Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of experiential-learning opportunities through our Bike Shop, Challenge Course, Outdoor Trips, Rental Center, and Rock Wall. Our programming is designed to nurture and encourage a life-long love of outdoor pursuits along with a deep appreciation of risk management, environmental stewardship, as well as social and cultural inclusivity.
Due to state and city mandates regarding COVID-19, Outdoor Adventures' in-person offerings are not available until further notice. In the meantime, we welcome you to delve into our remote offerings which include Virtual Teambuilding, Ask an outdoor guide, Ask a bike mechanic, Ask a gear expert.
Games will be played using Kahoot with prizes for the highest scorer over the two sessions. Pre-registration is available in our online store under "OA Trivia".
12/3/20: Thursday, 3-4pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 992 5859 3534 Passcode: 179810
12/10/20: Thursday, 3-4pm
Meeting ID: 920 8497 9764 Passcode: 882413
If you'd like to sharpen your knowledge before the games, hints to a lot of the questions may be found in the content presented throughout the OA website.
The UCLA Bike Shop is a Do-It-Yourself Workshop established as a partnership between UCLA Recreation and UCLA Transportation to encourage transportation by bicycle among current members of the UCLA Community (i.e., students, employees, and members of UCLA Recreation).
Workshop location: Northwestern corner of John-Wooden Center
Outdoor tools, workstand, and air pump: Just outside of shop
2131 John Wooden Center Los Angeles, CA 90095 310.206.7219 bikecenter@recreation.ucla.edu
Public workstations are located in many places around campus, for your convenience. Most of them have a workstand to suspend your bike in the air, a pump to inflate your tires, and a small selection of tools for repairs. Here is a map of their locations and here is a list of them:
UCLA Bike Shop: Just outside the UCLA Bike Shop
Strathmore: In front of the Strathmore Building on the west side of Westwood Plaza, just north of the Police Station
Covel: Adjacent to Sproul and Covel Halls on the Hill, behind Drake Stadium
LuValle: In front of Dodd Hall, south of LuValle Commons
PS9 (pump only): Across Charles Young South from the Center for Health Sciences, south of Parking Structure 9, and on the northernmost inverted-U-bike-rack
100 Medical Plaza: West of 100 Medical Plaza, south of Reagan, and just east of the stairway between Reagan and 100 Medical Plaza
Sunset Recreation: In front of the turnstile at the main entrance, next to bike racks
Schoenberg: East of Inverted Fountain, south of Schoenberg Hall
Hammer Museum: Enter the parking structure from Westwood Plaza and proceed as though you are going to descend to the second level of underground parking; the pump/stand is on the ramp between the two levels.
Please feel free to ask us questions about your repairs:
We often get questions from aspiring and active bicyclists about how to ride to campus from various parts of the city. In response to these inquiries, we've mapped dozens of routes that we've found useful over the years:
Routes to campus from the East
Routes to campus from the North and West
Routes to campus from the South
Special-Event Routes
Also, we invite you to request custom routes for your particular commute:
Types of Flats:
Here is an illustrated overview of the many ways in which an inner tube can become damaged to cause a flat tire. Many people's first inclination when they get a flat tire is to immediately install a new inner-tube. However, the first step we recommend is attempting to determine which of the following types of flats has occurred. This determination informs the repair and increases the likelihood of its success. It's not fun to go to the trouble of replacing an inner tube, only to get the same flat afterwards. This common pitfall can be prevented by a better-informed approach to the repair.
Preparing a Tire for Installation:
Here is an illustrated, step-by-step guide to how to check your tire for common issues. Lots of flats are caused by problems with the tire itself. Screening for these problems and addressing them as needed is a critical part of addressing a flat tire. Sharp objects (e.g., thorns, wires, glass) laying on the ground often lodge themselves in the tread of tires when we run over them on our bikes. These objects sometimes penetrate the tire and poke a hole in the tube inside of it. Afterwards, they can stay in the tire. A quick installation of a tube--without checking the tire--can leave these sharp objects in the tire. The result is that the same puncture occurs again.
All about Rim Strip:
Rim strip is among the most under-appreciated safeguards against flats. Using this illustrated guide is a great way to become acquainted with their role in flat repair.
Tire Installation:
Once the cause of a flat has been investigated, the tire has been prepared for installation, and the rim strip is in good shape, it's time to install the tire. This illustrated guide has key tips to successfully install even an extra-tight tire.
Cutting Cable Housing:
Cables and the housings in which they travel are the key to shifting and braking on most bicycles. Cables are generally anchored in the shifting mechanism(s) or brake lever(s) at the handlebar of the bicycle. They relay actions taken at this command center to the mechanisms on the bicycle that implement these commands, such as shifting gears or applying the brakes. In order to effectively relay these commands, cables and housing must be in solid shape. If they are damaged in any way, their function will be compromised. In some cases, they need to be replaced to achieve proper function. This illustrated guide shows how to cut cable housing and post-process it to yield the best results.
