Climbing
Top indoor climbing gyms
For workout aficionados seeking to push themselves, indoor climbing gyms challenge endurance with state-of-the-art facilities and expert staff.
Indoor climbing has grown from a niche pursuit to a mainstream fitness and recreational activity, captivating enthusiasts of all skill levels. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional workouts, indoor climbing gyms are the perfect space to keep you motivated and active. Each ascent symbolizes physical challenge and personal triumph.
Pushing yourself to the limit is something Sasha DiGiulian, Red Bull climber and star of “Here to Climb," an HBO sports documentary from Red Bull Media House, knows all about.
2 min
Here to Climb official trailer
An HBO Original Documentary from Red Bull Media House following professional rock climber Sasha DiGiulian as she faces obstacles in her ascent to the top and redefines success on her own terms.
“I’m a climber and what you put into it is what you get out of it,” she says.
In the rapidly changing landscape of climbing gyms, selecting the right one is pivotal for those striving to elevate their workouts. Read ahead to learn all about the top indoor climbing gyms across the country, so you can find the right spot near you.
Overview of indoor climbing gyms
Indoor climbing gyms offer various types of climbing, from bouldering to top rope, auto belays, and lead climbing. Each discipline encompasses climbing man-made walls that resemble natural rock, along with a unique set of challenges, from problem-solving techniques to endurance tests.
Beyond the physical demands of climbing and fitness, indoor climbing fosters mental acuity and emotional resilience as you navigate routes that demand focus and determination. More importantly, indoor climbing gyms create communities where individuals support one another.
Sasha Digiulian at Clymb in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
© Naim Chidiac / Red Bull Content Pool
Why choose indoor climbing gyms?
The best indoor climbing gyms distinguish themselves through state-of-the-art facilities, expert and resourceful staff, and an array of climbing options to cater to every skill set. These gyms prioritize safety, implementing stringent measures and only allowing certified belayers to assist. From meticulously maintained rope walls to cutting-edge bouldering terrain, you want to choose an indoor climbing gym that prioritizes quality and innovation.
01
Sender One Climbing - California
Southern California climbers of all levels can find their climbing groove at Sender One Climbing. With multiple gyms from Los Angeles to Orange County, safety and accessibility are a priority at Sender One Climbing. Helmets and harnesses are provided at all locations with interactive Sender City climbing centers.
The Santa Ana location’s Training Center offers competition-style climbs, training boards, and a circuit system to help climbers find new routes. Additionally, Sender One has innovative climbing routes designed to challenge climbers of all levels. Unique features include fitness workshops and community events.
02
Brooklyn Boulders - multiple locations
Sasha DiGiulian at Brooklyn Boulders in Brooklyn, NY in 2017
© Laura Barisonzi / Red Bull Content Pool
In the metropolis of New York City, Brooklyn Boulders in Queensbridge is a great choice for city folk who want an urban adventure. Climbers in Chicago can also visit the West Loop area location of Brooklyn Boulders. Both locations offer the Adaptive Climbing Group with affordable climbing options. Climb Like a Girl workshops also provide female climbers with a safe climbing environment. Those part of the LGBTQ+ community can also enjoy a safe and inclusive climbing space at Out to Climb Nights with local groups like CRUX in New York.
03
Movement Climbing Centers - multiple locations
With locations across the country, Movement Climbing Centers provide climbers with top-notch facilities and thoughtfully planned climbing routes. Movement is committed to helping climbers balance mental, emotional, and physical growth to move past self-doubt.
In addition to climbing walls, Movement offers yoga studios, all-level fitness classes, cardio and weight zones, events, gear shops, and lounge areas. Movement partners with organizations to bring down social and physical barriers while choosing to protect and preserve the planet.
