Booked slots at the Via Ferrata for our family of 7 ranging in age from 18-51. In my mind, I thought the first few levels would be more like hiking on a ledge while clipped in. This is not the case and I saw immediately upon arrival that even level one is high off the ground and requires climbing. Our guide was great as she took us through the training and explained how to use equipment. We all started out on section 2 because she said it seemed to be easier for people scared of heights (I'm terrified). After that five of us did section one then I did section one again while five others did section 3. Intellectually, I could tell it was an extremely safe operation. The guides are like lifeguards, constantly watching what is happening on the wall through binoculars and calling out corrections or suggestions. Still, for me, when on the wall it was hard to get over my fear of falling. It helped not to look down. My entire party was proud of ourselves for trying it and would like to come back again -- perhaps with more rest beforehand. Some of them got partway through section 4 but were tired from earlier running and weightlifting. Overall a great operation and appreciate the picnic tables on the deck where you can watch others while taking a break. read more

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My husband and I did two days of climbing with Matt through Southeast. We have experience climbing, but never outside. Matt was extremely kind and professional, and helped us meet our goals in a supportive environment. I would absolutely recommend this company and would be happy to work with Matt again in the future. read more

Southeast Mountain Guides - Climbing Near Me - Campton, Kentucky

Had a bast. Our 5th VF and our second unguided. I liked the way the course was set up easiest to hardest with exit and entry points between sections. We did t break between section but a lot of people did and it was nice that families could tackle different section even if someone needed a rest. Even though the course was not that tall the back half was really tough and a lot of fun. read more

This was my third Via Ferrata and I had a blast! But it was the first one where the guide did not go with us so I was a little apprehensive starting out but as soon as I got comfortable, I was good to go. It helped that I was with a group. There are six courses - two easy (ha no!), one intermediate, two advanced, and one extreme and you can do them in any order you want or even repeat courses. You can also come back down in between courses for snacks, drinks, to use the restroom, or just take a break. I was able to complete the two easy, one intermediate, and one advanced in about two hours. My husband chose not to do this (he does not like heights) but took awesome photos. It would be great if Southeast Guides had a photographer as I'm sure people would want photos of this awesome experience. All safety equipment is provided but I would recommend gloves - I used paddling gloves which worked fine if you don't have climbing gloves read more

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It was our first time doing a via ferrata. Matt was incredibly helpful. He kept us safe and encouraged us to face our fear of heights! We all had a great time and am looking forward to our next visit! read more

Southeast Mountain Guides - Climbing Near Me - Campton, Kentucky

Customer service 5 stars Knowledge 5 stars Safety 5 stars Even with my 7 year old and my partner with limited knowledge my instructor was super helpful with teaching us and being patient This was an incredible experience read more

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Highly recommend this experience! I've been three times with different friends each time and they love it!! The guides are great and you'll have an amazing time. read more

Southeast Mountain Guides - Via Ferrata - Climbing Near Me - Campton, Kentucky

I had an extra day after a week of work in Lexington. I was hoping to learn to climb but they were booked. Nichole recommend the Via Ferrata. I checked out some of the reviews and it seemed ok, so I gave it a try. I must admit, while it was beautiful, I was a bit underwhelmed and thought It would be a breeze (boy was I wrong!) Upon arrival the staff was friendly and detailed the safety and orientation class. The course is self paced and separated into 6 legs. 1-3 being the easiest and then the skill level gradually increasing on legs 4-6. The staff recommended 6-8 hours for novice folks. It provides the opportunity for groups to exit at the end of various legs to come down a rest. I must admit that with the adrenaline of being on the mountain coupled with the upper body strength required, it is a good workout. The great thing is it is set up for all skill levels, but it will get parts of the body working. I was told that most first time visitors will only do 1-3. I breezed through 1-3 but got to leg 4 and had to come down. The transition from 3 to 4 was a challenge with a small backpack and I needed some water. I after a short break, I headed back up to tackle the rest of the course. I was able to do the entire course, but I promise there were times that I wanted to exit. This was a great time and well worth the it. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it was the highlight of my visit to Red River Gorge. read more

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I one hundred percent recommend. Staff were super professional, David and Jerick both were really great to work with. If your looking for climbing for beginners this is it. read more

