Rare Earth Adventures offers a multitude of climbing trips across the Pacific Northwest. On all of our climbing trips, our goal is to assist participants in gaining the technical skills and knowledge necessary for climbing in the outdoors, including skills in knots, belay techniques, rappelling, lead climbing, placing and removing lead protection, building anchors, hazard identification, and movement and technique.
Custom dates are available. Give us a call or send us an email to schedule a trip. Trip length can be customized to meet the interest and learning needs of the client.
Climbing Trip Locations
Beacon Rock
- Grade: 5.7 and up
- Vertical: 400′ vertical south face aspect
- Cost: Price includes guides, transportation (from Portland, OR area), climbing permits, climbing equipment.
- About the Area: Beacon Rock is on the North bank of the Columbia River about 50 minutes East of Portland. It was named by Lewis and Clark in 1805; they originally referred to it as Beaten Rock due to the treacherous rapids and waterfalls just upstream (now underwater due to dams), and was later known as Beacon Rock. They noted that the rock marked the eastern extent of the tidal influence in the Columbia, about 140 river miles inland. The rock was later known as Castle Rock, until 1916 when its name was changed back to Beacon Rock. Beacon Rock is 848 feet (258 m) tall and is composed of Andesite. Henry Biddle purchased the rock in 1915 for $1 and during the next three years constructed a heavily switchbacked trail, handrails and bridges. The three-quarter mile trail to the top, completed in April 1918, leads to views in all directions. It is a popular hiking destination. The United States Army Corps of Engineers planned to destroy the rock to supply material for the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia and dug three caves on the rock’s south side. During this time, Biddle’s family tried to make it a state park. At first Washington refused the gift, but changed its position when Oregon offered to accept. It has been variously claimed to be the second largest free standing monolith in the northern hemisphere, or in the world, behind the Rock of Gibraltar, Stone Mountain or Mount Augustus. The assertion depends on how one defines the term “monolith.” For example, Devils Tower National Monument in America is larger than Beacon Rock, but is considered an igneous intrusion rather than a “single rock”.
Broughton Bluff
This amazing gem is tucked in on the eastern shore of the Sandy River, just before dumping into the mighty Columbia River. Broughton Bluff offers great rock climbs for all abilities on an extensive 160′ high series of cliffs located within Lewis and Clark State Park land.
- Grade: 5.8 to 5.13
- Vertical: 160′
- Season: All seasons (weather permitting). Spring and Fall are best seasons for climbing.
- Cost: *Price includes guides, transportation, climbing permits, and climbing equipment.
- The Park: Lewis and Clark State Park is named after its mighty adventurers who camped and explored here in November, 1805. Offering everything from picnics to swimming in the Sandy River to rock climbing the bluff, this park is a true treasure! A hiking trail climbs the cliffs to Broughton’s Bluff, which serves as a geologic boundary between the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range and the neighboring Willamette Valley to the west.
- Skill Level: All
- Learning Objectives: Our goal at Rare Earth Adventures is to assist participants in gaining the technical skills and knowledge necessary for climbing in the outdoors.
French’s Dome
- Grade: 5.6 – 5.12b
- Vertical: 160 ft.
- Season: April – October
- Cost: *Price includes guides, transportation, climbing permits, climbing equipment, meals and tents.
- Client to Guide Ratio: 3:1
- About the Area: Located approximately 60 minutes from Portland, Oregon, in the town of Zig Zag, French’s Dome is a basalt rock dome located in the middle of old-growth forest.
- Skill Level: Novice
Rocky Butte
- Grade: 5.6 to 5.12
- Season: Year round (when not wet)
- Cost: Includes all technical climbing gear, hot drink, headlamp, and transportation (within the Portland OR area).
- Skill Level: Novice to Advanced
- Location: These evening climbing sessions are held at Rocky Butte in Portland, OR just off the I-205 highway.
- About the Area: Rocky Butte is an extinct volcanic cinder cone in the heart of Northeast Portland. Just a stone throw away from I-205 Highway, this site is rarely seen due to the thick tree canopy blocking the rock wall. Rocky Butte is part of the Boring Lava Field, a series of more than 30 cinder cones in Oregon and Washington. Formerly known as Wiberg Butte, a large quantity of rock was removed from the East face of Rocky Butte for nearby city buildings in the 1940′s. In the early 1900′s, the Union Pacific Railroad had a spur to the East side, and a station named Quarry. The main cliff is extensive and tall and is ideal for rappelling, top-roping, or lead climbing. Just a short one-minute walk from your car to access the upper edge of this crag and to explore some of your favorite climbs.
- Twist: In addition to regular climbing, we also offer night cragging at Rocky Butte. If you’ve never climbed at night, this is your chance for a fun and safe environment to cut your teeth on! Climbing by head lamp casts light and shadows on your route like never before! What looks like a bomber hold is nothing more than a chossy let down. And sometimes you just have to trust that there will be a nice pocket in the dark shadow beyond your headlamp.
Rooster Rock
- Grade: 5.4
- Vertical: 120’
- Season: All seasons (weather permitting). Spring and Fall are best seasons for climbing.
- Cost: *Price includes guides, transportation, climbing permits, and climbing equipment.
- Client to Guide Ratio: 3:1
- About the Area: Located approximately 30 minutes east of Portland, Rooster Rock is a distinctive pinnacle that towers 200’ above the Columbia River Gorge. The state park is a favorite destination for outdoor adventurers seeking to hike, climb, wind surf, kite board and play along the shores of the Columbia River. The alpine-styled South Face of Rooster Rock is an excellent site to be introduced to multi-pitch climbing and as a training ground for future climbs throughout the Cascade Range. Rooster Rock affords climbers with amazing views of the Gorge, Beacon Rock, and an assortment of kite surfers zipping across the river hundreds of feet below.
- Skill Level: Novice
Smith Rocks
Smith Rocks
- Grade: 5.0-5.14d
- Vertical: 3,000’
- Season: All seasons (weather permitting). Spring and Fall are best seasons for climbing.
- Cost: *Price includes guides, transportation, climbing permits, climbing equipment, meals and tents.
- Client to Guide Ratio: 3:1
- About the Area: Smith Rock State Park is recognized as a world class climbing destination. The towering cliffs and high desert landscape of Smith Rock State Park are located above the winding Crooked River and serve as a home for golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otter and beaver. Smith Rock State Park sits on 650 acres of land that offers opportunities for bouldering, sport climbing, traditional climbing, hiking, mountain biking, and camping. Comprised of both a welded tuff (compressed volcanic ash) and basalt the cliffs stretch skywards up to 500’ above the valley floor. The combination of over 1,800 single and multi-pitch climbing routes, low elevation, a moderate climate, and close proximity to both Bend and Portland draws climbers to the area throughout all seasons.
- Skill Level: Novice through expert
- Sign up for any two consecutive days of climbing, and transportation and camping will be included FREE of charge! (Transportation: from Portland Metro Area to Smith Rock State Park and back, Camping: in Smith Rock State Park).
