It’s no secret Columbus isn’t home to massive mountains and overhanging cliffs — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t rock climbing opportunities abound. The city is home to six indoor climbing gyms with each a bit different than the next.
Most gyms provide everything you need and luckily that list is pretty short — climbing shoes, a harness + rope, and chalk. And if you catch the climbing bug, many of these spots offer classes and workshops that can get you belay and climbing certified as well as going beyond the basics into more expert level classes like lead climbing.
Chambers Purely Boulders, 1165 Chambers Rd.
Bouldering is a great introduction to climbing if you aren’t keen on heights. The walls only reach roughly 20 feet so the routes are short and quick + you don’t need a harness or rope to do these. Pro tip: Members at Chambers can get a guest in for free once per month.
Kinetic Climbing & Fitness, 717 Hadley Dr.
While Kinetic offers bouldering, they are taking it to a new level by offering non-traditional routes that include gymnastics hoops suspended from the ceiling. Pro tip: The gym is open 365/24/7 to its members.
Vertical Adventures, 6513 Kingsmill Court
With climbing walls reaching 44 feet in some areas, climbers can practice longer routes varying from beginner to expert. There’s also bouldering in the back corner on the first floor + on the second floor. Pro tip: Vertical Adventures is a great spot to host your kids birthday parties as the facility features non-climbing options like a giant swing.
Play: CBUS, 535 Lakeview Plaza Blvd.
Non-traditional climbing routes are gaining popularity and Play: CBUS offers one of the only indoor via ferrata — a climbing route that combines rock with cables, rungs, and ladders — in the US. There are also custom built rope courses where visitors are challenged to self-guide their way through + ninja obstacle courses that channel your inner “American Ninja Warrior.”
Bloc Garten, 512 Maier Place
Similarly to Chambers Purely Boulders, Bloc Garten is a great starting point for beginners as these bouldering walls won’t have you scaling major heights. Bloc also offers a bouldering 101 course where attendees are given two weeks of free climbing and gear. Pro tip: If you subscribe to Bloc Garten’s newsletter, your first visit is free.
Ninja Citi, 2620 Sawmill Place Blvd.
With 30,000 sqft of space inside the facility, there’s plenty of ways to move around at Ninja Citi including traditional walls + 12 ninja courses, five massive warped walls (similar to the final obstacle in “American Ninja Warrior”), a parkour arena, and indoor trampolines. Each of these attractions range in difficulty meaning newcomers and veterans alike are welcome.
Spring is just around the corner and it’s one of the most perfect seasons for outdoor climbing. If you are looking to climb outdoors, the Scioto Audubon Climbing Wall is City Editor Mitch’s favorite spot to climb outdoors.
