Looking for the very best San Francisco climbing gyms? Start right here.
San Francisco is one in all our favourite cities, but it surely wasn’t till lately that we began including climbing gyms as a part of our journey itinerary. Luckily, a few of our native buddies pointed us towards the very best climbing gyms in SF bay space. With so many choices, we put collectively this listing that can assist you determine which gymnasium to go as to whether you’re visiting or wish to develop into 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. Here’s what we realized.
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Last Updated: January 17, 2023
Things to Keep in Mind
- The climbing scene will proceed to vary. When we revisit, we’ll frequently replace this publish. Over the pandemic, we seen many gyms closing or getting purchased out by bigger gyms.
- Corporate vs. Independent Gyms – If they rent a brand new setter, the setting can fluctuate and is often extra drastic at smaller, unbiased gyms vs. company ones.
- Gym climbing has developed and has develop into its personal sport. Some gyms cater towards coaching for out of doors climbing, whereas others wish to create a climbing expertise just for gymnasium climbers. I’ve seen my out of doors buddies like gyms with plenty of ‘tensiony’ strikes that prepare them for the outside, however lots of our indoor-only climbing buddies are in search of one thing fully completely different (i.e., comp-style).
- Setting – The setting consists of how enjoyable the climbs are and the number of holds. Although there are exceptions, usually, we’ve discovered that after they make investments extra in maintain selection, in addition they spend money on setters.
- Grading – We’re primarily attention-grabbing and enjoyable motion over how they grade their issues. Some climbers choose a grade vary, whereas others choose them damaged up. Some gyms are stiffer than others, and a few grades are in every single place, which could be irritating, so we word it.
- Community – This is at all times laborious to check on one-off visits. We acquired some perception from buddies, however as an alternative of score the neighborhood, we included notes on whether or not a gymnasium was beginner-friendly. Some gyms can really feel extra intimidating than others if you happen to’re new.
The Best Rock Climbing Gyms in San Francisco Bay Area
1. Benchmark Climbing – Best Setting and Best Overallㅤ→
1414 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109, map
Setting: 5/5
Facility: 4.5/5
Rates: $30 Day Pass | Memberships Starting at $107.54/month
Setting Routine: 1-3 Days Per Set. Resets begin on Mondays.
Types of Climbing: Bouldering
Busiest Times: Weekdays after Work
Training Boards: Moon Board, Campus Board
Other Locations: North Berkeley
Walking into Benchmark Climbing, we instantly seen all of the pure gentle and wooden tones. We appreciated their clear, trendy aesthetics. But 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 buddies additionally talked about that this gymnasium had the very best setting. Once we began climbing, we noticed how thoughtfully they set every drawback. Even the decrease grades had been attention-grabbing and enjoyable, which is commonly an afterthought for setters, particularly at unbiased gyms that don’t have an enormous finances. When 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 gymnasium in North Berkeley that we are going to be trying out on our subsequent go to.
Room to Improve: They don’t have an enormous exercise part, and the world matches perhaps 1-2 folks comfortably.
Local Tip: Street parking is cheaper, however if you happen to can’t discover any, there are a number of parking decks close by. The setting is usually 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 Related – The Ultimate SF Bucket List
2. Pacific Pipe (Touchstone) – Best Facilitiesㅤ→
2140 Mandela Parkway, Oakland, CA 94607, map
Setting: 4/5
Facility: 4.5/5
Rates: $30 Day Pass | Memberships Starting at $87.08/month
Setting Routine: 5 Week Turn Around
Types of Climbing: Top Rope, Lead, and Bouldering
Square Footage of the Facilities: 46,000 sq ft
Square Footage of Climbing Walls: 33,000 sq ft (13,000 sq ft of bouldering)
Busiest Times: Weekdays after Work, Weekends
Training Boards: Moon Board, Tension Board, Kilter Board, Campus Board
Pacific Pipe, one of many latest Touchstone gyms, is the biggest climbing gymnasium within the US as of 2023. It is a large facility with 55-foot-high lead partitions and an enormous bouldering space that spans two flooring. It has nearly the whole lot you could possibly ask for in a climbing gymnasium. I haven’t seen some other gymnasium with all three: Moon, Tension, and Kilter boards.
We visited after that they had a residents comp, so there have been many extra comp issues. The gymnasium felt extra inviting to new climbers in comparison with different gyms.
Room for Improvement: They lacked a hangboard space (it’s within the works). Also, if you happen to don’t like busy gyms, it’s possible you’ll wish to contemplate one other gymnasium.
Local Tip: There is 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
Rates: $30 Day Pass | Memberships Starting at $107.54/month
Setting Routine: 1-2 Times a Week
Types of Climbing: Bouldering
Busiest Times: Weekdays after Work
Training Boards: Kilter Board, Spray Wall, Campus Board
This is one other gymnasium owned by Touchstone, so you possibly can entry it if you’re a Touchstone member. It’s SF’s first bouldering-only gymnasium and is big (the biggest in California). They have some tall partitions and top-outs. The Touchstone gyms additionally share setters, so that you’ll discover a related setting model right here.
We went proper after they opened, so there have been few folks there, however our buddies informed us throughout peak hours, it will get crowded.
Room to Improve: The gymnasium is older, so it feels grungy, and the holds are gross. Grades are everywhere in the board, and so they hold elevating membership costs with out enhancing the services – Paulina.
