Home | Rock Climbing Courses | Multi-Pitch Climbing, Trad
The ultimate:
Climbing cliffs that are hundreds or even thousands of feet tall, using natural protection, and building anchors entirely from gear.
Step into the world of big, traditional climbs with confidence. Our Multi-Pitch Trad Climbing Course is designed for climbers ready to experience the commitment, complexity, and raw adventure inherent in multipitch climbing. Whether you’re preparing for alpine missions, remote objectives, or simply want the skills to climb the Santa Barbara area’s longest lines, this course gives you the tools, training, and mindset to move through technical terrain safely and efficiently.
What You’ll Learn
This advanced systems course goes far beyond single-pitch anchor building or basic gear placement. You’ll work closely with an AMGA-certified guide to refine your trad climbing systems in real terrain.
With sweeping ocean views, steep sandstone walls, and low-commitment access, the Santa Barbara area is a perfect venue for hands-on multi-pitch trad education.
Course Details
Location: Multi-pitch trad routes in the Santa Barbara area
Duration: 6–8 hours
Cost: $250/guest per day (3 Days, $750)
Group Size: Max 2 climbers per guide
Included: Full trad rack, ropes, slings, all technical gear
What to Bring: Harness, helmet, climbing shoes, approach shoes, layers, food, water, personal gear if preferred
Who This Course Is For
This course is best suited for:
- Climbers with prior experience building trad anchors and placing gear
- Single-pitch trad leaders ready to level up to longer objectives
- Experienced followers seeking to become multi-pitch partners
- Alpine-bound teams training for longer missions
- Santa Barbara residents who want the high-level skills required to climb the longest climbs in the area
Prerequisites: Must have prior trad climbing experience (anchor building, gear placement) and be comfortable following or leading 5.7 or harder outdoors.
You’ll cover:
- Belay transitions and stance management with gear anchors
- Building secure, efficient multi-directional trad anchors
- Gear placement in series, equalization methods, and load management
- Belaying from above using direct and redirected techniques
- Managing rope drag and efficient rope stacking
- Communication across pitches and problem solving in the vertical environment
- Rappelling off natural and gear anchors with redundancy and backups
- Reading terrain, route finding, and prioritizing safety at each transition
You'll apply everything on a real multi-pitch trad route, gaining authentic experience with feedback and coaching in every step of the climb.
Is This Course Right for You?
If you want to learn to lead or second trad multi-pitch routes — not just follow blindly — this course is built for you.
It’s also an ideal choice for seasoned single-pitch climbers seeking technical progression, or for travelers to Santa Barbara who want to make the most of their visit by learning high-value climbing systems in a spectacular setting.
Why Multi-Pitch Trad?
Multi-pitch trad is a rite of passage. It challenges your technical systems, your decision-making, and your ability to stay calm and methodical under pressure. Unlike bolted routes, you must evaluate every anchor, every placement, and every stance. It’s the ultimate test of self-reliance and partnership.And with the right instruction, it’s a logical and empowering next step.
Santa Barbara offers the perfect classroom: short approaches, warm weather, reliable rock, and enough vertical exposure to feel like a real adventure — without the commitment of a remote backcountry climb.
Come Climbing with Santa Barbara’s most experienced and professionally certified climbing guide service.
Our lead instructors are AMGA-trained or certified and deeply familiar with the local sandstone crags. We’ve taught hundreds of climbers how to transition into safe, confident leaders — and we love doing it.
We also pride ourselves on tailoring each outing to your personal goals and comfort level, whether you’re a first-time leader or looking to fine-tune your technique.
Why Learn With Us
Santa Barbara Rock Climbing is built by guides who live and breathe this terrain. We’ve logged thousands of pitches on traditional routes across California and beyond, and we know what works — and what fails — in real-world conditions.
With a maximum 2:1 ratio, you’ll get hands-on practice and instructor feedback throughout the climb. Our goal isn’t to just guide you up a route — it’s to make sure you leave with full comprehension and real experience you can take anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to be leading trad to take this course?
A: No. You can follow pitches and still gain full system training, or lead if you’re ready.
Q: How technical is this course?
A: It’s a high-level skills course focused on systems and safety. If you’ve built anchors and placed gear before, you’ll do great.
Q: Do I need to bring gear?
A: We provide everything you need, but you’re welcome to bring your own rack or personal kit.
Q: Can I book this with a climbing partner?
A: Yes — we highly recommend it. Multi-pitch trad works best when practiced with your real-world partner.
Looking to go big — with the skill and confidence to back it up?
Book your Multi-Pitch Trad Climbing Course today and take the next step into classic, gear-protected terrain with expert guidance.