BaseCamp Climbing Gym

With several rock climbing gym options in Reno, this place is my favorite because of the culture and vibe they create. The indoor bouldering section is where they get the majority of their traffic. There is an outdoor climbing wall that attracts tourists and very serious climbers, but my favorite part is the bouldering gym indoors. The lighting is ambient and cozy, the gym is small, and indie music plays in the background. Dogs are allowed and all the staff and gym-goers are approachable and friendly. This is a great place to become a regular at. There is a small gym section with 3 treadmills, a weights rack, bicycles, a pulley, several isometric machines, weights and more. It’s a small scale gym with everything you need. There are two saunas, dry and steam, to relax in before or after you climb. Lastly, the gym partners with the cafe downstairs to offer special burger and beer deals during the week. It’s good food! Weather you are a tourist, or a Reno local, this gym is a great place to try something new.

Did the big climb to the top, absolutely exhilarating and the staff were reassuring, fast and friendly. Sure, it's pricey (60$) but if you're in Reno and more keen on climbing than gambling it's a great alternative. You can climb in the gym afterwards, I didn't have time, but it looked small but well maintained. Only wish is that they gave out some sorta souvenir or certificate for making it to the top.

Fun, spacious gym with showers, offers shoe rentals and other equipment. Kids' climb room too! I highly recommend their classes: great, friendly coaching for all levels!

This place is amazing! As a novice climber, they have been so awesome to me. Very clean. Routes rotated often. Hardly ever crowded. Staff is always willing to help. Couldn't be happier.

Looking forward to returning to attempt the "Big Wall", as time/weather did not allow for it when I visited 2 days in a row. Loved how many amenities and features there are, such as a gym and shower. Different climbing routes along the walls for all skill levels. Amazing views even at the top of the smaller outdoor wall!

Fun environment, parking is tough especially in a larger vehicle. Having never been before it was a little tricky to find but once we arrived we had a blast. Staff was awesome, equipment was fun.

The staff is super friendly and considerate and the outdoor wall is the largest in the world so it's a must for any climber regardless of ability

First time climbing here and it’s reasonably priced, brought my own equipment so I didn’t need to rent. But the outside climbing has automatic belay which was interesting to try and bouldering is fun too! Would come back!

Basecamp is a great climbing gym with reasonable pricing and a welcoming atmosphere. It's also a good place to meet people. The staff are very nice, especially Marc, who always does great work and is one of the friendliest people there.

I love this gym! It's more of a bouldering gym but it has a wicked price of only $30/month (yearly membership). There's free yoga and core classes for members and you get a free pass for a friend once a month. It seems everyone agrees that it's a "soft" gym - the V-ratings are easier to complete than the same rating at a different gym but man it makes you feel good! I think we just have really good setters who understand the flow of the climb. Community night is on Tuesday and you meet tons of like-minded climbers there!

Came here to do rock climbing but realized it was boulder climbing. Which means no safety straps, shorter paths and cushy trampoline like landing Mat. We did this to get out of house. Crazy amount of snow so not much outdoor activities accessible for my energetic 10 years old. The front staff was great and informative. The crowd of climbers is very unique. Young trendy urban look and of course in fantastic shape. My daughter was nervous at first and took a minute to shake off her shyness. But she started tackling it like the champ she is. And best of all some of other climbers gravitated to helping recommend some things to help and cheering her own. By the time we left she was properly tired out and left with a beaming. We will be back and I may even try to climb next time

Very nice property, clean rooms, and excellent amenities. The hotel restaurant is excellent as well! The surrounding area is very sketchy though, particularly at night. Lots of homeless around and they get quite aggressive, saw one get beaten up right beside the hotel. The hotel staff if also not the most accommodating, not bad, but not great either.

