Searching for the perfect San Francisco climbing gyms? Begin right here.
San Francisco is one in every of our favourite cities, but it surely wasn’t till lately that we began including climbing gyms as a part of our journey itinerary. Fortunately, a few of our native associates pointed us towards the perfect climbing gyms in SF bay space. With so many choices, we put collectively this listing that will help you determine which health club to go as to if you’re visiting or wish to grow to be a member.
We’ve been to over 25 gyms everywhere in the US, and San Francisco has a few of our favourite gyms within the nation. Right here’s what we realized.
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Final Up to date: January 30, 2023
Issues to Preserve in Thoughts
- The climbing scene will proceed to alter. After we revisit, we’ll regularly replace this put up. Over the pandemic, we observed many gyms closing or getting purchased out by bigger gyms.
- Company vs. Impartial Gyms – In the event that they rent a brand new setter, the setting can fluctuate and is often extra drastic at smaller, impartial gyms vs. company ones.
- Gymnasium climbing has developed and has grow to be its personal sport. Some gyms cater towards coaching for out of doors climbing, whereas others wish to create a climbing expertise just for health club climbers. I’ve observed my out of doors associates like gyms with a lot of ‘tensiony’ strikes that prepare them for the outside, however a lot of our indoor-only climbing associates are in search of one thing solely totally different (i.e., comp-style).
- Setting – The setting contains how enjoyable the climbs are and the number of holds. Though there are exceptions, sometimes, we’ve discovered that after they make investments extra in maintain selection, additionally they put money into setters.
- Grading – We’re primarily fascinating and enjoyable motion over how they grade their issues. Some climbers want a grade vary, whereas others want them damaged up. Some gyms are stiffer than others, and a few grades are all over, which may be irritating, so we observe it.
- Group – That is at all times exhausting to check on one-off visits. We bought some perception from associates, however as an alternative of score the neighborhood, we included notes on whether or not a health club was beginner-friendly. Some gyms can really feel extra intimidating than others when you’re new.
The Finest Rock Climbing Gyms in San Francisco Bay Space
1. Benchmark Climbing – Finest Setting and Finest Overallㅤ→
1414 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109, map
Setting: 5/5
Facility: 4.5/5
Charges: $30 Day Go | Memberships Beginning at $107.54/month
Setting Routine: 1-3 Days Per Set. Resets begin on Mondays.
Varieties of Climbing: Bouldering
Busiest Occasions: Weekdays after Work
Coaching Boards: Moon Board, Campus Board
Different Places: North Berkeley
Strolling into Benchmark Climbing, we instantly observed all of the pure mild and wooden tones. We appreciated their clear, fashionable aesthetics. However on the finish of the day, the setting determines how lengthy we wish to climb or if we wish to come again.
Our different climber associates additionally talked about that this health club had the perfect setting. As soon as we began climbing, we noticed how thoughtfully they set every drawback. Even the decrease grades have been fascinating and enjoyable, which is commonly an afterthought for setters, particularly at impartial gyms that don’t have an enormous funds. After we requested them how lengthy they spend on a set, they informed us 1-3 days per set. What a dream!
We had solely deliberate to remain a few hours however stayed for much longer. Since visiting, they opened a a lot bigger health club in North Berkeley that we are going to be testing on our subsequent go to.
Room to Enhance: They don’t have an enormous exercise part, and the realm suits perhaps 1-2 individuals comfortably.
Native Tip: Avenue parking is cheaper, however when you can’t discover any, there are a number of parking decks close by. The setting generally is a little stiff in comparison with the opposite gyms within the space however will get you stronger. And there’s ample seating and wifi if you wish to work remotely – Paulina
See Associated – The Final SF Bucket Listing
2. Pacific Pipe (Touchstone) – Finest Facilitiesㅤ→
2140 Mandela Parkway, Oakland, CA 94607, map
Setting: 4/5
Facility: 5/5
Charges: $30 Day Go | Memberships Beginning at $87.08/month
Setting Routine: 5 Week Flip Round
Varieties of Climbing: Prime Rope, Lead, and Bouldering
Sq. Footage of the Services: 46,000 sq ft
Sq. Footage of Climbing Partitions: 33,000 sq ft (13,000 sq ft of bouldering)
Busiest Occasions: Weekdays after Work, Weekends
Coaching Boards: Moon Board, Rigidity Board, Kilter Board, Campus Board
Pacific Pipe, one of many latest Touchstone gyms, is the biggest climbing health club within the US as of 2023. It’s a huge facility with 55-foot-high lead partitions and an enormous bouldering space that spans two flooring. It has the whole lot you may ask for in a climbing health club. I haven’t seen every other health club with all three: Moon, Rigidity, and Kilter boards.
