GUIDED ROCK CLIMBING LESSONS IN BOULDER

Alpine to the Max welcomes all ages, backgrounds, and skill sets to join us for a day in the mountains. Your guide to the top venues in Boulder, Max Lurie, has extensive experience putting together custom lessons for people of all backgrounds and skill levels.

Because our treks are personalized for you or your group, every rock climb with Alpine to the Max is unique. You’ll receive hands-on guidance from Max, making for an incredibly fun day in the Rocky Mountains.

Beginners will trek up to the Boulder Flatirons, or through nearby Clear Creek Canyon. More advanced climbers can enjoy a day in Eldorado Canyon or Rocky Mountain National Park, two venues excellent for testing yourself and pushing your climbing limits. Regardless of your skillset, Max will help you put together a plan to achieve your goals.

WHAT MAKES ALPINE TO THE MAX DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ROCK CLIMBING GUIDES?

As a professional climber, certified by the American Mountain Guides Association, Max understands that rock climbing lessons should not be one-size-fits-all. Alpine to the Max is the only guide dedicated to experience and instruction. We strive to provide as much educational value to our climbers as possible, ensuring they have a memorable experience in the beautiful Rocky Mountains while becoming more self-sufficient climbers. 

Every day of instruction is entirely personalized to the individual or groups along for the day, considering their goals, skill levels, and preferred venues. This is why no two rock climbs are ever the same.

TOP-TIER INSTRUCTION FOR ALL CLIMBING DISCIPLINES

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With more than a decade of experience in a wide variety of terrain, Max can provide year round training beyond rock climbing, at vantage points reserved for only the most adventurous climbers. 

Rock climbing

Embark on an unforgettable climbing journey with a custom day of guided instruction. We teach lessons on top roping, as well as sport, traditional, and multi-pitch climbing.

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Alpine Climbing

You’ve mastered rock climbing and are ready for the next challenge. Alpine climbing requires expert mountaineering skills and is considered to be the toughest climbing discipline by the community.

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Ice Climbing

Looking to continue climbing in the winter months? Ice climbing allows you to experience wintertime in the mountains while honing your skills with practice year-round.

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Browse Our Most Popular Rock Climbing Courses

Our independently guided rock climbing courses offer something for everyone regardless of past experience or current skill level. With over 100 five-star reviews, you can't go wrong.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF ROCK CLIMBERS IN BOULDER

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Want to learn what the 5-star buzz is about? Read on for featured reviews from 70+ of our climbers, sharing their experience rock climbing with Alpine to the Max.

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“I climbed with Max last summer on a couple of couloirs in Rocky Mountain National Park. I’m a complete newbie to technical snow and Max was everything that I was hoping for in a guide. Knowledgeable, patient and passionate about educating his clients. It was a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to go back out with him.”

William Rosenberg
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“Max is easily one of the best guides I have ever taken a course with. Max's knowledge paired with his experience and skill set is unparalleled. I learned so much and I am so grateful to have taken a course with him! Max provided the education and knowledge I needed to continue recreating safely in the mountains.”

Nichola Krieg
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“Max was an amazing guide and instructor for our 2-day AIARE 1 course. Funny, affable, deeply knowledgeable, with an excellent approach to instruction and learning. We saw several other AIARE courses out there in the same locations, and in comparison, we were VERY glad we were spending our weekend learning from Max!

Dylan Cate
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Max is awesome! My climbing partner and I booked a day with Max to learn how to ice climb. Between making the meetup spot an easy to find location, to providing in-depth instruction throughout the day, I can't recommend Max enough. Max's instruction was clear, safe, and easy to follow. He's personable and easy to learn from.

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What an awesome experience. My friend and I spent four days with Max going through a variety of topics and we couldn't have been happier with the instruction. Max is SO well versed in a multitude of areas. And he's an awesome person to be around and it makes the guiding experience that much better. I would 100% do another session with Max!

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We strongly recommend Max as a guide and instructor. Having climbed with Max several times over the past decade, we always come away with a great experience and a smile. His enthusiasm and knowledge, plus a wry sense of humor, make for instructive and fun days of climbing. We hope to get out to CO to climb someday with Max again.

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It was awesome. We covered a ton of material in such a short window and I was able to apply everything I learned. I had pretty minimal experience at the start but he delivered everything in a super easy to understand manner that made it a ton of fun and extremely informative. I’ll definitely be coming back for future sessions.

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Max was incredibly helpful for our intro to trad course. He not only teaches the information, but makes sure to go over alternative techniques and general climbing philosophy. We were able to customize the class that day to go over things that interested us rather than a set curriculum, which I really enjoyed. I couldn’t recommend Max enough.

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I had very limited climbing experience coming into this guided rock climbing experience. Max takes me out and we literally jump right into my introduction to climbing. Max literally inspired me to get out of my comfort zone immediately and go beyond what I thought I was capable of. Thank you Max for an awesome experience in the mountains.

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Max is an outstanding guide! I couldn’t have asked for a better day of climbing and learning. I joined Max in hopes of setting a solid foundation of skills and knowledge in my own climbing endeavors to come, and I was beyond satisfied with the day he had prepared for us. An incredible instructor and ideal climbing partner!