Novice climbers, please only read next paragraph. More experienced climbers, please skip to the last paragraph. The novelty of climbing a 160 foot wall is probably what attracts a lot of people, and you'll get 1 hour to attempt to reach the top. Afterwards, you can stay and climb the other shorter routes (probably about 30 feet tall or so), or go inside to try the bouldering routes instead. (Bouldering is on a shorter wall with no ropes- you climb down or jump down onto a foam pad). There were a wide variety of bouldering routes, so if you're still energetic enough after tackling the big wall, I'd recommend trying bouldering! Probably plan to spend 90 minutes of your day here. Honestly, if you're a more experienced climber, I wouldn't pay the $50 to climb the big wall. There wasn't a difficulty level labeled for it, but I'd estimate it to be probably a 5.8 and climbed to the top in about 10 minutes. Just imagine yourself climbing 4 or 5 separate 5.8 difficulty routes in a row and you'll essentially feel the same experience. The gym is focused much more on bouldering rather than top roping, as the only top roping section is outside on the balcony, with 4 auto-belays and 6 other typical partner-belaying ropes. Make sure you're wearing sunscreen if you're climbing in the summer- Reno gets scorching hot!

It has been years since I've done any climbing (over 10) and I had a friend that really wanted to try it out. So I looked up their beginner's class and booked us an hour long session online. I was also able to fill out the waiver online and confirmes it via email, as well. When you arrive you sign in at the desk and they provide you with climbing shoes if you need them. Our instructor did a great job of showing us around the facility before jumping right into the lesson. We started by warming up and then practicing some light falls before jumping into different techniques for bouldering in the starting room (also known as the children's room). Next, we went out to the main room and chose some beginners routes to climb. Finally, we finished by getting our harnesses on (also provided if needed) and clipping into the autobelay devices on the full climbing wall outside. After our lesson concluded and she gave us pointers to work on, our instructor let us know we had a day pass and could stay as long as we wanted since we paid for the class. She also let us know that they have monthly events like ladies night and DJ night that can be booked online or via phone call. They're limiting numbers right now and you can't climb with regular belays unless you've passed their tests and bring your own rope (since they can't be sanitized) but if you're looking for a great free climbing gym or climbing via autobelay routes, this is the place! I may invest in a membership one of these days, especially since they offer a student discount!

Basecamp has the best bouldering in Reno. Private lessons from Dutch are the best he is amazing so patient and kind. So glad we're members at base camp.

Basecamp is a climbing gym connected to the Whitney Peak hotel and is celebrated for having the "World's Tallest Climbing Wall" according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The outdoor wall stands at 164 feet, but looking at it from the outside, I've seen higher in Osaka, Japan. Anyways, hotel guests are still subject to a $10 day pass, with $17 being the regular rate for adults. However, our friend supplied us with two free passes to climb and utilize their fitness area, so my boyfriend and I took advantage. It should be noted that these rates do not include the famous outdoor wall which is $50 to climb on, just bouldering. Friendly enough staff and they directed us to fill out a waiver before handing us our gear -- shoes and chalk. Showers/ changing rooms with lockers are available (bring your own lock) as well as restrooms, a sauna/ steam room, a fitness center, and of course the walls. They even have a rope and slack line for extra fun. You can put your stuff in the lockers in the shower room, in white open cubbies, or at the benches near the bouldering walls. I used the fitness center for the tread and weights and climbed some routes on my visit. Fitness center was pretty decent -- three treads and some ellipticals with a fair amount of exercise equipment. They don't have multiple sets of free weights however, so you may have to fight for them. The inside area is host to multiple bouldering walls. They were pretty high and offered some good routes for all levels. I have weak sauce grip, so I stuck to the V0-V2 routes. Hand holds seemed sturdy enough and there was enough variety (for me at least) to keep me busy and interested. The baby head hand holds were verrrrryy weird though. Appreciated the workout and dammit, I forgot how to climb a rope! The one they have hanging here was super thick though, an added challenge!

A great family-friendly place for beginners to experts in climbing. I took my 4-year-old here and she fell in love with climbing and asks me daily about coming back. Super affordable and the staff is extremely friendly an informative and willing to help out in any way that they can.

