Central Rock Gym

Central Rock Gym is a world class indoor rock climbing and fitness facility. Easily accessible via train and/or bus, this location offers bouldering, auto belays, and fitness! One key difference that I notice is the difficulty of bouldering. Unlike other indoor climbing gyms, these locations have bouldering difficulties ranging from V0 to V11, much higher than V9 of most other gyms. However, since there are more levels, the difficulties of each level are also slightly easier than those of other gyms too. Meaning, a V2 at Central Rock Gym is slightly easier than a V2 at another indoor climbing gym. To me, this is an ideal starting point for anyone starting to bouldering. The V0 and V1 helps build confidence for beginners and the slow incline in difficulty boosts confidence for more advanced bouldering climbers! While you still need to rent bouldering shoes, you do not need to rent chalk. If you have, you can bring your own, but this facility provides you with chalk! They also have lockers for you to store your bags and changing rooms for you to change your clothes. Another great thing is the care this facility provides. Not only are the areas clearly marked and separated, but everyone is pretty much safely away from the fall zone. Not only that, but they also provide band-aids for the minor cuts, scrapes, and injuries you may incur during your visit. I definitely look forward to coming back here. Hopefully, I can get to a higher difficulty level!

Loved it!!! Great boulders, great walls, and great people! The setting was superb and had a ton of variety with lots and lots of routes. Despite not being the biggest gym, the space was used perfectly and had so many different wall angles. Not only that, but there was great density of holds and routes which made the gym feel twice as big. Plenty of fun routes for beginners, some tricky slabs for the intermediate, and maxed out with a powerful v10 and a few v9s. Even had a tension board, dope campus board, and some chill sport routes. Everyone was super friendly, gave great beta, and I even managed to get a free sticker from the staff! Great place to visit, can’t wait to come back 🥳

Love this place. Had a blast with the kids. They got to do some climbing and so did I. I got to the top of a few of the tall climbs (which I was not expecting to be able to do) with some coaching from the great staff. They were so helpful and reassuring. I can’t wait to go back and try some more of the bouldering. Everything was top notch and clean. I don’t know what my expectations were, but they were def exceeded.

Day pass (non-member) Adult: $33 plus $8 gear and shoes Kid: $25 gear and shoes included One of the very few places offering climbing for kids under 5. The are 3 routes for auto belay and 10 for staff/partner belay. For beginners there are staff belay classes for kids on weekends. The website is informative and updated regularly. The equipment and restrooms are spotless. The staff constantly clean and check out the environment. The staff was so friendly that you would feel like chatting with your friends. Highly recommend this place! Avoid the peak hours to enjoy the most of it.

I’ve climbed there a couple of times while visiting NYC. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Definitely a nice vibe with a good mix of boulderers across all talent levels. Setting is great with a lot of nice problems, again for all levels. Facility is nice and clean which seems to be part of the CRG brand. Really enjoyed myself.

Very good, clean bouldering gym. DAY PASS COST: $33 FACILITIES The main climbing area is below the lobby. There is one long top roping wall following the staircase and a much larger bouldering area. This bouldering area basically forms a circle with benches in the middle a and a small weightlifting area. There's no cardio equipment. Overall, the area is very clean. There are dedicated changing rooms but no showers. What's cool about this gym is that they have these chalk stations around the bouldering area. Everything is very clean and well maintained. SETTING In general the setting is moderately difficult. There is a V0/VB circuit that always has black holds. Otherwise, the routes are color coded but there is no association between color and difficulty. Each route is assigned a V grade which can be determined by looking at placards spaced around the gym. Each placard contains information about the three or four routes near to it. However, the closest placard to a route is not necessarily the one that has the routes information, so you sometimes need to hunt for it. In general I think this is a creative way to show route information and it's much cleaner than writing on some duct tape. The holds are in great condition. There are few holds with excessive chalk or shoe rubber and it's always easy to tell what color each hold is. Moreover the staff is careful to make sure that routes of similar colors are not adjacent to each other. The setting is pretty straightforward from V1 to V3 and I think that around V4 is where the more creative stuff like dynos are really thrown at you. There are about 80 routes in the gym by my estimate and the difficulties are skewed for V4 and below. CONCLUSION This is a great gym. It's expensive (maybe not for NYC) but very well maintained so you know the money is used well. I love it when a gym does more than the bare minimum to make the climbing gym a good experience. I'll definitely return here when I come back to NYC.

