Castleton Tower’s North Chimney (rated 5.9) features moderate crack climbing on one of the world’s most famous towers, and is a must-do for climbers with some multi-pitch experience. For advanced climbers, other options include the Kor-Ingalls route (5.9), one of the “50 Classic Climbs of North America,” and the North Face (5.11). Castleton Tower in Moab draws climbers from across the globe, and provides an unforgettable adventure!
Please note: The approach hike to the base of the climbs is strenuous and requires good physical conditioning. The trail climbs 1,300 feet (400 meters) in 1.4 miles (2.2 kilometers). Castleton Tower climbing can be congested. We get an early start to mitigate this issue, but guests may still encounter backups.
Difficulty: Difficult | 5.9+ or 5.11+ | Strenuous hike to the base of the climbs
Duration: 8+ hours
Minimum Age: 8
Venues: Castle Valley / Castleton Tower
Meets: Start time varies depending on season due to temperature and route conditions.
Arranged a trip with Red River to climb Castleton Tower with a group of friends. Carl, the owner, was very involved. I had a guide of his who I had used before and requested again. We were going to climb two different routes and meet at the top but when it came time we all decided we wanted to climb Kor-Ingalls. That change combined with the weather threw a little wrinkle in the plans but Carl was very accommodating, postponed the climb by a couple of days, was able to comply with my guide request and made it all happen.
We were at Red River at 5 and met up with Brian, my prior guide, and Ty the other guide. I can’t say enough about the guides. Brian and Ty were great! Very personable and just generally fun to be around. They lead the route for us, kept us safe, and provided guidance and encouragement when we needed it, The climb itself was challenging. There is this mineral called calcite on the wall that makes the sides very slick! The highlight might have been the rappel down the shear north face. Two double rope rappels down the side of that behemoth was epic in my mind. Amazing trip! 4th time for me with Red River! Very highly recommended for any Moab adventure !
April 2023
Trip Advisor
Great experience. I am in my 60s and had never repelled before, but our guides made me feel safe at all times. This was a highlight of our trip.
August 2025
Google Reviews
This was my second climb with Red River Adventures and it was a blast! As a weekend warrior from the east coast, I was definitely pushed to my limits on the route up Castleton Tower. Special thanks to my guide, Abe, for keeping me safe all the way to the summit and back down to earth.
May 2013
Trip Advisor
Great experience! Our guide (Jenna) was super knowledgeable and fun. So glad we did it – well worth the time and one of the best vacation bargains ever.
August 2025
Google Reviews
Awesome tour, thanks to all the guides and our awesome bus driver! Genna was a fantastic guide and we really appreciated her knowledge. She was also very funny and kept our group laughing. 10/10!
August 2025
Google Reviews
Castleton Tower Climbing tour is designed for experienced climbers ready to take on one of the most iconic towers in the world. The North Chimney (5.9) offers moderate crack climbing and is best suited for climbers with prior multi-pitch experience. Advanced climbers can push further with classic routes like Kor-Ingalls (5.9), one of the 50 Classic Climbs of North America, or the more demanding North Face (5.11).
Because the approach hike gains 1,300 feet over 1.4 miles, good physical conditioning is required. If you’re looking for a challenging, world-class climb with unforgettable views, Castleton Tower is a must-do objective.
Red River Adventures will provide all of the technical equipment required for our listed climbing options. However, climbers are strongly encouraged to bring personal climbing gear of their own. Instructors will inspect all personal equipment prior to the trip. In some instances, there may be a required gear list. If applicable, this list will be sent to the participants before the trip.