We had SO much fun climbing the outside wall today! Neither of us made it to the top, but we got halfway and that was enough of a thrill for us! It's a bit pricey. $50 to climb outside. But that price includes your rentals, and you get a day pass to the facility. There's lots to do inside (bouldering, a gym and both dry and wet saunas), and an auto belay outside on a shorter wall. We had so much fun, and we will be back the next time my dad comes to visit so we can make our way to the top!

Our kids had a blast climbing at BaseCamp. It's located inside the Whitney Peak Hotel. We paid $17 per child which included the rental gear. Our two older kids climbed indoor as well as outdoor. There were three climbing areas available for them outside with a great view of the Reno Arch. There was also a nice area for our six year old to climb so overall a great experience for our kids.

I came here specifically to try the big wall and had a fun time. The staff members were super nice, and it was a fun experience (although.....quite over priced at $50 for a one hour experience). I will say that since it's advertised all over their website as a Guinness world record and yada yada- there's nothing inside the gym or at the big wall itself that indicates the world record aspect. Maybe they avoid putting up signs or posters that would double as a photo op specifically to reduce the amount of tourists? I don't know, seems like a missed opportunity.

Great vibe and pretty good beers. Can get pretty crowded sometimes but it's the kind of place strangers will share a table and strike up a conversation.

BaseCamp has such a great vibe. Such hip clientele! Such beautiful interior design! If you like bouldering, it is an excellent gym. The entrance is a little hard to find: through the windowless double doors on West Commercial Row. Okay, okay, the words "BaseCamp" are written in lighted letters above the doors. There is also access from the Whitney Peak's elevators, but that's only for hotel customers who are stopping in. The location of the front desk is not obvious if you enter from the street and then take the escalator the second floor. Walk around the center bouldering wall, and check in at the front desk in the back corner. Customer service could have been a little better, especially since I identified myself as a first-time visitor and indicated my interest in learning about what they had to offer. "Give me the spiel!" I had to say. But I know, the climber mentality is stereotypically chill and not vigorously entrepreneurial. So I'm grading on a curve here. But upon prompting, the staff member did give me all the details about the facilities, including the weight and cardio room, the steam room and sauna, why the outdoor auto-belays were currently not accessible, and the pricing plans for monthly and yearly membership. And she was super friendly and made me feel welcome as a newcomer. The bouldering options were so plentiful! Even though I have been climbing for over a year, I am still pretty weak and can only climb V0 and V1 routes. No shame in that, and there are plenty doable but challenging routes for beginners, which I was glad to see. My boyfriend usually sticks to V3 and V4s, and there were tons of routes for him. I am such a fan of how tall one of the circular bouldering walls is. That there are two circular walls means that there is lots of space for people to climb simultaneously yet safely. A big difference between Rocksport and BaseCamp is the plentiful seating space on the mats, the area around the mats, and the built-in benches for watching others climb. It's a little intimidating for less advanced climbers. (No one wants to watch me solve a V0 problem besides maybe my boyfriend!) But everyone seemed friendly in the "we're all sharing the space and doing our thing" kind of way. Another huge difference between BaseCamp and Rocksport? The quality of the mats. Rocksports have a number of tears in them, and BaseCamp's are pristine! Oh: BaseCamp's women's bathroom was much cleaner than I have ever seen Rocksport's. BaseCamp is dog-friendly, and there are lots of places to connect one's dog leash. No dogs on the mats. There were four dogs during the hour that I visited today, and all of them were adorable and well-behaved. I think it is also child-friendly, although I only saw one creature under 18ish present. That was refreshing: Rocksport can sometimes be overrun with children, albeit mostly well-behaved ones. BaseCamp has a small room with three walls dedicated to children's climbing. Definitely not big enough for more than four kiddos who don't know what they are doing to be climbing simultaneously, though. Kiddos who do know what they are doing would likely be welcome on the main walls. One of the reasons why it has taken me so long to stop in, other than me having spent 420 (nyuk nyuk nyuk) for a year-long Rocksport pass, is that I thought parking would be a pain. But it's not! Sometimes meter parking on East Commercial Row is plentiful. They also validate parking in their dedicated lot, which one enters by turning onto East Plaza Street. So glad I know this information now for the next time I try the new instantiation of Heritage on the first floor. Long story short: I'm kinda sorry I renewed my yearly pass at Rocksport. Had I known BaseCamp was so awesome, I might have argued for us to switch loyalty. The call of the fancy workout room and the steam room/sauna is strong.