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Max is adept, knowledgeable, and great to work with all around! He breaks down skills and explains them thoroughly, taking the time to make sure you understand a concept before moving on to something more complex. If you want to up your technical climbing skills and have a darn good time doing it then Max is your guy!

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Max was extremely knowledge and encouraging while we were learning and practicing building anchors and hauling for crevasse rescue. He also had a great sense of humor and kept the mood light while we were suffering through brutally cold temperatures during the practice. 10/10 would recommend!

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My partner and I hired Max for a day of self rescue skills and we had an absolute blast. Max is super knowledgeable and was more than patient answering all of our questions. We never felt rushed and had time to go through different scenarios and skills. I really enjoyed learning from a professional and would recommend to anyone!

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Max was a terrific mountain guide. We did a split-board tour of the Hidden Valley area of Rock Mtn National Park and I couldn’t have had asked for a better guide. He answered all of my questions and expressed great knowledge in snow science as well as mountain geology and avalanche safety. Highly recommend!

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I spent a day learning trad/multipitch climbing with Max in a "classroom setting". The dollars I spent on that session have been more valuable than any climbing trip or equipment. The techniques he taught me have stuck with me throughout my climbing career and set me up for success in the mountains.

About Your Rock Climbing Guide

MEET MAX LURIE: YOUR EXPERT ROCK climbing guide

Alpine to the Max is founded and operated by AMGA-certified rock climbing guide, Max Lurie. Raised along the rugged coastline of Maine, Max learned to rock climb in Acadia National Park and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. For nearly twenty years, he has traveled the world to scale the greatest mountain ranges, guiding his fellow climbers to do the same.

Max is a well-known Colorado guide and accomplished mountaineer that offers top-tier guided instruction for rock, alpine, and ice climbing for all skill levels at the top climbing venues throughout Boulder and the greater Front Range.

For first-time climbers eager to learn the basics and seasoned experts looking to sharpen their skills, Max provides careful one-on-one instruction to help you accomplish your mountain goals while making incredible memories along the way.

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DISCOVER WORLD-CLASS ROCK CLIMBING VENUES IN BOULDER

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Boulder, Colorado is a mecca for rock climbing enthusiasts. Every year, people from around the world travel and even relocate to Boulder to experience rock climbing at these renowned venues. No trip is complete without a scenic exploration of the best lookouts Boulder has to offer.

Boulder Flatirons

Located in Chautauqua Park, the Flatirons of Boulder offer an ideal introductory experience to rock climbing with open exposure and easy access to a 1,000 ft. moderate climb right in Boulder’s backyard. 

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Eldorado Canyon

Eldo is one of the birthplaces of American climbing in the west. Unlike any other venue in the world, Eldorado Canyon State Park has incredibly dense sandstone climbing that offers countless routes. There's always a new one worth exploring, even for the most experienced climbers.

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Clear Creek Canyon

Over 1,000 routes within a few miles of canyon, Clear Creek is a go-to spot for the modern sport climber. People of all skill and fitness levels can enjoy this spectacular venue off the beaten path.

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Rocky Mountain National Park

Over 1,000 routes within a few miles of canyon, Clear Creek is a go-to spot for the modern sport climber. People of all skill and fitness levels can enjoy this spectacular venue off the beaten path.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ROCK CLIMBING LESSONS IN BOULDER

What better way to experience the Rocky Mountains than a guided excursion at some of the world’s top venues? To ensure you’re properly prepared for the climb ahead, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions we get before a rock climbing lesson. And, if you have a question that isn't covered below, Max will happily answer it during your intro call. 

What type of outing is right for me?
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Every single day of instruction/guiding we do at Alpine to the Max is completely customized to help you achieve your goals. We will talk on the phone and ask you some questions to get an idea of what your goals are. From there we can make some suggestions about how to get there together.
How do I pick a guide or guide service?
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This is actually a scary topic because there is no oversight or regulation in the mountain guiding industry. This means that anyone with a rope can call themselves a guide. Furthermore, guide services will often use language like “Professional Mountain Guides” while hiring young and/or inexperienced guides while paying them a fraction of what you pay for their services. Always ask if your guide is certified by the American Mountain Guides Association. This will ensure that your guide/instructor has been peer reviewed and has passed their examinations. By hiring an independent certified guide, such as Alpine to the Max, you are ensuring the quality of instruction or experience that you will receive.
How do I book a day/trip?
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Fill out the form on our contact page to get in touch with me. Every day of guiding or instruction is fully customized so before booking anything we need to find a date that works and come up with a plan for the day. From there we’ll send you a waiver and invoice for payment.
How do I prepare for my outing?
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This depends on the objective and can vary drastically from a day of rock climbing to a winter overnight or expedition. However, we will always set you up for success. This means that mentorship starts at the time of booking to help prepare you for your outing. Alpine to the Max is a resource of knowledge that you will have access to.
Where does Alpine to the Max guide/instruct?
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I live in Boulder Colorado and have access to all the local climbing venues: Eldorado Canyon State Park, Boulder Canyon, Flatirons, Clear Creek Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park. I regularly travel and can guide most places in the US or internationally. However, pricing may vary because access to permits through local guide services who have a monopoly plays a role.