Your Source for outdoor adventure!
At Small Cliffs Guiding, we pride ourselves on providing fun and educational outdoor experiences for all. We set ourselves apart by always striving to explain the “why”. In such a complex environment as climbing, we challenge our clients to learn to think critically, not simply follow dogma. We offer Single pitch climbing and guided hiking throughout Connecticut and the North East. Whether you are a true beginner looking to experience climbing or hiking for the first time, a gym climber looking to become self-sufficient outdoors, or simply looking for a grand tour of the area, we can craft a day to meet your ambitions. Reach out and we can discuss your goals, and develop a program for you! Please contact us with any questions, to chat about goals, or to set up a custom trip!
Highlights and news
After Work Series!
We are stoked to be starting our after work series beginning the first week of June! Join us on Wednesday evenings for technical training, or Fridays after work for pitches and pints! Discounts available!
May Special!
Buy Now, Save Later! All who book with us during the month of May will be entered into a drawing to receive either 10% back, or 15% credited to a future event with us! No entry necessary. Drawing for 3 winners happens 01 June.
Military Specials!
We are excited to offer discounts to Soldiers and Families of the US Army’s Mountain Units. We are also excited to be offering discounted climbing near Fort Drum, NY from 14-19 June 2024!
UPCOMING Courses
UPCOMING Courses
Private Guiding
Privately run guiding for individuals or small groups on a custom basis. Private guiding can cater to the specific goals and desires of YOU, without worrying about the dynamics of a group outing. Private Guiding is either instructional or experiential in nature. Smaller groups allow for more 1:1 instructional time, or simply more pitches climbed in the day. These programs can run 7 days a week, at your request. We offer both full day trips, as well as 1/2 day options. All are fully customizable.
Price Includes All Technical gear as needed - Helmet, Harness, Shoes, Ropes - and qualified guides.
Any Day: 7.5 hours or 5 hours available
Connecticut
Max Ratio: 1 guide : 6 clients
Minimum participants needed: 2
Experience Required: NO prior gym climbing experience needed.
Cost: $400 for 1 client, $100 for each additional client
Intro to Outdoor CLimbing - Group
01 June 2024, 900am-430pm (Full day)
15 June 2024, 1000am-300pm (1/2 Day)
29 June 2024, 1000am-300pm (1/2 Day)
Max Ratio: 1 guide : 4 clients
Minimum participants needed: 2
Experience Required: Prior gym climbing experience required.
Cost: $180 per person Full day; $125 1/2 Day
Clients will spend the day with an experienced guide learning the ropes of outdoor climbing. Clients will learn the basics of climbing technique, to include how to belay and how to tie into the rope with a figure-8 follow-through. Clients will be instructed in the basics of footwork and climbing movement, while being challenged on a variety of terrain. This program is designed for the beginner climber, or the climber new to outdoor climbing. The goal is to experience the thrill of outdoor climbing in a low stress, fun manner.
Price Includes All Technical gear as needed - Helmet, Harness, Shoes, Ropes - and qualified guides.
Pitches and Pints
Every Friday, 500pm-Dark
Varies Weekly, Connecticut
Max Participants: 10 clients
Minimum participants needed: 3
Experience Required: No prior experience needed
Cost: $60 per person for your first time, $40 each subsequent time.
Join us after work every Friday to end the week, and start the weekend, on a hight note with some outdoor climbing. We’ll meet at a local crag at 5pm, and climb until dark. Each week we will rotate between different cliffs and locations. All climbs will be set up by our guides, and all you have to do is show up and climb! We can use the climbing time to teach belaying, simple skills, or just hang out and get those pitches in! After we wrap up, those who wish too can head to local brewery or pub to relax, hang out, and enjoy a cold one. More info and locations available here.
Price Includes All Technical gear as needed - Helmet, Harness, Shoes, Ropes - and qualified guides. Price DOES NOT include the price of drinks afterwards. Under 21 can participate in the climbing. 21+ only for any after climbing drinking.
Wednesday Workshops
Every Wednesday, 6pm-8pm
Varies Weekly, Connecticut
Max Participants: 10 clients
Minimum participants needed: 2
Experience Required: No prior experience needed.
Cost: $30 per person. Participation entitles you to $20 off of a future private guided day.
Do you want to improve your skills? Are YouTube videos not cutting it for you? Do you require structured feedback as you practice and develop as climber? Then check out our upcoming Wednesday Workshop series! These classes will be held every Wednesday, and broadly cover a variety of topics each week, to be published in advance. Come for one, or come for many. These classes will be run as larger groups, allowing us to keep the costs down, while still providing you structured training and knowledge. These events will generally be held at parks and other similar venues, rather than cliffside. This will allow us more time for discussion and instruction, without having to hike into a cliff. More info, topics, and locations available here.
Price Includes All Technical gear as needed - Helmet, Harness, Shoes, Ropes - and qualified guides.
Intro to Top Rope Anchors
09 June 2024, 900am-430pm
Plainville, Connecticut
Max Ratio: 1 guide : 4 clients
Minimum participants needed: 2
Experience Required: Prior gym climbing experience recommended
Cost: $200 per person
Learn the skills needed to build top rope anchors in various types of terrain. This intro to anchors course will cover how to use static rope, slings, and cordelettes to build anchors on natural features (trees, boulders, etc). This course is critical knowledge for all outdoor climbers in their journey to self-sufficiency outdoors. This course will teach clients how to evaluate terrain for suitability, tie knots (to include a BHK, Bowline, clove hitch, and figure-8 follow through) and place their anchor master-point to allow for appropriate lines of ascent.
Price Includes All Technical gear as needed - Helmet, Harness, Shoes, Ropes - and qualified guides.
GYm to crag weekend
Two full days out with one of our certified guides learning how to translate your skills in the gym to climbing outdoors. Day one will largely consist of learning how to make top rope anchors on both natural and bolted features. We will discuss a variety of knots and hitches, and explore different ways that we can make a suitable anchor. We will climb on all of our anchors to build confidence. Day two will cover a variety of topics. Key points will include rappelling, as well as how to clean bolted rappel stations. Students who are lead certified in a climbing gym can expect instruction on leading sport routes outdoors, and specific outdoor considerations.
Price Includes All Technical gear as needed - Helmet, Harness, Shoes, Ropes - and qualified guides.
01-02 June 2024, 900am-430pm - Both Days;
Connecticut
Max Ratio: 1 guide : 4 clients
Minimum participants needed: 2
Experience Required: Prior gym climbing experience required.
Cost: $400 per person
Intro to descending
08 June 2024, 1000am-300pm
Connecticut
Max Ratio: 1 guide : 4 clients
Minimum participants needed: 2
Experience Required: Prior gym climbing experience recommended.
Cost: $150 per person
Spend a half day outside with an experienced guide learning how to descend from the top of a cliff with a rope and modern climbing gear (Rappelling). You will gain knowledge of basic rappelling skills, rappel extensions, third hand back ups, and fireman belays. Emphasis in this course will be how to descend a rope in the most secure manner possible, while working to mitigate a variety of hazards that rappelling presents. This course will be split between on the ground training, and actually descending ropes. You will gain confidence navigating rappels on various terrain.
Price Includes All Technical gear as needed - Helmet, Harness, Shoes, Ropes - and qualified guides.