We welcome you to ask questions about your repairs:
We also gather used parts that may still be useful or contain useful pieces; they are available free of charge. We do not offer any kind of guarantee on used parts; we recommend that they be inspected for integrity and tested for function prior to use.
Please feel free to ask for guidance about finding replacement parts:
If you are interested in working at the UCLA Bike Shop, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with our offerings by using our DIY services and perusing our website. Eligibility requirements to be considered for employment include being a current student at UCLA and not being in one's final year of studies here. Once you have a good sense of what working here involves and whether you're eligible, we invite you to complete our online job-application.
As demonstrated by UCLA's Gold designation in the Bicycle-Friendly University program, UCLA is committed to supporting your bicycle-commuting endeavors.
Videos
Bikes for All is an inspirational video filmed by a UCLA student. Bike-U-mentary, produced by UCLA Transportation, documents two bicycle-commutes to campus. Sharing the road can be challenging when everyone's in a hurry, so Watch for Bruins.
Locking
Most thefts can be deterred by securing the bicycle frame with a U-lock to approved parking-infrastructure (e.g., a bicycle rack). We recommend this humorous video about (in)effective locking produced by BikeUCLA Films, The Bike Bandit.
Riding
The League of American Bicyclists recommends the following guidelines for a smooth commute: 1) Follow the law; 2) Be predictable; 3) Be conspicuous; 4) Think ahead; 5) Ride ready; 6) Keep your cool. These videos about how to ride on the road provide guidance, too; for more information, we recommend our Smart-Cycling Classes.
Routes
We mapped some of our favorite routes to/from campus on our route page. You may also plan your route to campus using tools like Google Maps' Bicycling-Directions (click "Get Directions," then click on the bike icon).
The following links are provided for informational purposes.
A sampling of On-Campus Organizations and Resources:
A sampling of Bike Shops, DIY Workshops, and Bike-Rental Services in LA:
A sampling of Rides, Events, and Classes in/near LA:
A sampling of Governmental and Non-Governmental Bike-Programs:
Great idea! UCLA is nestled into the base of the Santa Monica Mountains that run alongside the ocean for most of their length west of campus and terminate north of downtown LA. These mountains form part of the Transverse Ranges, the eastern portion of which are home to multiple peaks that rise to heights over 10,000 feet. These ranges are named for their east-west trajectory that is notable because most of the mountain ranges in California run northwards to southwards. UCLA's geographical setting near the ocean and among the mountains, much of which are protected as natural habitat, makes it an ideal location for people to enjoy and explore the outdoors.
Try our local mountains! Because of how wonderful and accessible ecosystems near campus are, most of the overnight trips that we offer during the fall, winter, and spring are concentrated in the Transverse Ranges neighboring UCLA. We do also visit a location at the northern tip of the Peninsular Ranges that are also among our local mountains. The Peninsular Ranges, named for the Baja Peninsula in Mexico to which they extend, are part of the eastern boundary of the LA basin. They also form the south side of the Banning Pass (home to a large collection of power-generating windmills) that serves as a gateway to the Mojave Desert (home to Joshua Tree National Park) and the Sonoran Desert (home to Anza-Borrego State Park) that characterize southeastern California.
Consider the Sierra! Our summer trips are backpacking adventures that work best in regions with abundant availability of surface water in August and early September. The steep, eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains--where high-elevation lakes and streams fed mostly by melted snow provide plentiful sources of water throughout the summer season--is an ideal location for these trips. While the distance from campus to the eastern Sierra is substantial compared to our local mountains, the longer hours of daylight and milder weather during the summer make the drive more manageable. Summertime also happens to be among the best times of the year to visit this area because snow and ice complicate access the rest of the year.
We're here to help!
Ask an outdoor guide
These day trips may be taken by public transportation, bike, or foot!
Where Westwood Boulevard crosses the tracks of the E-Line Train about 3 miles from campus and a few blocks south of Pico Boulevard, an impressive array of native plants are thriving. From Overland Avenue in the east to Military Avenue in the west, habitat restorations have been undertaken on both sides of the tracks in different phases over many years. West of Westwood Boulevard and along the multi-use path south of the tracks, native plants like buckwheats, sages, coyote bush, sagebrush, and toyon grow among several oaks and redbuds. Stopping to watch the flowers for insect pollinators, sometimes including Carpenter bees, is worthwhile. East of Westwood Boulevard, part of the creek channeled underground decades ago to facilitate surface construction has been brought back to the surface as part of the Westwood Greenway. A wide variety of native plants line both sides of the each walkway, both the paved one south of the tracks and dirt one north of the tracks. The paved path connects to other sections along the E-Line Train, forming the Exposition Corridor Bike Path. Historically, the tracks served a passenger line that later became a freight line, then was not used for many years until the Expo Line--renamed to the E-Line in 2019--was built. This unique area may also be a jumping-off point for further explorations, such as taking the E-Line west to Santa Monica Beach or east to downtown LA.