We visited after they’d a residents comp, so there have been many extra comp issues. The health club felt extra inviting to new climbers in comparison with different gyms. However when you don’t like busy gyms, you might wish to contemplate one other health club.
They’re placing in hangboards now, so we’ve up to date the power rating from 4.5 to five.
Native Tip: There may be free parking across the constructing.
3. Dogpatch Boulders (Touchstone) – The Largest Bouldering Gymㅤ→
2573 third St, San Francisco, CA 94107, map
Setting: 3.5/5
Facility: 3.5/5
Charges: $30 Day Go | Memberships Beginning at $107.54/month
Setting Routine: 1-2 Occasions a Week
Varieties of Climbing: Bouldering
Busiest Occasions: Weekdays after Work
Coaching Boards: Kilter Board, Spray Wall, Campus Board
That is one other health club owned by Touchstone, so you possibly can entry it in case you are a Touchstone member. It’s SF’s first bouldering-only health club and is large (the biggest in California). They’ve some tall partitions and top-outs. The Touchstone gyms additionally share setters, so that you’ll discover a comparable setting type right here.
We went proper after they opened, so there have been few individuals there, however our associates informed us throughout peak hours, it will get crowded.
Room to Enhance: The health club is older, so it feels grungy, and the holds are gross. Grades are everywhere in the board, and so they maintain elevating membership costs with out enhancing the amenities – Paulina.
Native Tip: It’s simple to entry from CalTrain – Paulina
See Associated – 25 Free Issues to Do in San Francisco California
4. Motion Sunnyvaleㅤ→
815 Stewart Dr, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, map
Setting: 4/5
Facility: 3/5
Charges: $30 Day Go | Memberships Beginning at $91/month
Varieties of Climbing: Bouldering, Prime Rope, Lead
Sq. Footage of Climbing Partitions: 28,000 sq ft
Variety of Issues Up: 120+ Issues / 150+ Routes
Different Places: Belmont + San Francisco
We went to the Sunnyvale Location in 2016 and had loads of enjoyable climbing again then, however had Paulina assist us with the way it has been since then. Though the amenities are older, they’ve been doing work to improve them. The workers is pleasant.
Room to Enhance: The wifi is dangerous, which makes it exhausting to work from – Paulina
These have been the 4 gyms we visited up to now, and we’ll let our associates, Paulina and Austin, offer you perception into the opposite gyms beneath.
5. Mission Cliffs (Touchstone)ㅤ→
2295 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110, map
Setting: 3/5
Facility: 2/5
Charges: $30 Day Go | Memberships Beginning at $107.54/month
Varieties of Climbing: Prime Rope, Lead, and Bouldering
Sq. Footage of the Services: 23,000 sq ft
Sq. Footage of Climbing Partitions: 23,000 sq ft (2,000 sq ft of bouldering)
Variety of Issues Up: 160+ Routes
Busiest Occasions: Weekdays after Work
Coaching Boards: Campus Board
Mission Cliffs is San Francisco’s oldest climbing health club, and though they’ve gone by way of renovations and updates, the age exhibits. The roped space is far greater, with 50-foot lead partitions, so it’s nice for rope climbers. The bouldering space is small, however they’ve bouldering top-outs. Our buddy Austin nonetheless goes right here to work out, primarily out of comfort.
Room to Enhance: Grades are all over, holds and partitions are gross, it’s crowded throughout peak hours, and so they have horrible customer support. Their staff take endlessly to acknowledge you exist. – Paulina
OTHER Partitions and Rock Climbing Gyms in San Francisco Bay Space
- Berkeley Ironworks (Touchstone) – 45-foot-high lead partitions and a giant bouldering space. The amenities are older, although.
- Bladium’s Rock Wall and Bouldering Gymnasium
- ClubSport Pleasanton
- Diablo Rock Gymnasium (Touchstone)
- Glen Park Recreation Heart – has a climbing wall.