Local Tip: It’s straightforward to entry from CalTrain – Paulina
See Related – 25 Free Things to Do in San Francisco California
4. Movement Sunnyvaleㅤ→
815 Stewart Dr, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, map
Setting: 4/5
Facility: 3/5
Rates: $30 Day Pass | Memberships Starting at $91/month
Types of Climbing: Bouldering, Top Rope, Lead
Square Footage of Climbing Walls: 28,000 sq ft
Number of Problems Up: 120+ Problems / 150+ Routes
Other Locations: 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. Although the services are older, they’ve been doing work to improve them. The employees is pleasant.
Room to Improve: The wifi is dangerous, which makes it laborious to work from – Paulina
These had been the 4 gyms we visited prior to now, and we’ll let our buddies, Paulina and Austin, provide you with perception into the opposite gyms under.
5. Mission Cliffs (Touchstone)ㅤ→
2295 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110, map
Setting: 3/5
Facility: 2/5
Rates: $30 Day Pass | Memberships Starting at $107.54/month
Types of Climbing: Top Rope, Lead, and Bouldering
Square Footage of the Facilities: 23,000 sq ft
Square Footage of Climbing Walls: 23,000 sq ft (2,000 sq ft of bouldering)
Number of Problems Up: 160+ Routes
Busiest Times: Weekdays after Work
Training Boards: Campus Board
Mission Cliffs is San Francisco’s oldest climbing gymnasium, and though they’ve gone via renovations and updates, the age reveals. 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 Improve: Grades are in every single place, holds and partitions are gross, it’s crowded throughout peak hours, and so they have horrible customer support. Their staff take eternally to acknowledge you exist. – Paulina
OTHER Walls and Rock Climbing Gyms in San Francisco Bay Area
- Berkeley Ironworks (Touchstone) – 45-foot-high lead partitions and an enormous bouldering space. The services are older, although.
- Bladium’s Rock Wall and Bouldering Gym
- ClubSport Pleasanton
- Diablo Rock Gym (Touchstone)
- Glen Park Recreation Center – has a climbing wall.
- Great Western Power Co (Touchstone) – 48-foot-high lead partitions and 1,500 sq toes of bouldering. It’s situated in Uptown Oakland and handy if you happen to stay within the space.
- Movement San Francisco – this location is correct within the coronary heart of the Presidio by the Golden Gate Bridge. They have 40-foot climbing partitions, loads of house, and exquisite views.
- Movement Belmont – This was the unique Planet Granite gymnasium, now Movement Belmont. It’s small, and the wall angles aren’t nice. It’s not a vacation spot gymnasium, and it’s solely good if you happen to’ve climbed in all places else or it’s probably 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 gymnasium in Santa Rosa. It was a lot smaller than I anticipated, however the services had been good, with seating and consuming areas (5/5). The setting was in every single place (3.5/5), and the bouldering space was sparse.
- The Studio Climbing, South Bay (Touchstone) – keep away from in any respect prices. The services are a 1/5. Even Belmont is small, however this one feels even smaller. The setting is simply okay, the bouldering space will not be fulfilling, and a few partitions are arrange in a bit of hallway. You really feel like you possibly can’t climb with out falling on another person.
In Conclusion
As guests, we’ll almost certainly try 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 had been as much as us and we lived within the Bay space, we’d get a membership at Touchstone to take pleasure in the advantages throughout all of the gyms in norcal (Mission Cliffs, Berkeley Ironworks, Diablo Rock Gym, Pacific Pipe, Dogpatch Boulders, Great Western Power Co) and SoCal after which get a punch move at Benchmark.
Map of Climbing Gyms in San Francisco Bay Area
What to Pack – Climber’s Packing List
First Timer’s What to Bring
You can lease sneakers, chalk, and a harness if it’s your first time. All it is advisable to convey is the next:
Established Climbers Packing List
For those that already climb, don’t neglect this stuff too! Check this publish for our favourite of every.
Extras
Finally, listed here are some miscellaneous gadgets you possibly can convey for warming up, coaching, and extra.
More 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. If you’re climbing within the superior to the professional vary, we assume you don’t have to google gyms and have already got a community of climbing buddies telling you the place to climb (however who is aware of… we might be flawed).
- I used to route-set at our previous gymnasium in Vegas, so I’ve a primary understanding of what the setting needs to be and have met many climbers in search of several types of setting kinds.
- We’ve climbed at over 25 gyms everywhere in the US and have a good suggestion of what cities have first rate climbing gyms. Most of those have been in main cities (ABQ, Atlanta, Austin, Bishop, Chattanooga, NY, Portland, San Diego, SF, Seattle, and Vegas). Our buddies who van life and journey to climb outdoor year-round have informed us that usually, 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.
- Also, since we’re not professional climbers, double-digit climbers, or TikTok well-known, folks don’t give us particular remedy. As an Asian male, Jacob can get an excellent learn on whether or not the gymnasium neighborhood is pleasant.
Where to remain in San Francisco
Any different mountain climbing gyms in San Francisco that we missed?? If you at the moment 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 Local Adventurer, one of many high 5 journey blogs within the US. They consider that journey could be discovered close to and much and hope to encourage others to discover regionally. They discover a brand new metropolis in depth yearly and at the moment base themselves in Las Vegas.
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