Great climbing gym, decent sauna and steam room. BUT be very careful with your valuables, there's no security and anyone off the street without a membership can get in and people are constantly having wallets, keys, and yes car(s) stolen! DO NOT USE THEIR LOCKERS they constantly get broken into! Be careful, keep eyes on your items at all times! Wish they'd do something about their lack of security to resolve these constant thefts.

Absolutely love this place! Best place to boulder in town! I signed up for a student membership a couple months back and have been going serval times a week. Because I prefer to boulder, this establishment is 5/5 for me. They have 9 or so walls and they change them very often. I never get bored. I think the routes are adequately graded and they have a nice variety of walls (they have a cave!). They also have a couple top and lead routes outside. They also have a speed wall but unfortunately it cannot be used by the public (it is only used when a competition is in town). Lastly, they also have a slackline for those that want to become a master of balance. They have a pull-up bar, a couple hang boards, a kids only room, and a studio where they host group exercise classes. The staff is very helpful, the entire facility is clean, the gym is adequate (it's a hotel gym), and parking is included in the membership (they will also validate your parking ticket). In addition, they are dog friendly so you usually see a couple doggos when you go. Lovely place to pass the time for all ages!

We were so happy to find this place on our stay in Reno for a long weekend ski trip. Although more for bouldering than top rope it's the first climbing wall that's outside a building we've ever tried. They have top rope climbing outside the building where you're literally climbing the walls of the building and in the element. The highest part of the wall (center) is only accessible for certified lead climbers or you could pay $50 for staff to top rope you. The two sides (outer) are accessible through a self-belaying device which takes a little getting used to if you've never used one before. When we were there we could only do half of the wall since the other half had a self belaying device that was out of commission, bummer for us but still grateful that this place exist among the sea of casinos. Five stars even though its mostly bouldering and we couldn't access half of the top rope routes but because there's nothing like it in the area. Ask for a student discount if it applies and save $

I e never seen s place like this with all the practice walls and even a climbing wall for kids. Right out side the store is the largest climbing wall in the works according to the Guinness book of world records. Plus if walk out on the balcony you get a great picture of the Reno Arch or pay $50 and climb the wall

Very friendly staff. My wife and I talked with the employees there for a long time sharing stories. They were more than helpful with instructions on how climb and also the best technique.

super cool gym! the day pass for the bouldering area was 12$ which isn't bad at all. they have a slack line set up and a good mix of climbing from overhang to a few slab climbs near the entrance. they also have cool lighting indoors which makes the climbs look like they're almost glowing. the only con is the 100+ foot wall is 50$ to climb which seems excessive

Been here a couple times now. Impressive! The staff deserves a special mention for being SO helpful, pleasant, and supportive. We are complete beginners and they have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome and to show us the ropes, figuratively and literally! We love climbing the wall outside. Incredible views, plus it is fun to have spectators on Virginia Street watching. The facility is clean and well-maintained. The music is awesome and at just the right volume. Excellent atmosphere. We also really enjoy the extras of the climbing rope, slackline, monkey ropes, etc. We are making this a regular outing we like it so much!