Two outflows of a natural spring about 3 miles from campus are located in an area known by the Tongva, the people who originally inhabited this region, as Kuruvungna or "place where we are in the sun". The springs, located near the corner of South Barrington Ave and Stoner Avenue, are designated as California Historic Landmark #522. Due to being located on the present-day grounds of University High School, they may be difficult to see up close. Generally, they are the site of an annual celebration of Tongva culture on Indigenous People's Day in October. Additionally, a Museum and Cultural Center established at the spring site and operated by the Gabrielino Tongva Springs Foundation has open hours monthly. The telltale sign of the springs visible from the sidewalk next to the spring is a Cypress tree rising high above the gates and adjacent bungalows. The tree was allegedly planted by the Spanish around 1769 when they first arrived. Whether you are able to approach the springs or not, their presence is fascinating historically and ecologically.
Palisades Park overlooking the Santa Monica Bay is about 5 miles west of campus. Multiple options for riding public transit to this location exist, in addition to bicycle routes that take a combination of quieter sideroads and main roads with bike lanes. In this long, narrow park, lawns and a walking path hug the edge of the bluffs that rise above the Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Monica Beach. Look north to see the Santa Monica Mountains and Point Dume that marks the northern extent of the bay. At the southern end of Palisades Park and catty corner to it is Tongva Park which is named for indigenous peoples who originally inhabited this region. Sculptures, fountains, and native plants fill the area that was, until recently, a parking lot. The Santa Monica Pier, with its ferris wheel run by solar power, forms the southern boundary of Palisades Park and provides easy access to Santa Monica State Beach, extending north and south from the pier. Walking to the end of the pier provides a view of the ocean wildlife beyond the waves and access to the lower deck of the pier for a peek at the barnacle-covered pylons supporting it. Points of interest in the vicinity of the pier include: the original Muscle Beach now outfitted with gymnastics and playground equipment, Heal the Bay's Aquarium where you can learn about and see native organisms from the ocean, and the paved path for bicyclists and pedestrians that travels 22 miles parallel to the ocean.
We're here to help:
Ask a local expert!
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and Culver City Park are about 6 miles south of campus. Public buses may be taken to within a short walk of both parks. By bicycle, this route takes sideroads and this route opts for the more-direct thoroughfare of Westwood Boulevard. These parks are connected to each other by walking paths, so they may be enjoyed together or on separate trips. One option is to start in Culver City Park at the Interpretive Trail, a wooden boardwalk that ascends the hillside to a large sundial, then traverse the hills by crossing the baseball fields and entering the western gate of the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Extensive restoration of natural habitat has established a rich diversity of native plants and is ongoing in additional area of the park. Wildlife, including red-tailed hawks coasting and kiting through the air, may often be observed in both parks. A housing development was planned for the land occupied now by the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and both parks' current footprints had also been used for oil extraction, until they were converted to parks. Pumpjacks that presently extract oil are visible from the parks in neighboring areas of the Baldwin Hills. Another way to access the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is from Jefferson Boulevard where a dirt path winds uphill to a roughly-hewn, concrete stairway that cuts straight to the hilltop. Hiking trails switch back and forth across the stairway, as well as wrapping around the hillside to the east, providing lots of ways to explore the park. Several overlooks throughout both parks provide grand views of the LA Basin, including a 360-degree view from the very top.
The Ballona Creek Bike Path, located about 6 miles from campus at its closest point, traverses the westside and leads to UCLA's Marina Aquatic Center as well as the bike path along the beach. The UCLA campus is located within the Ballona Creek's watershed, so tributaries like Stone Creek Canyon--part of which is still above-ground on campus north of the Anderson School before it is routed underground--flow eventually into the Ballona Creek. Closer to the beach, the Ballona Creek crosses the Ballona Wetlands which is a protected area that is home to one of the last expanses of salt-marsh habitat along the California coast and a plethora of native wildlife. Plants that thrive in the brackish waters blanket the reserve south of the creek where the tidal flow is maintained, despite the area being mostly surrounded by paved barriers, by gates built into the bank of the Ballona Creek. This rare habitat is frequented by avid birdwatchers because it hosts such an impressive variety of avian wildlife throughout the seasons, such as terns, sandpipers, herons, dowitchers, godwits, kingfishers, buffleheads, and osprey. Cross Ballona Creek when you reach the end of its bike path and head south on the beach path to explore the southern beaches of the Santa Monica Bay. Notable, public infrastructure along the bike path is the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, the oldest and largest treatment plant for wastewater in Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's Scattergood Generating Station, which historically used gas byproducts from the treatment plant as part of its fuel to generate electricity. Portions of the sand dunes near these facilities have been landscaped with native plants as part of targeted efforts at habitat restoration. If you make it all the way to the bluffs above Redondo Beach, be on the lookout for dolphins traveling parallel to shore.