- Nice Western Energy Co (Touchstone) – 48-foot-high lead partitions and 1,500 sq ft of bouldering. It’s positioned in Uptown Oakland and handy when you stay within the space.
- Motion San Francisco – this location is true within the coronary heart of the Presidio by the Golden Gate Bridge. They’ve 40-foot climbing partitions, loads of area, and exquisite views.
- Motion Belmont – This was the unique Planet Granite health club, now Motion Belmont. It’s small, and the wall angles aren’t nice. It’s not a vacation spot health club, and it’s solely good when you’ve climbed in all places else or it’s essentially the most handy location. It additionally will get crowded, particularly on bouldering league nights.
- Session Climbing – There’s a lot hype round Kevin Jorgensen’s new health club in Santa Rosa. It was a lot smaller than I anticipated, however the amenities have been good, with seating and consuming areas (5/5). The setting was all over (3.5/5), and the bouldering space was sparse.
- The Studio Climbing, South Bay (Touchstone) – keep away from in any respect prices. The amenities are a 1/5. Even Belmont is small, however this one feels even smaller. The setting is simply okay, the bouldering space is just not satisfying, and a few partitions are arrange in a bit of hallway. You’re feeling like you possibly can’t climb with out falling on another person.
In Conclusion
As guests, we’ll probably take a look at all of the gyms we haven’t been to earlier than returning to those above, however I do know we’ll be again at Benchmark. If it have been as much as us and we lived within the Bay space, we might get a membership at Touchstone to take pleasure in the advantages throughout all of the gyms in norcal (Mission Cliffs, Berkeley Ironworks, Diablo Rock Gymnasium, Pacific Pipe, Dogpatch Boulders, Nice Western Energy Co) and SoCal after which get a punch cross at Benchmark.
Map of Climbing Gyms in San Francisco Bay Space
What to Pack – Climber’s Packing Listing
First Timer’s What to Deliver
You possibly can lease sneakers, chalk, and a harness if it’s your first time. All that you must deliver is the next:
Established Climbers Packing Listing
For individuals who already climb, don’t overlook this stuff too! Examine this put up for our favourite of every.
Extras
Lastly, listed below are some miscellaneous gadgets you possibly can deliver for warming up, coaching, and extra.
Study Extra About Paulina
Paulina Dao is an journey photographer and blogger who loves cats, climbing, snacks, and Taylor Swift, in that order. You’ll find her on the boulders falling off essentially the most heinous crimp traces or laying and complaining on her Taylor Swift crash pad. She prefers bouldering (on granite) above all issues, however any climbing is climbing, and rocks are higher than no rocks.
Extra About Our CLimbing Journey
- We’ve climbed since 2013 and climb within the intermediate V4-6 vary indoors and outdoor. Most climbers we’ve seen at gyms are both newbie or intermediate climbers. For those who’re climbing within the superior to the professional vary, we assume you don’t must google gyms and have already got a community of climbing associates telling you the place to climb (however who is aware of… we may very well be flawed).
- I used to route-set at our previous health club in Vegas, so I’ve a fundamental understanding of what the setting must be and have met many climbers in search of various kinds of setting types.
- We’ve climbed at over 25 gyms everywhere in the US and have a good suggestion of what cities have respectable climbing gyms. Most of those have been in main cities (ABQ, Atlanta, Austin, Bishop, Chattanooga, NY, Portland, San Diego, SF, Seattle, and Vegas). Our associates who van life and journey to climb outdoor year-round have informed us that typically, climbing gyms have been worse at higher out of doors climbing locations, however that may be as a result of many are present in smaller communities.
- Additionally, since we’re not professional or double-digit climbers, individuals don’t give us particular remedy. As an Asian man, Jacob can get a great learn on whether or not the health club neighborhood is pleasant.
The place to remain in San Francisco
Some other mountain climbing gyms in San Francisco that we missed?? For those who presently go to any of those gyms above, is there something you disagree with or wish to add?
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Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Native Adventurer, one of many high 5 journey blogs within the US. They imagine that journey may be discovered close to and much and hope to encourage others to discover regionally. They discover a brand new metropolis in depth yearly and presently base themselves in Las Vegas.
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