A great indoor climbing gym here in Reno. The staff is friendly and the prices are cheaper than other places. I prefer here over Mesa Rim cause it's less crowded and I think you get more bang for your buck. The routes are reset fairly often so you always have new things to climb. The outside area is also fun, especially in the evening

The highest climbing wall in America! 160 feet up the side of a hotel. What idiot would do something like that?!?! ME. The answer is always ME. I turn cold and clammy at the mere thought of public speaking, but I'll climb anything. $55 gets you an hour with a professional belayer to hold you up until your tight, dead forearms haul you to the top. Fair warning: it gets harder as you go up, not just because you're tired. The holds do get farther apart, and you have to work a little more to get to them. Your $55 includes equipment rental, chalk, and a daypass to the bouldering section of the gym, which is really fun. Good luck having the energy to boulder after the climb unless you're in really good shape. Great tourist activity, seems like a great place for locals as well.

This place is amazing. I remember when I first saw it being constructed it made me excited because I felt downtown NEEDED a place like this to bring a community together with the burning passion of climbing. When it opened, I immediately did a few visits and ended up doing a yearly pass. It was great, I became a regular and it was so much fun. I decided to take break from climbing for about a year. I figured that I would get back into it when I had more time to visit. After that hiatus I come back and wanted to sign up for another yearly pass. I was dumbfounded how high the price the yearly pass jumped. I told them I was a "Founder." Founder title was given to those who helped this facility grow it first opened. Then they told me that I no longer get that discount because I didn't buy their year pass on a yearly basis. WHAT? Excuse me? I didn't know you can just revoke the support of someone who helped get this store on its feet let alone pay a yearly fee for it. So in other words, they're saying that "I remember you, you helped this location get started! I'll give you a little incentive because of all your support. Haha I'm just kidding, I'll take it away now and pretend it never happened." This place is nice and all but I'm sorry, if you're going to treat people this way, you don't deserve their money.

Most of the staff have probably never climbed outside on real rock, yet they act as if they are Bachar, Hill, and Croft. As for the bouldering and climbing routes, the holds are never cleaned and are old and polished, problems are overrated, and the route-setting is uninspiring. Routes outside are rarely changed, especially those that go to the top. The routes to the top are essentially a tourist gimmick. And to top it all off, there is often a sewage smell in the bouldering area. I was an original customer, right when they opened, and I enjoyed the novelty of topping out on the outside wall, and the convenience of nearby indoor bouldering, but the staff continues to be disrespectful, unhelpful, and clueless, so I finally decided to never return.

I am not sure if I gotten used to bouldering in L.A. But this place was interesting. It's very challenging and it's set up more so that you bouldering side ways and slanted rather than just going up. There wasn't much Beginner level and if there was I felt like my arms were too short to reach some of them. They have a children's room so they can boulder which was great! Belaying is available outside.

We recently had a birthday party at BaseCamp and my son will never forget about it! The manager was super friendly and accommodating and the staff was amazing! Everyone had a blast and we will be sure to come back. My son loves to climb and he is ready for the tallest wall outside. Great fun for the whole family with walls for every level of climber. The place also allows calm dogs indoors, we are very excited to bring our pup with us next time we go.

I visited Basecamp for the first time on Saturday with my daughter. I was SO impressed! What a great spot. Super friendly people working there, impressively CLEAN, great vibe and fun!

Let me preface this review with the fact that basecamp is first and foremost a bouldering gym. Since I enjoy bouldering more than top (except when in the field) i happen to love basecamp. Gym is dog friendly. Always good music. Friendly non pretentious staff. Fantastic hours (open 6am-10pm) every day. Most importantly I feel i get a good bang for my buck here. With student id and and auto pay its $30 a month. Includes inside and outside walls, full gym with kettle bells, slack line, steam room, and even a sauna. I enjoy the vibe here more than rocksport but i also do prefer bouldering. If top rope is more your jam, you may like rocksport more. For right now though, basecamp just resonates with me more.