Will Rogers State Historic Park is about 7 miles west of UCLA and connects to the adjacent Topanga State Park. By bicycle, there is a variety of routes to the park that involve minimal time on Sunset Boulevard--not a recommended route near campus for bicycling--or avoid it completely. Also, Metro's 602 Bus runs next to campus and up to a stop on Sunset Boulevard from which this park can be reached by a short hiking-trail. Additional trails extend throughout the chaparral and coast-sage scrub of the park which is covered with aromatic vegetation native to this ecosystem, like sages, buckwheats, lilacs, sagebrushes, and sunflowers. Extend your hike by connecting to the Backbone Trail that traverses 67 miles of the Santa Monica Mountains, a National Recreation Area managed by the National Park Service. Vistas showcasing the Santa Monica Bay, LA Basin, and natural habitat of the Santa Monica Mountains are a spectacular reward for ascending these parks' trails that are steep in some cases. Tours of the historic ranch and horseback rides are offered next to a grassy lawn perfect for a relaxing picnic.
These day trips may be taken by public transportation or bike!
Griffith Park, situated about 11 miles east of campus, is one of the largest parks in the country located within the limits of a city. It includes wilderness areas full of native flora and fauna in addition to maintained areas more typical for an urban park. Stay for sundown to hear the coyotes howling or visit the Griffith Observatory to learn more about astronomy and get an up-close view of the iconic building. Hiking trails through the chaparral-covered hillsides abound in the park and afford views of the city on both sides of the mountains. The two, main branches of the Los Angeles River join in on the eastern boundary of the park and mark the eastern terminus of the Santa Monica Mountains. For a challenging ride by bicycle, ascend from the south side of the park, then descend via on the north side into the valley and skirt the eastern boundary of the park to valley side of the park to loop back to your starting point. The bike path along the section of the Los Angeles River adjacent to Griffith Park, known as the Glendale Narrows, is also worth visiting. Because the river bottom is soft and unpaved in this area, it is a thriving habitat populated by a wide variety of riparian flora and fauna.
For a challenging extension to the beach bike path that may be reach most easily by bicycle, follow the road along the coastline when the beach path ends and venture up the steep grade onto the Palos Verdes Peninsula where natural reserves dot the landscape and sheer cliffs rise out of the rocky ocean where kelp forests thrive. The southern boundary of the Santa Monica Bay, Point Vicente (which is about 28 miles from campus), is located on the peninsula and is a worthwhile point to reach. A lighthouse, an interpretive center, native-plant garden, and nature trails are among the attractions. If you're there from December to May, be sure to check in with the volunteers who congregate during daylight hours at the lookout in front of the interpretive center who survey the migration of Pacific Grey Whales. In the late fall, these whales make their way from Alaska to birth their calves in Baja California. They head back north in the spring with their calves. Because the ocean floor is unusually deep directly adjacent to the coast in this area, the whales often travel close enough to the land for their exhaling blows to be heard. Kelp forest grow from the rocky ocean-bottom in the area and hosts a wide variety of wildlife.
Malibu Lagoon State Park is located about 18 miles west of campus and is accessible by public buses or a challenging bike-ride. The route from campus travels largely along the Pacific Coast Highway which is a local mainstay of extended bike-rides. The lagoon is formed where Malibu Creek meets the ocean and creates a wetland habitat that supports a wide variety of native species, including a handful of endangered or threatened species. The watershed of Malibu Creek is, after Ballona Creek's, one of the largest watersheds feeding into the Santa Monica Bay. Unlike Ballona Creek's watershed, the majority of Malibu Creek's watershed is comprised of protected areas within the Santa Monica Mountains. Intensive efforts at ecological restoration executed by a coalition of stakeholders have focused on this unique area that has long been important to humans, starting with the Chumash people long before Europeans arrived, and wildlife alike. Further efforts to restore the creek upstream of the lagoon, such as removing the Rindge Dam which dates to the 1920s, are planned. Imperiled species like steelhead trout are part of the motivation for these measures in many watersheds because, like salmon, their life cycle requires access to both the ocean and freshwater streams that dams like the Rindge Dam restrict in the Malibu Creek Watershed.
