Tower Climbs at Duke Chapel
Reaching up to the sky at the center of West Campus, the Duke Chapel tower is open for climbs sponsored by any full-time employee or faculty member on university business. 239 steps lead up to the top of the tower, where our viewing platform allows climbers to look out over West Campus, Durham, and beyond.
Tower climbs are a great way to bring people together to experience a wonderfully different view of campus and the landscape of Durham. Tower climbs may be scheduled only during weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (with the last climb starting at 3:30 p.m.), and not on university holidays.
All Tower Climbs are subject to weather restrictions. Reservations will be canceled in the event of rain and whenever temperatures are below 40F or above 85F. Every effort will be made to notify participants in advance.
Tower Climb Reservations
The Chapel schedules tower climbs in thirty-minute slots on weekdays between the hours of 10:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (with a final climb departing at 3:30 p.m.). Groups of between three and fifteen participants are welcome in each thirty-minute slot, and slots may be reserved consecutively to accommodate larger parties. These slots can only be reserved by a full-time Duke University employee on university business.
To schedule a tower climb, please:
- Reach out to our Hospitality staff via email at dukechapel@duke.edu with a possible dates and times for your climb.
- Once the Chapel has confirmed availability, respond with your choice of climb to put a slot on hold.
- Fill out the Tower Climb reservation form provided by Hospitality staff to finalize your reservation.
Once your climb has been scheduled, be sure to distribute our Individual Climber Liability Terms to all participants, as everyone will have to sign a copy upon arrival at the Chapel.
Please note: all Tower Climbs are subject to weather restrictions. Reservations will be canceled in the event of rain or snow, and whenever temperatures are below 40F or above 85F. Due to our temperature policies, climbs are restricted during the summer and winter. In June through August, climbs are restricted to the hours of 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. In December through February, climbs are restricted to 1:00–4:00 p.m.
FAQ
Duke Chapel requires at least 10 days’ notice to schedule a climb. We are willing to schedule climbs up to three months prior to the climbing date.
There is no cost for a tower climb. However, we require a departmental fund code in case any damage is done during the climb that would incur a charge for cleaning or repairs.
Unfortunately, no. While anyone is welcome to participate in a climb, only full-time Duke University Staff members may schedule a climb. In scheduling a climb, a staff member confirm that the climb is on university business. In doing so, they act as sponsor for all members of a group, taking responsibility for any vandalism or damage that might take place over the course of a climb.
Yes. While climbs are free, we require a departmental fund code to cover any vandalism or damage that might occur during a climb. Fund codes also help us ensure that a climb is scheduled for university business.
Participants must be at least 16 years old, and all minor participants must have a liability form signed by a parent or legal guardian. Children less than 16 years of age are not permitted to climb the tower.
When a tower climb is reserved for 3 or more consecutive groups, it is considered a Large Group Tower Climb. Large Group Tower Climbs are run by the department sponsoring the climb, and require two (2) Duke Employees and one (1) volunteer to oversee the climb:
- One Duke employee will supervise at the top of the staircase
- One Duke employee will supervise at the bottom of the staircase
- One volunteer will be seated outside to 1) have all participants sign the Individual Climber Liability
Form before the climb and 2) give participants a ‘239’ button at the end of the climb Large Group Tower Climbs must be scheduled at least two (2) weeks in advance.
After reserving a large group tower climb, the Duke employee sponsor(s) must schedule a 30-minute walk-thru at the Chapel to go over the event logistics. The walk-thru must be scheduled for a time at least one week in advance of the reservation date.