Our Company

Colorado Mountain School and Boulder Rock Club—Leaders in Climbing

The Colorado Mountain School, under various names, has been guiding continuously in Colorado since 1877, and has been Rocky Mountain National Park’s exclusive technical climbing concessionaire since the Park’s creation in 1915. Mike Donahue purchased the company in 1981 and gave it its present name.

John Bicknell, the Colorado Mountain School’s owner, purchased the business in 1999. John guides over 150 days a year, is an American Mountain Guides Association Certified Rock Guide, Alpine Guide, and Guide Trainer.

Today, CMS is the largest guide service in Colorado and has more AMGA and International Federation of Mountain Guides Association certified guides than any other guide service in the state. We remain the exclusive climbing concessionaire for Rocky Mountain National Park and have developed the most complete outdoor climbing curriculum in the United States. Our offerings range from one-day courses such as Intro Rock Climbing and Big Wall Clinic, to multi-day courses such as our 2 and a half day Level 1 avalanche course and our seven-day Intermediate Technique Seminar. In addition to our myriad courses, we guide rock, ice and mountaineering throughout the Colorado Front Range and internationally.

The Boulder Rock Club is the nation’s most progressive climbing gym. We were one of the first climbing gyms in the country, opening our doors in November 1991. We are proud to be an integral part of the local climbing community and Boulder, the epicenter of American climbing.

To meet the needs of the most discerning climbers in the world, we provide a combination of 200 high-quality routes and boulder problems. We set routes three times weekly, and no route or problem is over two months old.

We also offer the nation’s most complete indoor climbing curriculum in our newly remodeled 10,000 sq. ft. building. Our programs include youth and adult instruction, competition teams, weight lifting and cardiovascular equipment, personal training, lectures, films, yoga, massage and Pilates.

John Bicknell’s vision of combining the Colorado Mountain School and Boulder Rock Club has created the total climbing experience, one that offers something for everyone, whether you’re a mother looking to host a unique birthday party or a world-class climber training to send your project. If it relates to climbing, we can help you achieve your goal.

Come climb with us.