The below links connect to dozens of routes that we've mapped for traveling around the city by bike. Originally, we created them for commuters, but they are also great for recreational rides. Exploring the city by bike is an awesome way to get to know the lay of the land and its inhabitants. Sunday mornings are generally the least-busy times on the road and a great time to be out on the town riding. A neat to get to Will Rogers State Historic Park, a destination described in our day-trips section, is in the "Special-Event Routes" map. It involves crossing a creek using a public bridge that is accessible by a nondescript wooden-gate. Another ride to highlight is the one heading to Pasadena that uses the Arroyo Seco Bike Path--which travels in the concrete riverbed alongside the river--after the route crosses over the Los Angeles River. Finally, the "Oil Ride" mapped in "Special-Event Routes" is an homage to the history of oil exploration in Los Angeles. It visits several locations on the westside where oil extraction is currently taking place using equipment hidden from view by constructs like facades of a synagogue and an office building.
Here are several that are located in the Santa Monica Mountains west of campus!
Musch Camp in Topanga State Park is a hike-in campsite accessible from the western entrance to the park off of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. This campground may also be visited as part of a backpacking adventure via public transportation by starting from campus and Will Rogers State Historic Park. Leo Carillo State Park and Point Mugu State Park may both be accessed from the Pacific Coast Highway. The Hike-and-Bike Campsites at these parks are a great option for a bike overnight; bicycling from campus to them is a challenging day-trip perfect for someone accustomed to riding with motor-vehicle traffic. Malibu Creek State Park is located in the heart of the mountain range.
For sample trips that include campsites in the Los Padres National Forest, San Bernardino National Forest, Montana de Oro State Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains, we invite you to refer to the trips that we offer during the fall, winter, and spring. We focus on areas close to campus to minimize time spent driving and maximize time spent outdoors.
Planning an overnight trip and have questions? We invite you to ask us for guidance:
You may consider taking a day trip during fair weather to one of the highest peaks in southern California, all three of which are located on the border of the LA basin: Mount San Antonio (aka Baldy), Mount San Gorgonio, and Mount San Jacinto! While each of the summits is possible to reach in a long day of hiking, traveling to the top of Mount San Gorgonio is best accomplished as an overnight, backpacking trip. Permits may be requested for backcountry campsites along the various trails on the mountain. These options are worth pursuing to allow more time for acclimatizing to the higher altitude and to break the many miles of hiking to the summit into smaller segments.
Mount San Antonio, located in the San Gabriel Mountains, is closest to campus and most visible--particularly during the clearer, colder winter months when it is covered with snow--of the three summits. On the clearest days, Mount San Gorgonio of the San Bernardino Mountains peeks into view east of Baldy. On the clearest of days, Mount San Jacinto may be seen to the south of these two peaks.
The trails to the summits of these mountains are steep overall and treacherous at times, so they are genuinely challenging in the mildest of conditions. Therefore, we recommend exploring them without the added complications of snow and ice. Summertime, with its added benefit of the most hours of daylight, is ideal. Depending on the snowpack and weather, late spring and early fall may also be decent times.
When the upper reaches of these summits are blanketed with snow and ice, technical gear is strongly recommended and may be required to reach these summits. While it is possible to navigate them during the colder times of the year, the significant number of rescues and fatalities that occur on average each year should be considered fair warning even to a seasoned hiker.
Ask an outdoor guide!
There is a wide variety of websites and apps geared towards outdoor recreation. Consulting primary sources, like the websites operated by the park managers themselves, is a must. Referencing secondary sources, like private websites, may also provide valuable insights.
Primary sources: Public parks and government agencies have their own websites that offer valuable information, like Malibu Creek State Park and Leo Carillo State Park near campus. Los Angeles County's Department of Parks and Recreation provides this interactive map of hiking trails throughout the county.
Secondary sources: Alltrails.com and Hikespeak.com are privately-operated websites that list trails, including maps and crowd-sourced reviews. Hikespeak was created and is maintained by a hiking enthusiast based in Los Angeles.
Inquire about a reservation
Want to freshen up your team’s virtual meetings? Looking to start your team’s new quarter or year on a fun, collaborative note? Incorporating new team members or restarting a group after a break?
Bring our Facilitators in to your virtual meeting for an engaging, customized team or community-building program! Facilitated via Zoom, these 90-minute programs are designed to connect groups, build camaraderie, and cultivate a positive team culture. Each program is customized to your group with virtual activities that involve break out rooms, weblinks, creative selection of objects in your space, and some basic home supplies.
CHOOSE FROM:
What to Expect in a Virtual Teambuilding Program
RATES: - Up to 25 participants, $175 We can accommodate groups larger than 25. Please submit a reservation inquiry us for a customized quote. Discounts offered for UCLA students, faculty/staff, and departments.
What do you get out of a virtual teambuilding program? Here's what recent participants had to say: "I felt closer to my team members; felt refreshed on core team values; felt like I learned more about leadership styles and how unique our team is." "Better sense of community." "I got to bond even more with my coworkers." "It was very engaging and I never felt bored!" "I think it was a great way to bring us closer as a team and help us to work more cohesively moving forward." "Great way to connect and grow as a team! The games are wonderful tools."