Was impressed with the hotel and loved that they offered classes for guests, even if they weren't staying at Whitney Peak. BUT the girl at the front desk wasn't very helpful. She didn't seem interested in explaining anything and sat on her phone. I believe her name was Brailey. Would not recommend the front desk staff and the other desk on the same floor didn't have many answers either.

This spot is mostly just for bouldering. They change the routes often, and the staff is super laid back. They also have a slackline, so it's super nice to hop on the slackline when you need a break. Overall, it's not crazy busy either, so you can get a lot of routes in without having to wait!

What a great gym! I came to visit recently to take a much needed break from the smoke-filled casino floors. Walking out of the elevators, it almost feels like you're entering a nightclub with the low lights and glowing walls, but it's kind of fun! I actually stopped by this place on a road trip out to Utah last summer and it was quite a 180º (the downstairs, not the gym itself). When we visited then, it was almost creepy: entering through the first floor looked something like a scene from Dexter, dark halls, plastic lined walkways, etc. This time around, turns out it's now a super fancy hotel called Whitney Peak! Apparently the only non-gaming non-smoking hotel in Reno, too, geared towards anyone visiting who's not in town for gambling. Anyway, I only got a chance to boulder while I was here. They had a great variety of problems and terrain. The walls are kind of tricky since they're slick hardwood I think, so you can't smear very well, but they also had a ton of holds I've never seen before (I climb at a lot of gyms...) which was interesting! I loved that they had traverses around all their boulders also, and tried pretty much as many of the walls as I could (the slab wall totally shut me down as usual). The floors are done by Flashed, too, and were really slidey. I don't know how else to describe it, it was kind of funny though -- if you fall hard on them (which I did a lot) you slide pretty far backwards! I didn't try the outdoor rope walls this time around, maybe next time though. They have a multipitch route on the side of a hotel! Who does that? I've heard from a friend though that it can be pretty daunting and feel kind of insecure, especially while windy out. I guess the wall shakes maybe? Not sure, I'll update this if I do go back. Oh last thing, one of the points that made this gym really awesome (besides the super friendly staff members) was all the great bonus equipment!! They have a slackline set up that's kind of high but still fun. And THEN, they had all these grips and ropes like you might see on Ninja Warrior!! I wish I had more time to mess around with them, they were pretty challenging. They even had a really sweet campus and finger board set up in a side alcove, I think it's the So-Ill hold set up maybe? I can't remember, they're the green plastic ones with the side diagonal pinches.

This place is truly one of Reno's hidden gems. If you have ever thought about wanting to try climbing, come to Basecamp. The helpful staff with get you set up with rental equipment and the basics to get you started, and friendly community of climbers will make sure you have an awesome experience. The facility is incredibly well maintained and always clean. Inside they offer bouldering routes for all ability levels, a slack line, rings, cardio equipment, weights, and kids climbing room so the whole family can have fun together. You can even bring your dog as Basecamp is one of the dog friendliest businesses in Reno. They also offer group yoga and fitness classes throughout the week as well. If you're feeling really adventurous, you can gear up and top rope or lead climb the outdoor wall to get some great views of downtown!

Strolling around downtown Reno a little Tipsy and saw the outdoor rock climbing portion right next to the Reno sign. Asked around on how to get into the place because the entrance is hidden on the side of the building looking like a ghetto fire exit. Inside the gymnasium was very hipster like lit. It had that semi rave and dark lightning which made it unique. Saw a couple people climbing some walls and others looking like gymnasts practicing their tricks. The friendly receptionist Cameron was helpful in describing the price plans which was only $12 if you're a college student of any sort. He taught us how to strap on the equipment and guided us to our adventure. After practicing on the indoor walls, we were ready for the outdoor sky high one. At night, the city looked amazing. Despite of what Reno's night life has come to nowadays, it still had a great view of lit up casinos and hotels. The outdoor experience was definitely way more scarier than the usual indoor one. There was an optoin for 35 feet, 70 feet or the whole 164 feet sky high climb. Most of my friends stuck with the 35 feet as we were all beginners. A selected few finally gave in for the whole package experience. It was dead scary. For people who don't feel comfortable with heights... this is like the perfect timing to train your fears. Once you go up, there's no going back down.. Im just kidding. Cameron was pretty helpful in explaining on how the process works and it was more secured than it seemed. Rock climbing outdoors for a new experience, with a low cost in a city that majority prioritizes their entertainment towards adults. Give this place a try. Will come back for round 2 next time in Reno.

