First Time Here?

Before we tell you all the reasons you will love climbing, we want to help you to get the paperwork over with. It’s everyone’s least favorite part, but once the forms are completed, you can explore everything the amazing world of climbing has to offer! Completing this process online will save you time when you arrive at Central Rock Gym to climb!

Walking into a climbing gym for the first time can feel like arriving at a party where everyone else knows each other. But don’t overthink it! Climbing culture is one of the most welcoming in any sport. You’ll see strangers cheering each other on, offering tips, and celebrating small wins on the wall. Our staff sets that tone from the moment you walk in.

When you arrive, we’ll get you checked in, fitted with any gear you need, and pointed in the right direction. There’s no pressure to know what you’re doing yet. That’s what we’re here for.

A few things to keep in mind before you come:

• Wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in, you’ll be reaching, stepping, and stretching in all directions
• Set your expectations to have fun! But it is ok if you don’t get too far on Day 1. This is just the start! That said, no one is looking at you or judging you. The rock climbing community celebrates every win – big and small!

Ready to get a feel for it before diving in solo? Our Intro to Climbing session is a great starting point. You’ll get a guided walkthrough of the gym, learn the basics of movement on the wall, and get comfortable with the gear — harness, shoes, chalk — before you ever leave the ground.

A few things you’ll quickly discover:

• Climbing is more legs than arms. Most beginners try to muscle their way up with their arms. The secret is your feet — think of it as walking up the wall, not pulling yourself up it.
• The gear does its job. Trusting the rope system takes a minute, but once it clicks, everything gets easier. A good first step is climbing a few feet up and letting go — just to feel how the system holds you.
• Your forearms will be tired. This is normal and universal. It gets better every single time you come back.

We think you’ll love indoor rock climbing. Come for the day and see for yourself. A Day Pass is the perfect way to try it out. You’ll get full access to all of our climbing walls, training areas, and workout spaces — plus we have equipment rentals, so you don’t need to bring a thing. Just show up.

Some locations have auto belays, which are ideal for first-timers. Auto belays are devices anchored at the top of the wall that automatically lower you down when you’re ready to come off, no partner needed. They’re a great way to focus on climbing without worrying about anything else. Just clip in and go.

Once you’ve caught the bug and want to climb with a partner, it’s time to take our Learn the Ropes class. You’ll learn how to belay, managing the rope for your climbing partner, and get comfortable with the communication and safety systems that make partner climbing work. On your next visit, you’ll take a certification test to get fully cleared for all the walls in the gym.

A Day Pass is included with your Learn the Ropes registration, so your first full day at CRG is already covered.

Not all locations offer rope climbing walls so be sure to confirm your location’s amenities before visiting so you know what types of climbing to expect!

Want a more hands-on introduction? Book a session with one of our instructors. At locations that have rope walls, they’ll belay you, managing the rope from the ground while you climb, so you can focus entirely on movement without thinking about anything else.

At our bouldering locations, our instructors will guide you by pointing out climbs that you’ll love and giving you expert tips and techniques to conquer the wall, even if it’s your first time! It’s the fastest way to build confidence on the wall and the best way to make sure your first experience is a great one.

Whether you’re training for climbing or just looking to move and feel good, there’s a class for you!

CRG locations offer a variety of fitness and yoga classes designed to support your goals and supplement your climbing journey!

Climbing is a solo sport and a team sport all at once. You’re the one on the wall, but you’re never really doing it alone.

At Central Rock Gym, the community is part of what keeps people coming back long after the novelty of the sport wears off. It’s the stranger who spots you on a route you’ve been stuck on for weeks and offers just the right tip. It’s the group that forms naturally around a hard problem on the bouldering wall, everyone taking turns, everyone rooting for each other. It’s the friend you didn’t know you were going to make when you walked through the door.

Climbers are known for being welcoming, and we work hard to make sure CRG lives up to that reputation. Whether you’re on your first visit or your five hundredth, you’ll find people here who are genuinely excited to share the sport they love, with no gatekeeping, no judgment, and no pressure to be further along than you are.

Ready to make this your go-to spot?

A membership at Central Rock Gym is the best way to get the full experience: more time on the wall, more classes, and more community.

And if you’re just getting started, our first-time member deals make it easy (and more affordable) to jump right in.