Contact us: Virtualteams@recreation.ucla.edu
A challenge course is an adventure-filled tool for team development, group bonding, and learning. Our course has both ground-based and high-ropes climbing activities designed to challenge groups of all types. Our professional facilitator staff design a program to match your group’s unique makeup and achieve your desired outcomes. Through collaboration, your group will build trust and cohesiveness while developing skills in leadership, communication, and decision-making. While many activities have a physical component to them, physical strength and fitness is not a basis for achieving success on our course.
To inquire about date availability, request a quote, or to start a new reservation, please submit a Reservation Interest Form. For other questions, email us at challenge@recreation.ucla.edu.
The UCLA Challenge Course is located on campus at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, nestled amongst the pine and eucalyptus trees. Enter via the main entrance to SCRC and head up the stairs, following the signs directing you toward the challenge course.
Address: 111 Easton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Parking Lot RC is immediately adjacent to the course and has limited daily visitor spots available for purchase at the automated kiosk. Parking Lot 11 is a five minute walk and has daily visitor spots also available for purchase at the automated kiosk. Chartered busses may drop off and pick up directly at SCRC; coordinate details when you make your reservation.
The UCLA Challenge Course is available for private program reservations of a variety of purposes such as staff retreats, teambuilding, youth recreation, experiential learning, and more. Your program will be tailored to meet your group’s unique makeup and desired outcomes. Our most popular programs on offer are:
Looking for something else? We can customize a program to fit your schedule and desires*. Fill out a Reservation Interest Form and we will get back to you with options.
*We do not offer climbing-only programs. Our course uses participant team belay systems and thus we require groups to first build and demonstrate adequate teamwork abilities before advancing to climbing options. We do not have obstacle-course/aerial-park-type climbs.
These activities take place on or near the ground and will challenge your team both mentally and physically. Group problem-solving, communication strategies, and creative thinking will be put to work in a series of ground-based teambuilding initiatives that grow progressively harder. Activities may incorporate low-ropes structures or props such as balancing beams, wooden platforms, and suspended cables. While the high ropes climbing course is certainly exciting, most participants find the ground-based activities to be the most valuable in improving their team’s performance and bond.
Our two signature teambuilding climbs include the High V and the Leap of Faith. We also have a Giant’s Ladder and 2 Vertical Playpens.
Interested in what kind of program we can offer you and your group? Submit a Reservation Interest Form and we will get back to you with options, date availability, and pricing quotes.
Your program date and time will be reserved on the calendar once we receive your $250 nonrefundable deposit.
* These items are not applicable to internal University groups (i.e. departments, current UCLA students).
Our staff are trained in and prioritize safety. However, risk management is everyone’s job (both staff and participants). Challenge course activities, whether on/near the ground or involving climbing, are inherently risky. It is possible to get hurt. Risks include mild injuries (i.e. splinters, scrapes, bruises), moderate injuries (broken bones), severe/life-altering injuries (paralysis, blindness), and even death. Activities can evoke strong emotional and physiological responses. Participants must follow instructions, choose their level of participation, and take part in managing risk.
“Challenge by choice” is an essential pillar of our programs. Our staff will present the group with activities that are designed to be both physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging. Participants choose if and to what extent they wish to engage in any activity. Additionally, there are opportunities for participants to change their minds.
All persons on the challenge course (regardless of participation level) must submit a signed waiver. Minors must have a parent/guardian sign their waiver.
On our trips, we prioritize cooperation, risk management, and responsible stewardship of our environment. Our goal is to foster a supportive, active, and inclusive atmosphere in which we can enjoy each other's company and appreciate the natural history in the unique ecosystems we visit. Participants can look forward to learning skills like pitching tents securely, staying comfortable in varied weather, and practicing leave-no-trace ethics on daily hikes.
Register For a Trip
Pre-Trip Meetings
Pre-Trip Meetings for our trips take place at 6pm on the Tuesday before the trip in the Outdoor-Adventures Office inside the John-Wooden Center. Attendance at the Pre-Trip Meeting is mandatory. Non-attendance precludes participation in the trip without a refund.
Health Form
Our Health Form must be completed within one day of trip registration. Based on responses, the completion of additional forms and a Physician's Release may be required. In the case of allergies for which epinephrine is prescribed and conditions for which inhalers are prescribed, please note medication requirements described in our health forms. Non-compliance with health-form requirements precludes participation in the trip without a refund.
Inherent Risk
Outdoor recreation, including our trips, carries with it inherent risks of serious injury and death. While careful risk-management is our highest priority in our trip planning and on our trips, these risks cannot be eliminated.
