The Best Rock Climbing Gyms in Vancouver
Whether it’s for a new hobby or for exercise, a lot of people find themselves getting into rock climbing. But not everyone knows how or where to find a place to get a climb in.
To help you with that endeavor, we’ve compiled a list of the best places in Vancouver to go rock climbing.
The Cost of Rock Climbing in Vancouver
There are a lot of factors that go into how much you may end up paying overall. Different gyms may have different fees for walk-ins and memberships, not to mention the cost of the gear.
Keep in mind that the above table may not be completely reflective of the actual cost. Different places will charge different fees for their lessons, their equipment, and their access.
The Best Rock Climbing in Vancouver
We assessed the best rock climbing in Vancouver based on the following criteria:
1. The Hive Bouldering Gym
| Climbs | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Value | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer Satisfaction | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
There are a lot of things that we like about The Hive Bouldering Gym and that make us think it’s a great place for climbers of all types to get a climb in. They have different climbs for climbers of all levels of expertise, to start with.
That’s something that we like about them since not everyone who walks into a climbing gym is going to be a veteran climber. A lot of people are just starting out or are in the middle of their climbing journeys but aren’t experts yet.
Speaking of people who aren’t experts at climbing, Hive has courses available for those people since being a neophyte shouldn’t stop you from being able to climb, after all.
Another thing that we like is that they have a separate climbing area for the kids so they don’t have to get in the way of adult climbers or find themselves discouraged at how difficult the climbs for adults are.
The staff at the gym is also there to show newbies the ropes, so to speak, and to answer any questions climbers of all levels may have about the facilities and the climbs they have available.
The staff know that rock climbing can be somewhat intimidating, so they also know to make people comfortable and secure in what they’re about to do. We really liked that about the gym as it speaks to how seriously they take their guests’ comfort.
The only thing about them that we’ve encountered that doesn’t totally blow us away is their price. We’ve noticed that a small number of customers have gripes about the price of their services.
Pros
- Diverse amount of climbs for all climbers
- Lessons for all beginners
- Lots of space
Cons
- Price can be high
Customer reviews
Great climbing gym
“Great bouldering gym with lots of space and sufficient climbs. I thought the setting was good, with a reasonable variety between styles and grades. I did think some more climbs could be fit, but this might be because I’m used to denser setting.
There was a good workout area with lots of equipment that I enjoyed. If you have kids, there’s a separate area for their climbing too.” – Christopher Choquette
Super helpful
“We came here with some friends and the staff were super helpful and showed us how to climb and jump down. They were friendly and helpful during our visit. The gym was a bit busy and we had to wait to do some of the courses, and I didn’t find there were many beginner courses to climb but overall we had a good time! Definitely coming again!” – Amanda Lawrence
2. Vancouver Mountain Guides
| Climbs | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Value | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer Satisfaction | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
If someone coming with you to an indoor rock climbing session decides the climbing isn’t their thing, then Vancouver Mountain Guides might have something that means you can still spend time together.
It’s not just rock climbing that they specialize in. They also do mountaineering, ice, and ski & avalanche courses.
Basically, they have something for everyone, even those who’ve never done an outdoor climb before or those that haven’t acclimated to outdoor climbs from indoor ones.
They have accelerated courses, which is something that caught our eye. We found that they can help a person get up to speed on the fundamentals or beyond in a relatively short amount of time.
We found that even the accelerated courses were able to instill a sense of confidence without a false sense of security.
Some of the customers we’ve had the privilege of interacting with also raved about the instructors and the courses. These instructors and courses emphasize their safety systems so as to avoid injury.
These customers raved about how the instructors and the courses gave them the confidence they needed to go on actual climbs.
Our overall impression of Vancouver Mountain Guides is one of a confident group of people that know what they’re doing and teach other people to also know what they’re doing.
Pros
- Many different types of climbs
- Accelerated lessons
- Private climbs
Cons
- Outdoor environment may not be for everyone
Customer reviews
The place to go
“Vancouver Mountain Guides is the place to go to learn and upgrade your climbing skills. No need to read more. Go on. Book it already. What are you waiting for.
Vancouver Mountain Guides has exceeded my expectations.
After being extremely impressed with the lessons and instructions for Level 1 I decided to go back for Level 2.
Low and behold, we got matched up with the master of rock climbing instructor, self proclaimed dancing king himself, Jake.
Jake has a wealth of knowledge that he expertly passes on to the class, with clear and concise lessons. After completing the level 2 accelerated course, I am feeling confident in my abilities to go out with my friends and continue to explore rock climbing without relying on a guide. I can’t recommend VMG enough. I’m sure i’ll be back for Level 3 and beyond in the future.” – Daniel Funk
Great experience
“I’ve now taken two courses (Level 3, Intro to Trad and Rock Rescue) and have had a great experience in both classes. The instructors helped break down complex concepts by starting with basics and building on top of that. It’s really helped me develop more confidence in my systems and my climbing ability. If you are looking to progress into new disciplines of climbing but uncertain how to, I would highly recommend Vancouver Mountain Guides!” – Gregory Fox
3. The Aviary
| Climbs | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Value | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Customer Satisfaction | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
If you’re looking for a relatively cheap place for rock climbing, then the Aviary is a pretty good option as far as options go.
If a little permanence is what you want and you plan on climbing consistently, then they also offer memberships for about $50 a year. We found that to be a rather great value considering the quality of their facilities and the prices of other rock climbing gyms.
They also offer lessons, though those lessons are usually booked pretty far in advance so if you’re looking to start lessons, then you may want to be prepared to wait awhile before you can actually start them.
We understand that their low price points make them more accessible than others and that’ll naturally mean more people… but just because we understand doesn’t mean that we like the long wait.
The climbs themselves are pretty good, considering the price. As far as value goes, we don’t think the Aviary can be beat.
Nothing’s broken or missing and everything is pretty basic but all the essentials for rock climbing are present and accounted for.
The customers we’ve had the pleasure of interacting with also have high praise for the volunteer staff, many of them saying that the staff to help you learn how to climb or help you with climbing if you already know how but are maybe a little rusty.
If there is one downside to it, it’s that it’s not the biggest gym and attracts quite a lot of people, so it might be a little crowded for anyone with performance anxiety and the lines, while mostly manageable, might be a little too long for those who are in a rush or are otherwise impatient.
Pros
- Relatively low price
Cons
- Somewhat undersized
- Can be crowded
- Lessons must be booked well in advance
Customer reviews
Great place
“Great place for working, lots of creative talent gathered under one roof. The space is beautifully designed and lots of attention has been given to the details of work. They use great chairs which is an important piece of the puzzle! The biggest benefit for me has been having access to interesting people to work around.” – Puya Khalili
Definitely recommend
“We had our wedding reception at The Aviary in June and couldn’t have been more pleased with such a beautifully designed space with warm, communicative, and flexible staff. We were able to configure the furniture to our liking (the wide array of plants added a lovely touch), had a food truck parked out front, and even had a cellist play in the evening. It made for such an intimate celebration and we were so lucky to chance upon this hidden gem of a venue when we attended a Fraserhood block party event in 2016. Definitely recommended! x” – Clare Yow
FAQ about Rock Climbing in Vancouver
If you’re looking for things to do in Vancouver other than rock climbing, then check out this list of things to do.