Great climbing walls. My son loves this place. He has a blast here and the staff is super friendly. I like that the outside wall is above Virginia Street. Pretty cool concept. I wish the kids area was a little bigger. I plan on having my son's birthday party here in the spring of 2013 and HOPE and PRAY they are still open when that comes around.

Just took a beginners class with Britney! Top Notch facility and the climbing lesson was everything I expected. All levels of climbers from first time to expert would be comfortable. Stay at Whitney Peak if visiting, awesome smoke free hotel with all the bells and whistles!

Great gym. Very friendly staff. Unfortunately, inside it's all bouldering. However, because the wx was nice I got to do some of the autobelay routes outside. Finally, reasonable prices. I'll be back!

BaseCamp Review - This review is only for the climbing gym portion of Commrow. I'm giving the gym 5 stars because it has tons of potential. The walls are awesome, everything is well kept, great vibe, the pricing is very fair, and super friendly staff that made us want to return. Unlike Rocksport whose staff made me never want to return. The routes weren't rated very well here (same with Rocksport). I flashed a V8 but couldn't even finish another V3?... Pretty sure the same setters set routes at both gyms. I would highly recommend a trip here and even a membership if you are a local. Support the new local gym and keep them around so they can supply you with winter time crushing. Crush on.

Very cool place. I ended my rather brief and unimpressive rock-climbing career when we got pregnant with my first boy. Today it was great to take my two boys out climbing in the safety of an indoor gym (all of my previous climbing was on the side of a mountain), and this was a great, inviting atmosphere. There wasn't the "what the hell's guy doing here with his kids?" attitude you might encounter at other climbing gyms. In fact, there was another family there at the same time. The best part is being able to follow up the affair with a couple drinks and some Mark Estee grub downstairs at Heritage.

This is a nice climbing spot. I haven't climbed anything outside (i.e., the only top rope stuff). The bouldering stuff inside is decent and it gets a little higher than the bouldering they have at Rocksport. Basecamp also has a gym to use. So, as your arms get burned out, you can get on a bike or a treadmill.

Basecamp has one of the highest outdoor climbing walls that goes 14 stories up the side of Whitney Peak Hotel. $50 will get you a belayer for an hour. If you're thinking of doing the high wall as an amateur climber, here are some things I learned: 1. It is relatively safe - reading the liability waiver it seems like you are responsible for anything that happens to you as a result of malfunctioning equipment, but the staff member who belayed me said they regularly check the locking carabiners that you string the rope through at the top. There is also another carabiner as a safety on the side, which keeps the ropes from getting tangled also. They keep the rope indoors so it doesn't get worn out, and the belayer has a double belay loop. 2. Improve your stamina for climbing - I sort of stopped climbing a few months prior to doing this, and halfway up I had to find the willpower to keep going despite painful arms. I held on to a hold/lead carabiner to keep myself from swinging off the wall when I rest. The wall is a little overhung, but I am told you can swing yourself back to the wall if you swing out. 3. Currently, the grade is a 5.7/5.8 going up. Both the green and red holds are huge. It does get harder near the end, maybe a 5.9 on the last overhang before the bell. The 60 minute climbing time is plenty. Including rest-time, I did it in 30 minutes. 4. The bell at the top is for sure reachable for anyone over 4 feet. You signal that you want to go down with a thumbs up to the belayer. You will have to yell really loud to ask for tension. 5. The 164 feet climb has been completed by a short, skinny 9-year old in 7 minutes. I saw it with my own eyes. Granted he is a competitive climber, but if he can do it, so can you. Inside the gym, there is no top rope, just bouldering. But there is a slack line, a rope that hangs from the ceiling to climb on, and gymnastic rings. There are 2 stall showers (at least in the womens) and the water takes forever to warm up. A good 10 minutes if no one has used it in awhile. There is a shampoo and body wash dispenser in the showers. There are large towels in the shower room. You need to bring your own lock for the lockers. The gym on a weekend is relatively empty, if you're used to the crowd at Planet Granite on a weekend. There is a small exercise room next to the bouldering section, and a small kids climbing section in the adjoining room. I gave it 5 stars because the outdoor high wall is unique, the gym has a cool dim-lighted atmosphere, and it is not crowded.