Code of Conduct
In order to establish a shared understanding of responsibilities with respect to behavior on trips, our Code of Conduct must be reviewed and signed prior to trip departure.
Gear
Our trips include group gear (e.g., stoves, tents, eating-ware, food), a lot of personal gear (e.g., sleeping bags, ground pads, headlamps, water bottles), and some clothing (e.g., waterproof layers, warm tops, broad-brimmed hats, gloves). Participants must provide footwear and most clothing for themselves, as outlined in our What-To-Bring List. Bringing inadequate personal-gear, as assessed by guides prior to departure, precludes participation in the trip without a refund.
Transportation and Food
Our trips include transportation to and from our destination. Most meals are also included, with the exception of any meals on the road the first and last days of the trip. Additional details are included in the "Trip Offerings" part of this website.
Guides
Our guides are staff members with extensive training in responsible outdoor-recreation. A guide who has attained a Wilderness-First-Responder Certification is part of the guide team on each trip.
Eligibility
Registration
Registration for our trips is available in our online store or at Recreation Sales and Service in the John-Wooden Center. For questions specific to the registration process, please contact Recreation Sales and Service.
Wait List
When a trip is full, we welcome you to join the wait list by completing this online form. If a spot becomes available, we contact people on the wait list to let them know. However, we are unable to reserve newly-opened spots.
Refund Policy
Full refunds are not available for our trips, but a 90% refund may be obtained by emailing us at oa@recreation.ucla.edu 15 business-days prior to trip departure. Refunds are not available for memberships to UCLA Recreation of under 12 months.
Questions?
If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail us (oa@recreation.ucla.edu).
Each fall, winter, and spring, we offer free workshops on outdoor skills. We teach these workshops in the Outdoor-Adventures Office or the Bike Shop. Both of these venues are located in the northwestern corner of the John-Wooden Center. You may register for workshops in our online store. Closed toed/heeled shoes are required at all workshops.
Due to state and city mandates regarding COVID-19, the Rental Center is closed until further notice. In the meantime, we welcome you to send us your questions about outdoor gear or outdoor trips using this form:
At the Rental Center, we have a variety of outdoor equipment available for Members of UCLA Recreation to rent. To rent or reserve gear, payment is required and payments are only accepted in person.
Location: Northwestern corner of Wooden Center
2131 John Wooden Center Los Angeles, CA 90095 310.206.7219 rentalcenter@recreation.ucla.edu
Frequently-Asked Questions
Q: How may I rent gear?
A: You must visit the Rental Center in person to rent gear. Upon arrival, we check whether the gear you’d like to rent is available. If it is, we work with you to complete the rental paperwork. Then, you pay the rental fees at Sales and Cashiering and return with the receipt.
Q: Where are payments made and what types of payment are accepted?
A: Payments are made in person at Sales and Cashiering in the John-Wooden Center. Many forms of payment are accepted, including cash, credit, check, and Bruin Card: Easy Pay.
Q: May I call in advance to check whether gear is available for my desired dates?
A: Yes, you may call in advance to check whether the gear you would like to rent is available for your desired dates. However, the gear is not reserved for you until you visit the Rental Center in person, complete the rental paperwork, and pay the rental fees.
Q: May I reserve gear in advance?
A: Yes, you may reserve gear for the current quarter in advance. For example, it is possible to reserve gear for the Friday of Week 9 on the Monday of Week 1. It is not possible to reserve gear for a subsequent quarter.
Q: Who is eligible to rent gear?
A: Members of UCLA Recreation are eligible to rent gear.
Q: I am a student at UCLA. Am I eligible to rent gear?
A: Probably, but it depends on your individual situation. Most of the full-time students at UCLA have memberships to UCLA Recreation included in their tuition and fees.
Q: I work at UCLA, but I don’t have a membership to UCLA Recreation. Am I eligible to rent gear?
A: No, but you are welcome to purchase a membership to UCLA Recreation in order to be eligible to rent gear.
Q: I am a student at UCLA Extension, but I don’t have a membership to UCLA Recreation. Am I eligible to rent gear?
Q: I graduated from UCLA recently, but I don’t have a UCLA-Recreation membership anymore. Am I eligible to rent gear?
Q: How long may I keep gear that I rent for the 1–4-day price?
A: The rental period begins one day after the equipment is retrieved. For example, if you retrieve your rented gear on a Thursday, it is due back to the Rental Center on the following Monday before 5 pm. Alternatively, if you retrieve the rented gear on a Friday, it is due back to the Rental Center on the following Tuesday before 5 pm.
Q: How long may I keep gear that I rent for the 5-8-day price?
A: The rental period begins one day after the equipment is retrieved. For example, if a you retrieve your rented gear on a Thursday, it due back to the Rental Center the following Friday before 5 pm.
Q: Do you charge a deposit for rented gear?
