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A gray, orange, and red wall take irregular paths upwards and curve onto a ceiling. Each has colorful holds for grabbing. A man is climbing up the gray wall. Don Mason/Getty Images

Seattle’s climbing and bouldering walls, mapped

Get your climb on

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Sure, you could go climb a mountain—or you could check out a space with floor pads and no weather problems to speak of, or at least a rock close to home. Bouldering gyms and climbing walls are becoming especially prevalent in Seattle, both for die-hard climbers looking for a regular workout closeby or dabblers and hobbyists looking for training or lower-risk recreation.

Bonus for the indoor gyms: Oftentimes you don’t even need your own gear. Double bonus: Some of them have added features like yoga classes. One especially popular gym even has a cafe and bar. A couple have additional locations, too—we note it when they do.

We included some outdoor walls for when you want a quick outdoor climb but don’t want to make a full day trip out of it. University of Washington and Camp Long are both classic options.

Whether you’re looking for a fun afternoon, classes, or a regular workout (and whether you’re looking for belays or not) here are 12 options in the Seattle area for getting your climb on. (If you’re looking for something for littles, try one of the city’s coolest playgrounds—climbing walls are increasingly common.)

Map points are ordered north to south.

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Summit Everett

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This small climbing gym to the north has options for belays, an intro to climbing class, and rental equipment. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

Dale Turner Family YMCA

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Technically this YMCA is north of the Seattle city limits in Shoreline, but it’s part of the Seattle YMCA anyway. Open climbs at Turner Tower are Tuesday and Thursday evenings; Y memberships cost $54 to $75 for adults, but sliding scales are available, too.

The Mountaineers

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At its Seattle Program Center in Magnuson Park, the Mountaineers offer both indoor and outdoor walls for varying abilities, with plenty of variety to practice on: a giant artificial boulder, a simulated water ice wall, a dry tool wall, basalt columns, a boulder field, and a friction mountain. The outdoor walls in the south plaza are open to the public, while other walls are reserved for members (memberships are $75 a year for adults) or special programs only.

Stone Gardens Seattle

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Stone Gardens in Ballard has both indoor and outdoor bouldering walls, totaling 17,500 square feet—and reaching up to 45 feet high. There’s a location in Bellevue, too. Rates run by the day or by the month, and punch cards are available.

Vertical World

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Founded in 1987 as Vertical Club, Vertical World claims to be America’s first climbing gym. In addition to climbing, the gym has expanded to do fitness and yoga classes. Memberships run by the day, month, or 10-visit punch card. It has three locations: Magnolia, Redmond, and its newest in Lynnwood.

UW Rock Wall

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An extremely early example of an artificial rock climbing wall, the UW climbing rock, located at the south end of Husky Stadium, was designed in 1975 and opened in 1976. If you’re a UW student, you have an indoor gym available to you, too.

Island Rock Gym

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Climbing with or without ropes are both available at this gym on Bainbridge Island, and starter packs are available for people just starting out. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

REI Pinnacle

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REI’s flagship Seattle store just north of downtown features the Pinnacle, a 65-foot climbing wall. It’s used for classes, but REI also hosts open climbs and drop-in times, and it’s available for a group reservation.

Seattle Bouldering Project

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One of Seattle’s most popular bouldering gyms, tucked between the International District and Judkins Park, has two stories of climbing walls, including a kids’ area, plus more standard fitness equipment. Classes include both bouldering and yoga. One of the most standout features, though, is the cafe and bar in the basement, the West Wall. Memberships run by the day, month, or year.

Momentum Indoor Climbing Sodo

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Seattle’s newest climbing gym, part of a chain with locations in Utah and Texas, has 19,200 square feet of bouldering, plus a weightlifting and cardio area with climbing-specific training equipment like a tension board and campus boards. It’s open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

South Bellevue Community Center

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For climbers on the Eastside, Bellevue Parks operates a climbing wall in the South Bellevue Community Center. Staffed climbing costs $7 to 9 per session, but punchcards reduce the per-climb rate.

Camp Long

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Built far earlier than the UW rock—1938!—this climbing rock in West Seattle’s Camp Long was designed by Clark Schurman to anticipate any climbing issue for training and practice. It was originally called Monitor Rock because it’s supposed to ”warn, remind, advise and instruct.” This rock is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when it hasn’t already been reserved.

Summit Everett

This small climbing gym to the north has options for belays, an intro to climbing class, and rental equipment. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

Dale Turner Family YMCA

Technically this YMCA is north of the Seattle city limits in Shoreline, but it’s part of the Seattle YMCA anyway. Open climbs at Turner Tower are Tuesday and Thursday evenings; Y memberships cost $54 to $75 for adults, but sliding scales are available, too.

The Mountaineers

At its Seattle Program Center in Magnuson Park, the Mountaineers offer both indoor and outdoor walls for varying abilities, with plenty of variety to practice on: a giant artificial boulder, a simulated water ice wall, a dry tool wall, basalt columns, a boulder field, and a friction mountain. The outdoor walls in the south plaza are open to the public, while other walls are reserved for members (memberships are $75 a year for adults) or special programs only.

Stone Gardens Seattle

Stone Gardens in Ballard has both indoor and outdoor bouldering walls, totaling 17,500 square feet—and reaching up to 45 feet high. There’s a location in Bellevue, too. Rates run by the day or by the month, and punch cards are available.

Vertical World

Founded in 1987 as Vertical Club, Vertical World claims to be America’s first climbing gym. In addition to climbing, the gym has expanded to do fitness and yoga classes. Memberships run by the day, month, or 10-visit punch card. It has three locations: Magnolia, Redmond, and its newest in Lynnwood.

UW Rock Wall

An extremely early example of an artificial rock climbing wall, the UW climbing rock, located at the south end of Husky Stadium, was designed in 1975 and opened in 1976. If you’re a UW student, you have an indoor gym available to you, too.

Island Rock Gym

Climbing with or without ropes are both available at this gym on Bainbridge Island, and starter packs are available for people just starting out. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

REI Pinnacle

REI’s flagship Seattle store just north of downtown features the Pinnacle, a 65-foot climbing wall. It’s used for classes, but REI also hosts open climbs and drop-in times, and it’s available for a group reservation.

Seattle Bouldering Project

One of Seattle’s most popular bouldering gyms, tucked between the International District and Judkins Park, has two stories of climbing walls, including a kids’ area, plus more standard fitness equipment. Classes include both bouldering and yoga. One of the most standout features, though, is the cafe and bar in the basement, the West Wall. Memberships run by the day, month, or year.

Momentum Indoor Climbing Sodo

Seattle’s newest climbing gym, part of a chain with locations in Utah and Texas, has 19,200 square feet of bouldering, plus a weightlifting and cardio area with climbing-specific training equipment like a tension board and campus boards. It’s open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

South Bellevue Community Center

For climbers on the Eastside, Bellevue Parks operates a climbing wall in the South Bellevue Community Center. Staffed climbing costs $7 to 9 per session, but punchcards reduce the per-climb rate.

Camp Long

Built far earlier than the UW rock—1938!—this climbing rock in West Seattle’s Camp Long was designed by Clark Schurman to anticipate any climbing issue for training and practice. It was originally called Monitor Rock because it’s supposed to ”warn, remind, advise and instruct.” This rock is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when it hasn’t already been reserved.