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My knees are still shaking and we left about 1 hour ago. We signed up for the beginning climbing experience, the Via Ferrata. What a great experience! Staff was super helpful and encouraging! We didn't know what to expect with the set up. The property is all at one location. You park and there is an office to check in and get your safety briefing. They teach you how to use the gear. The climbing areas/mountain is in a "C" formation the office is in the middle. When you for a day pass, you could climb one section or stay all day. It's up to you. The property is stunning. There are 6 different sections to climb, each becoming more difficult. They first have you practice on a practice area that is low to the ground. At this point, you are free to start the sections as you please. Once you start a section, you must complete it. Each section is designed so you could continue on or put your feet on the ground and take a breather. You can do each section as many times as you want. You are free to take a break, bring snacks or picnic lunch. There are picnic tables. When you actually climb, you are without an instructor. Instructors constantly monitor the climbing. They have megaphones and yell encouragement. They are prepared to rescue you if you fall. In case you "freeze up" while climbing, they said most people can me talked through their fears. Lots of the climbing is horizontal in nature. For gear, they provide helmets and harness. You can purchase gloves for $5. My family went without gloves and wore sneakers. This is a controlled climbing experience. That being said, there are many points that are high up. You have to navigate around some pretty challenging areas and get a bit uncomfortable, stretch far, grip some rock and hope you don't fall. Some days, there can be wet sections. This activity does take strength and definitely not for people who are fearful of climbing a ladder. There were sections I was terrified and my son pointed out that my legs were shaking. Ya, I can feel them! My husband slipped and scraped up his leg. My knee is sore from slamming it into rock, not sure when. I was probably holding on for dear life. My family completed sections 1-3. I would start with section 2. It's easier than 1. On sections 1-3, I can confirm there are spots where you can relax, take in the breathtaking views and get your heart rate back down or calm yourself down, if needed. Other things to consider. Make sure to bring water, sunscreen and maybe a change of underpants (depending on your fear of heights). read more

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My wife and I had a fantastic experience with Southeast this past week. We both have some experience with indoor climbing, but are novices when it comes to outdoor. We booked a 1/2 day guided climb and had a wonderful time from start to finish. Connor was our guide - he was extremely knowledgeable about the area, suggested a beautiful spot for us to climb and provided us with climbs that were challenging, but not overwhelming - he seemed to figure out our climbing strengths quickly into the day. Not only is Connor a great climbing guide, he was super interesting to talk with and wore his mask every second of the day. My wife and I specifically picked Southeast based on positive reviews plus a very thorough overview of COVID safety protocols on their website. The communication leading up to our session was great and we received a current status of the COVID protocols the day before arriving. The facility itself was spotless... and I should mention it again that Connor wore his mask every second of our session. We would highly recommend Southeast to anyone interested in checking out some amazing climbing while spending time in the Red. read more

We took a group of boy scouts from 11 years old to 16 years old. This is a really cool adventure, so well organized, and felt very safe. The guides were so helpful and encouraging to everyone in our group. This was challenging for all involved and there are so many different options for comfort and ability levels. We will definitely be back!! read more

Southeast Mountain Guides - Climbing Near Me - Campton, Kentucky

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Went today with CV, he was patient, knowledgeable and encouraging. We had an awesome time!

We had a trip planned for about a month, but due to last minute changes we needed a guide last minute. Unfortunately it was busy season and so last minute everyone my husband called was booked the whole weekend. Southeast also said they were booked but would check around and see if getting a guide was possible. They got back to us at the end of the day and were able to get a guide for the next day. We booked a half day guide with Travis the next day. This was our first time sport climbing outside so having a guide go over everything with us was a must, I mean our lives are at stake! We were so grateful that they were able to find a guide available to work with us! We arrived and everyone was very friendly. Travis really worked with us to understand what we were wanting to get out of our experience and help make sure we understood everything we needed to know to have a fun and safe weekend. He gave us a bunch of tips and was super helpful. Thank you Southeast and Travis for saving our weekend and making it a success! If you are looking for a guide, I would definitely recommend them! read more

Nicole is amazing to work with! She will go out of her way to make your experience the best it can be! She has a great staff who are always willing to help you overcome obstacles and fears. This is a must do when you are in the Red River Gorge! read more