The staff was incredibly friendly and I think it would be a great daily gym if you're more into bouldering. If you're more into lead or top rope there are probably other nearby gyms that will serve you better (or the great outdoors) . The website for the gym is pretty terrible at the moment so here are the salient points: 1) If you want to do the multi pitch section that goes all the way up the hotel you need to bring your own rope and have some vague idea of how to lead climb and multi pitch. It also requires a full 70 meter rope, so if you've got a 60 you're out of luck. You can technically top rope it, but that costs an extra $50 and I suspect that if you fall off the wall you'll have a hell of a time getting back on since it's a bit overhung. They also forgot to mention that if you're leading you don't use the anchor at the tippy top since there's a top rope through it already, you just lower off the last draw. That would have been handy to know before we'd done it the first time... You also will get an audience watching when you climb which is pretty fun. We happened to be there when there was an art fair going so there were a lot of people ooohing and ahhing as we climbed. 2) In the height of summer, go very early in the morning or after 1:00PM. We were idiots and decided to take the lead test while the sun was still blasting the outdoor wall and the black rubber that we were standing on was hot enough to burn through our shoes. 3) The routes are a bit separated between incredibly hard and very easy. There isn't a ton of mid range stuff, but that could have just been a function of when we went. 4) You will be required to belay using a grigri even on lead, so make sure you're comfortable with that. You're allowed to rappel using an ATC. There are auto belays but almost no top ropes to speak of so if you've got your own rope and are comfortable lead climbing, it's definitely worth bringing it. They've got discounts for EMT and students, so be sure to mention that if you're one or the other!

This gym is weird. I wanted to like it, but the vibe is kind of dark and sketchy. It won't measure up if you're used to a serious training facility, but it's a fun tourist attraction right downtown. They have a nice, small weight room, and they advertise their outdoor climbing wall as their big draw. The holds in the bouldering area are decent and there are a variety of routes, but the wood walls are dirty/slippery/stinky and the routes aren't very well put together. If this were my hometown gym I probably wouldn't spend the $$ on a membership here, but it's a passable road workout.

You know what's really annoying? When you call to confirm holiday hours and the employee at the front desk goes out of his way to confirm that base camp is open on Jan. 1st. Then when you get there, it's closed, after you've packed your gear and coordinated the outing. Get it together and prevent inconveniencing potential climbers and guests.

The climbing wall is definately cool! Base camp bouldering area is a fantastic idea! However, the rest of the place (1st floor) makes no sense. 4 bars with different theme's? Very poor execution and they should think hard about having a more streamlined look! A ton of potential with this place with the right vision!

Place was very clean and nice and toasty in the winter. Routes were well done from V0 up to V10?

At the age of 61 I decided to check out urban climbing.The staff here has been very informative and courteous.There's also a gym on the premise to supplement your effort.

Totally friendly staff, awesome climbing wall. This place has a ton of potential once they have it completely finished

Provides a unique urban climbing experience especially if you climb the upper walls. Quite the city view when your at the top. Staff are great and so is the workout. Once you get checked out for lead climbing, the gym will provide the rope (and gri gris) to reach the upper climb at no charge. Go do it, its a blast.