04
Stone Summit Climbing & Fitness Center - Georgia
Offering different locations in Atlanta and Kennesaw, Georgia, Stone Summit Climbing & Fitness Center has towering rope walls and expansive bouldering terrain. If you’re planning an environmentally friendly pre-workout, certain locations offer bike storage, while all of them have parking available. For those who’ve already learned to climb, Stone Summit has rock climbing walls that extend up to 60-feet high, along with a bouldering room for the experts.
05
Momentum Indoor Climbing - multiple locations
Utah, Texas, and Washington climbers can find exhilarating climbing experiences at Momentum Indoor Climbing. Each location provides training areas, community events, scored competitions, and top-quality fitness equipment. If you’re located in Salt Lake City, Utah there’s a Momentum Indoor Climbing gym nearby that’s also surrounded by nearby cafes and recreation areas for climbing breaks. Climbers can also be a part of history and tackle the first Walltopia climbing wall built in the U.S. You’ll find epically curved lead walls and extensive crack climbing, modeled after Utah’s Indian Creek, at the Sandy, Utah, location.
06
Touchstone Climbing - California
For climbers in California, there are numerous locations to choose from to experience something different with each climb. Touchstone Climbing is accessible from public transportation in most locations. You’ll be near the 6th St. & Alameda St. bus stop for the Los Angeles location. The BART and MUNI stops right by the San Francisco location and the San Jose location is walkable from the San Jose Diridon Caltrain Station.
If you’re going green, there is bicycle parking at every location, and if you prefer to drive, there’s either metered parking, private lots, or a connected lot. Climbers always have access to multiple climbing options so they’ll never get tired of the same route. Across 15 locations, you have access to 1,207 routes, 2,247 boulder problems, and 299,500 square feet of terrain to climb.
07
Vertical Endeavors - multiple locations
Spanning the Midwest in Minnesota and Illinois, Vertical Endeavors caters to climbers of all ages and skill levels. This climbing gym is all about fostering a culture of growth and exploration. The family-friendly rock-climbing center provides first-time climber routes and options for expert climbers. With the option of virtual or in-person orientation, climbers can get a refresher or begin their journey through a training program at their convenience.
08
Central Rock Gym - multiple locations
With 26 locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida, Connecticut, and New York, Central Rock Gym is here to help you find your climbing community. Every week there are new boulder problems for climbers who want an extra challenge. If you prefer an eco-friendly option some Central Rock Gyms have gone solar. To continue going green, Central Rock encourages those to take public transportation, whether it’s subway or bus.
09
Triangle Rock Club - North Carolina
Located throughout North Carolina, Triangle Rock Club offers an array of climbing experiences. For those interested in rock climbing, Triangle Rock Club provides first-timers with a discount. Membership includes unlimited fitness and yoga classes, select free climbing classes, gear discounts, special events, the option to bring friends, and a multitude of climbing options. Across all locations, you’ll find climbing surfaces that range from 8,500-29,000 square feet of climbing space.
10
The Circuit Bouldering Gym - Oregon
Located in the Pacific Northwest, The Circuit Bouldering Gym embodies an adventurous spirit across all of its Oregon locations. To ensure your accessibility is convenient to get to a bouldering gym there is ample parking and nearby public transportation options. You’re also close to amenities like cafes and breweries to fuel your body between climbs.
The Circuit focuses on cultivating community with social events and competitions while offering scholarships to a certain percentage of climbers in the Youth Program. These competitions could even prepare competitors for Red Bull Dual Ascent, a sports climbing competition, while beginners may want to just practice on bouldering terrain.
Climbing beyond limits: Your path to personal triumph and physical growth
For workout aficionados seeking to push themselves, indoor climbing gyms challenge endurance with state-of-the-art facilities and expert staff. Anyone can grow to be an expert at these top indoor climbing gyms.
If you want to see how far practice can take you, watch adventurous climber Chris Sharma in one of his latest Red Bull Reel Rock climbs. And don’t forget to set a reminder to watch Sasha’s climbing film, “Here to Climb,” when it begins streaming on Max on June 18. So, whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned climber seeking new challenges, grab your gear and let the ascent begin.