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It's always a great time at Torrent Falls, if you love to rock climb. Make sure to call and make a reservation. You don't want to drive all the way there, just to find out there's a huge group that day. You could most likely be fine just walking in, but call to be sure. You can print the waiver off of their site and have it ready. But if you forget, no worries, they have the waivers at the front desk. You can also buy gloves that are nice than the ones they let you borrow. If you buy gloves, they are $5 a pair, and you will want to cut the tips off them for better grip. Admission is $40 a person. They do not have a restroom, they have a port-a-potty! Maybe someday they will have a restroom. What would be super cool is to have a place for restrooms and showers, because you will be dripping with sweat when you're done. So don't forget to bring a towel and a change of clothes. You will be fitted into their rock climbing harness and be given detailed training on how to clip in and out. PAY ATTENTION!! They are great with their training, but make sure to pay attention, you could seriously injure yourself if you don't. If you pay attention, you will have a totally safe and enjoyable time! Before they release you to climb, they will take you to a training face and make sure you are rock climbing correctly. After that, you are free to go. If this is your first time to Torrent Falls, they will not permit you to skip over faces 1, 2, or 3. We have been here before, so we were permitted to start on 3 and go forward. I had a tiny backpack on me and I regretted taking it. It hindered me. I had it full of Gatorade and snacks. If you have a water bottle that has a hole for a carabiner, I would suggest filling it full of Gatorade and freezing it (if your bottle won't bust) or refrigerating the night before and keeping cool before you climb. TF will give you a carabiner for you to hold your bottle. That is really all you need to take with you. If you need to come down for a drink, the walk back to the main building isn't far at all. It will be good to come down for a break, because these faces will take it out of you. You can buy drinks/snacks at the main building as well. And before you go back up, they will check your gear to make sure everything is still safe. PRECAUTION: As soon as you feel arm fatigue, come down. Don't do what I did and think, "That was just once, I'll keep going" I ended up having to sit on the side of the face, hoping my strength would come back, then finally having to backtrack and go down. It was scary and extremely exhausting. But if you want to rock climb, this is the place to do it. I love it, and will be back again. read more

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If you're like our family and don't have any climbing experience, via ferratta was fantastic. It gives you a sense of climbing and builds confidence. There are 6 different courses with varying difficulty levels. The staff there were all super friendly and helpful. 10/10 customer service. You're climbing in a gorgeous horseshoe canyon with a waterfall that is so pretty. Definitely challenging but so much fun. Pack your lunch! Sit on the covered porch at a picnic table and take a break when you need one. read more

We signed up for a morning of climbing and afternoon of rappelling. My friend that set up the day had called a few times asking about how we could structure the day, and she was so impressed with the customer service she received with the recommendations of what to do. Everything worked out perfectly and the timing was exactly what we needed. Cody and Taylor were our guides, and they were nothing short of amazing. They were very obviously knowledgeable and passionate about climbing but also about educating us. They were patient, encouraging, and sociable. Highly recommend! read more

I will never forget when the owner/manager absolutely lost her sh*t on me when we were confused about payment for a guide. She screamed an insult then stormed off before eventually coming back. Freaking out and screaming is not how you do customer service, we were nothing but respectful to you. Your childish behavior caused second hand embarrassment on your behalf for everybody else who saw. read more

Awesome day at Torrent Falls Rock Climbing Adventure Center. A group of early rising college students and professors of all ability levels were able to challenge themselves on the mountain. The staff was friendly and gave us important directions and suggestions during the training session. "It's all in the training" Alex (staff member) said. All of the safety and climbing suggestions led to four of the ten reaching Black Diamond status. Excellent way to introduce the sport. Experience of a lifetime! read more

If you are in the Red River Gorge area and looking for something fun to do than Southeast has got you covered. From beginner to experienced climbers they've got something for you. I called last minute and talked to Amy on the phone. She tried real hard to find a guide for my wife and I for our first time Sport climbing outdoors. When everyone else was full Amy found us a spot and really saved our weekend. Also three other places I called all suggested Southeast after they told me they were full. We've been gym climbing for about 4 years and have a good amount of experience lead climbing and cleaning. We arrived the next day and Travis was our guide. This guy is super knowledgeable and did great creating an environment for learning. He made sure our lead climbing and cleaning techniques were on point. He showed us how to bail on a hard problem and pointed us in the direction of some good outdoor sport climbs. Travis gave us the confidence we needed for a great weekend. As we were waiting to start our guide we were watching a large group in the back of the cabin traversing the side of this cliff. It looked like a lot of fun for beginners. They were all attached to a wire to guide them and prevent any falls but still allows some freedom to climb and move along the mountain. I can't remember what it's called. It's kinda a mix between climbing and hiking and is great for anyone new. All in all if you're transitioning from gym to outdoor climbing I would highly recommend Southeast Mountain Guides. Hiring a guide anywhere is a bit expensive, but the experience and knowledge we gained was more than worth it. Thanks again Amy and Travis for saving our weekend. read more

Torrent Falls Via Ferrata is one of the most exciting things I have ever done. The climbs were challenging and the scenery is amazing. If you are looking for an extreme but safe way to climb this is for you. The customer service at Torrent Falls could not have been better and the grounds were near pristine. Our guide was great with our little boy and had some great facts to share about the waterfall, rocks and minerals, and flora/fauna. I cannot think of a single thing that could have been better. A perfect day! read more

Just an amazing g experience. Great for intermediate and beginner climbers, if you are up here with your girlfriend and don't trust her to belay you, these are your peepz! Our guide Drake was amazing and uplifting. He made us feel competent and showed a wonderful love for the sport and culture. read more

