Family Climbs

Want to give your family the experience of standing on the top of a famous NW summit like South Sister or Mt. St Helens, but aren’t sure if you’re ready to climb with your kids?  Check out Mazamas Family Climbs!

This program offers opportunities for parents to help their children summit a mountain peak with only basic technical mountaineering skills.  Some family climbs are planned in the late summer on peaks such as Mt. St. Helens, South Sister or Old Snowy, when technical gear are usually not needed to attain the summit. 


Non-members and novice climbers are encouraged to go on these hikes/climbs to attain a glaciated summit, which qualifies them for Mazamas membership.

To get in shape for these climbs, try to hike regularly with your kids through the spring and especially a month or two before the climb.  Hikes that include 3,000 plus feet of elevation gain over 6 or more miles will prepare you for the climb.  Try to have your kids work up to doing this while wearing a pack.  On your climb card, please list both the more challenging hikes you have recently done as well as any relevant climbing experience.

Cost for the climb (1 climb card) is $15 for Mazamas members, and $25 for non-members.  A card is required for both the child and the parent or guardian.  Group size is usually 8-10 (never more than 12), and carpooling from Portland is strongly encouraged.

To go on one of these climbs, you need to:

1. Choose a climb(s) from the list below
2. Contact the leader to find out if there is still room on their climb.  (Contact the Mazamas office if you need a phone number or email for a leader, and we’ll be glad to give it to you.)
3. If the leader does have room, buy a climb card from the Mazamas office.  (Calling in with a credit/debit card is usually the fastest way.)
4. Fill out the climb card and mail it to the leader
5. Wait for the leader to send you a climb prospectus, meet up your team, and climb your peak!

Please see the Climbing pages for more on the whole climb application process.  Contact us at the Mazama Mountaineering Center if you have any questions about the Hike to the Summit.  See you on top!

2011 Family Climbs  (NOTE: There will most likely be some Family Climbs added during the summer.  You can find the most up-to-date information on the Summer Climb Schedule. Also Check out the Climb Leader Profile Pages for more information on the Leader. All of the climbs are specifically geared for the family.)