Big River Climbing Guides

08/26/2026

We have a few open spots on our AMGA SPI Exam Sept. 12/13 at Devils Lake! We are psyched to be offering this at a discounetd rate and payment plans are available!

08/19/2026

We are so psyched to be offering the AMGA SPI Exam at Devils Lake State Park this September 12th and 13th at a reduced rate to help make it more accessible. We have 2 spots left! Support local instructors and check that box to become a certified single pitch instructor! To register visit our website! Payment plans available upon request as well!

08/06/2026

Psyched to be nominated again for AMGA guide of the year! Thank you to all who nominated and to everyone who has supported us over the years. If you feel we have met or exceeded your expectations and are an AMGA member we’d live to have midwestern guiding and instruction be recognized with this award!
To vote go to:

The Guide of the Year Award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution or achievement of significant value to the mountain guiding profession. The recipient is someone who has exhibited qualities of loyalty, integrity, and moral courage worthy of emulation. The Guide of the Y...

08/06/2026

Looking to get your AMGA SPI certification or to re-certify this fall? We are psyched to be offering one last AMGA SPI Exam September 12th-13th at Devils Lake State Park. We are offering this course at a reduced rate to help offset some of the cost AND we are happy to offer payment plans to help spread out the cost up to a month after the exam! Email for questions or go to:

This AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Exam will be held at Devils Lake State Park, Wi September 12th & 13th. The SPI Exam is a minimum of 16 hours run over a two-day period and is being offered at a discounted rate to help remove some of the financial roadblocks associated with obtaining AMGA c

07/18/2026

Are you looking to gain AMGA SPI certification or need to re-certify?
We are psyched to be offering an AMGA SPI Exam at Devils lake State Park over labor day weekend at a reduced cost to help remove some of the financial roadblocks! Join us for the two day assessment! To reserve your spot go to:

This AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Exam will be held at Devils Lake State Park, Wi September 5th & 6th. The SPI Exam is a minimum of 16 hours run over a two-day period and is being offered at a discounted rate to help remove some of the financial roadblocks associated with obtaining AMGA cer

07/09/2026

New clinic alert!
We are psyched to be offering one more multi-pitch self rescue clinic this summer! Join us in Winona, Mn at the Sugarloaf for this intensive course deigned to provide you with the skills to help you and your partner get off bigger routes safely and efficiently. This course goes beyond what if taught at the single pitch instructor level and is open to all ability levels.

The Sugarloaf is the best place in the Midwest to learn these skills as it has mutiple anchors to climb and rappel too, simulating a multi-pitch routes with bolted belays.
In addition, all participants will receive some pre-course materials to allow for some practice prior to meeting up on August 8th.
To register go to:

Are your self rescue skills dialed in or at the bottom of your skillset? Learn essential skills related to self rescue situations in multi pitch terrain. Participants will learn multiple techniques for belay escapes/transitions, raising systems using multiple tools and mechanical advantages, and rap

06/19/2026

We will be teaching these skills next week at Devils lake if interested! We have 2 spots left! https://www.facebook.com/stories/1288276354613383/UzpfSVNDOjk4NTY3MDQzNzU5NDMyNw==/?view_single=1

Check out the link below to get your spot to learn these essential skills!
https://www.bigriverclimbingguides.com/register/p/rock-rescue

06/09/2026

Two new offerings this month! First, we are offering a brand new clinic, SPI+, focused to help those gain skills not taught in SPI courses that are really helpful to both those working as SPIs and those just climbing in that terrain. We see a lot of instructors hitting sort of a wall when designing their days out and this is focused to give new tools and techniques to be able to offer more comprehensive days out! To register go to: https://www.bigriverclimbingguides.com/register/p/spi-

The other one is Muti-pitch Self Rescue. Learn how to descend and manage complex self rescue situations in this awesome full day course. Register at: https://www.bigriverclimbingguides.com/register/p/rock-rescue

Also, if planning to take both we are psyched to offer a 10% discount off each one for a radical two-days of learning! Email or message us for details!

06/05/2026

We have 2 spots left in our July 10th-12th AMGA SPI Course at Devils Lake State Park. The AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course is the gold standard and most widely accepted in the United States for training at this level. AMGA course providers go through over 30 days of courses, exams, and trainings(many more in most cases) in the mountain guide program creating the highest level of instruction offered when compared to other SPI type trainings in the country. We are also psyched to be offering this training at a reduced rate to help remove some of the financial roadblocks associated with these essential trainings. Payment plans are also available! We are proud to offer these courses in the Midwest and support our climbing community beyond theses courses. To register go to: https://www.bigriverclimbingguides.com/register/p/amga-spi-course-july-10th-12th-devils-lake-state-park