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I was looking for something fun to do with my daughter, a freshman at U. Cincinnati. This was a 2 hour drive into KY, but soooooo worth it. Climbing along a waterfall cliff in a harness for the day - awesome way to spend time together!! read more

Travis was amazing guide for our teenager's two 1/2 day climbs. Travis brought the experience and patience necessary to guide, teach and challenge a 17 year old. Our son had climbed RRG before and Travis was able to quickly gauge the appropriate climbs. Southeast Climbing Guides were quick to respond to my initial call, professional and competitively priced. HIGHLY RECOMMEND read more

This place is awesome! I've climbed with Nicole a couple of times now, and she is so knowledgeable and helpful and just a real joy to spend the day with! I've spent a few days here learning how to trad climb last year, and then spent a day this past weekend learning better techniques of how to take a lead fall, and feel way more comfortable doing both. I definitely hope to be back sometime soon! read more

Incredibly professional, polite and fun. Exactly the experience you would want from a family owned/run company. There were 5 of us in our group - we chose to do a full day guided climbing experience. Our guide, Daniel is one of the owners and a terrifically easy going and professional guy to spend the day with. It's not like a rafting trip where your guide is a hippie nomad and feels it necessary to tell you all about their weird, crazy life. Daniel coached us on technique, taught us extra stuff like lead climbing and cleaning, gave encouragement and answered all our questions about climbing gear, travel and business. We had a very long day of climbing but never felt rushed. Our guide was very patient and let every one have as many tries as they wanted to climb a route. This is a great outfitter and you should definitely book a day on the rocks with them! read more

What an experience! I've been slowly overcoming my fear of heights over the last couple of years and today was the final test to see how far I've come. It was an absolute blast. We went through all six courses in about 5.5 hours. (Incredible value for 40 bucks a piece btw) The black diamond was quite challenging and scary but so glad we got through it. Dan and Nicole were very welcoming and helped us through it all. Can't wait to come back! read more

Been there with my son on a birthday outing for him and was so impressed we came back with our Boy Scout Troop 221. Excellent training, friendly and well informed staff. Any place with an Ale 8 soft drink machine has to be good! The trails are a great way to test strength and character. Really love the pay 1 price and climb a couple of hours or come and go all day. Lots of fun. Do the Black Diamond--you'll love it. read more

Torrent Falls was great! I was visiting a friend in Kentucky for the weekend and our weekend adventures led us to the Via Ferrata. It was a blast! This one of a kind experience is a must for climbers. Really wish we had such an amazing experience like this in the Los Angeles area. read more

What a great place for a climbing adventure! I have very limited experience with climbing and rappelling and the guides were wonderful. Very clear training. Although it was a challenging climb, we felt safe the whole time. You get a lot of value with the Via Ferrata package. Beautiful grounds and nice bathrooms. read more

I had a really wonderful, full-blown climbing experience here! I wasn't really sure of what to expect but had hoped I'd be able to get inspired to get back into climbing again. Thomas was an excellent guide- incredibly knowledgeable and patient with me. He didn't mind taking a step back to explain the details of the gear or the rock formations to me if I asked about them, but also managed to get me on the wall and successfully sending routes that I had previously thought were beyond my capabilities. Not only that, but I had the opportunity to meet Amy, Travis, Luca, Adam, and Veronica- all wonderful people who helped put me at ease when I got stuck and were there to carry me through the harder parts of the tour (I managed to hurt my ankle from sliding on some loose gravel and these guys responded excellently!). It wasn't easy and I was definitely sore the next day (bee sting, pfft) but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Looking forward to getting back out there for another adventure hopefully in 6-8 weeks :) read more

What a great first-ever rock climbing experience! We purchased a guided beginner's rock climbing class (different from the Via Ferrata) and it was just the two of us and our guide, Daniel, for a half day -- about 5 hours. Neither of us had any experience climbing at all, and by the end of our session we had done three different courses, each up a grade-point in difficulty. Daniel was an excellent and encouraging guide and gave us a great introduction to the basics of the sport, as well as some ideas for how to continue learning at home and what we might learn next time. The best part is that we really just got to go for it right off the bat -- we were climbing right away on a real rock face and practicing skills we'd just learned. Jumping into it like that was more confidence-building, because there wasn't time to get freaked out, we just had to do it. It was very physically challenging but not impossible, and I'm excited now to learn more about climbing. Highly recommend this course for first-timers! read more

My 11 year old and I did this climb and it was amazing. There are different levels so you don't have to be a climber (or even really fit) to still have a great time. I highly recommend. read more

My husband and I had never been climbing before, so we did the Via Ferrata. What a great time! Our instructor Matt was very friendly and helpful. We only made it through the first three sections, so we will be going back next year to try to complete more. I recommend going during a week day when school is in session if you can; we were the only two there. read more