A: No, we do not charge a deposit for rented gear. However, we do charge replacement fees for gear that is lost or damaged during the rental period. We inform you of these fees—which are also listed on our price sheet—during the reservation process, to be sure you are aware of them prior to committing to the rental.
Q: May someone else retrieve the gear I rented for me?
A: If you would like someone else to retrieve the gear you rented, you must inform us of this person’s name in advance. We make note of the person’s name on the rental document, so a record of the request is available when gear is retrieved.
Q: May someone else return the gear I rented for me?
A: Yes, someone else may return the gear you rented for you. Any issues with the return, such as late, damage, or replacement fees, are handled with you (i.e., the customer who paid for the rental).
Q: If I decide that I do not need my gear, may I receive a refund?
A: While we do not offer full refunds for rentals, you may obtain a 90% refund when a request is made to us by noon at least five business-days prior to the day that equipment is scheduled to be retrieved.
Q: If I do not return my gear on-time, what happens?
A: A late fee of $5 per business-day is assessed for gear not returned by the scheduled due date.
Q: If I lose or break an item that I rented, what happens?
A: A fee is charged for the replacement or repair. Fees are settled by retrieving an invoice in person from us at the Rental Center and paying them at Sales and Cashiering in the John-Wooden Center.
Q: What is a break rental?
Q: Because the Rental Center is closed during Finals Week and Break Weeks each quarter, break rentals are offered to enable our customers to rent gear during the last week of classes and keep it until the next quarter begins.
At the Rock Wall, located on the first floor of the Wooden Center, members of UCLA Recreation are invited to boulder during our Open-Recreation Hours. We also teach classes during the fall, winter, and spring; our current offerings are listed in UCLA Recreation's online store.
Bouldering is a type of climbing that is done close to the ground without ropes. People at all levels of experience are invited to climb at the Rock Wall. Climbing shoes may be rented for a small fee and they are available free of charge on one's first visit to the wall. In addition, we host a friendly bouldering competition called the Dangling Bruin annually.
Please feel free to email us at challenge@recreation.ucla.edu with any questions.
Bruin-Outdoor-Orientation Trips (hereafter, BOOTS) enable incoming, first-year students to meet each other in a small-group setting prior to their first quarter. While BOOTS are challenging, prior experience is not necessary. On BOOTS, we prioritize cooperation, risk management, and responsible stewardship of our environment. Our goal is to foster a supportive, active, and inclusive atmosphere in which we can enjoy each other's company and appreciate the natural history in the unique ecosystems we visit. Participants can look forward to learning skills like pitching tents securely, staying comfortable in varied weather, and practicing leave-no-trace ethics on daily hikes.
Our trips include group gear (e.g., stoves, tents, eating-ware, and food), a lot of personal gear (e.g., backpacks, sleeping bags, ground pads, headlamps), and some clothing (e.g., waterproof layers, warm layers, gloves). Participants must provide footwear and most clothing for themselves, as outlined in our What-To-Bring List. Bringing inadequate personal-gear, as assessed by guides prior to departure, precludes participation in the trip without a refund.
Our trips include transportation to and from our destination. Most meals are also included, with the exception of any meals on the road the first and last days of the trip. Additional details are included in the "BOOT Offerings" part of this website.
Starting on May 15, 2019 at noon, registration for BOOTS is available in our online store or at Recreation Sales and Service in the John-Wooden Center. If you have a UCLA logon, use it to log into our online store. If you do not have a UCLA logon, create an account according to the directions in our online store. Use an email address that is checked regularly because it is our primary method of contacting participants in advance of the trip.
When trying to find the BOOTs in our online store, be sure that the semester "Summer 2019" is selected in the left-hand column and that the classification selected is "Outdoor Adventures." BOOTS will be listed under the category of "Outdoor Adventures." For questions specific to the registration process, please contact Recreation Sales and Service.
Students under the age of 18
To register a student under the age of 18 for a BOOT, the student's parent or guardian must create their own account in our online store and create a profile within it for the student. The parent or guardian then uses their account to register the student for the trip.
Full refunds are not available for our trips, but a 90% refund may be obtained by emailing us at oa@recreation.ucla.edu 15 business-days prior to trip departure.
Arrival and Departure Details
Our trips depart from and return to the UCLA Bike Shop which is located in the northwest corner of the John-Wooden Center. Additional details are available in the documents linked in the "Trip Offerings" part of this website.
This course is hosted by UCLA Recreation while registration, content, instruction, and certification are provided by NOLS. We invite you to follow the below links for more information and/or to register.
For more information about the course, please follow this link:
https://www.nols.edu/en/coursefinder/courses/wilderness-first-responder-WFR/
Wilderness First Responder (WFR): March 21 - March 30, 2020
To register for the course, please follow this link:
https://www.nols.edu/portal/wmi/courses/15694/