Absolutely love this gym! The community is amazing and I love the variety of climbs and angles. Ryan, Tetsu, Ady, Jenna, and Theo are all amazing setters and the members are lucky to have them! I particularly love Jenna’s Train Like a Team Kid class - it makes me feel so strong and it’s a great way to make new friends.

Excellent climbs! All of the staff are very nice! My girlfriend is a member and she takes me in on her guest pass once a month, perhaps when I have more time and don't have to travel for work so much I will join, myself.

I recently moved to the area and was eager to find a new climbing gym. I figured I'd lay out all the pros and cons, since I've been a member of many types of gyms in the past. Pros: 1) It's one of the few gyms in the area, and it offers a few ropes routes which is nice. 2) This location is chill and not crowded after work, which is a plus if you work 9-6. You never have to fight over a route even though the gym isn't huge. 3) The employees are super friendly and wonderful. We felt welcomed as soon as we walked through the door. 4) Despite not being new, it seems clean and well maintained. 5) This may be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it, but the grades are slightly soft. I'll frame this as a pro because it makes it a more approachable gym for people who are new to climbing. 6) The climbers I spoke to were all super nice. I've noticed all gyms seem to have their own "culture." This one is welcoming and approachable. 7) There seems to be a good range of setting styles. Cons: 1) While it is nice that there is a rope/sport climbing section, it is pretty teeny, the routes are short, and the grades are pretty much limited to soft 5.11+ and below. That being said, space is a hot commodity in Manhattan so I'm appreciative of any ropes gym. 2) It would be nice if they sold snacks/refreshments. Most gyms offer this and it's a nice way to get more out of your session if you forget to bring your own. 3) With approachability comes climbers who are still learning gym courtesy. Things like starting a route that overlaps with someone else's or not untying one's figure eight knot were things that I noticed. This isn't so much a reflection of the gym, but more of the gym goers which I'm sure they'll learn with time. That being said, I've really enjoyed climbing here! I love the staff and the setting is interesting. I will definitely be coming back here in the future!

Like many others have mentioned, my friend invited me to go climbing over the break, so here we are! The check-in process was super easy and quick. I scanned the QR codes and filled out the forms at my own pace before heading downstairs to check-in. The facility has drinks and snacks available at the front for sale. It was a bit busy in the evening when we went, but not so crowded that it disrupted our climbing. They also have Wi-Fi, lockers, and chalk available for free. Gym is also impeccably clean. As a new climber, I had a great time and even managed to finish a few climbs. Overall, it was an awesome experience (so much that I even considered getting my own membership!)

Came here for a climbing session today! My boyfriend and I initially wanted to come here for their top rope but then we realized their top rope section is a lot smaller than what it seems to be in pictures. Half of the top rope/auto-belay problems were probably for kids. They also don't have lead climbing here, which makes sense considering how small the area is. Even though there weren't many top rope problems, we did like the problems! We did a few top ropes then moved onto bouldering. I like the bouldering problems a lot! They have walls at a lot of different angles with many holds variety! They also have boxes of chalk here at the bouldering section so you don't really need your own chalk bag. My overall experience here was 4.5/5. Even though the gym is a lot smaller than the gyms that I've been to, at least it was not too crowded for a Saturday. Day pass was $33, which was a little expensive considering the size of the gym, but I guess it's due to its location. Facility was very clean and staff was friendly! We had a great time here and would recommend this gym!

Came here for bouldering and I was impressed by the cleanliness of the place and it had multiple walls for bouldering. The rope section of this place can be disappointing because it was small, short, and just a tiny section of the gym. But the bouldering section is bigger and it has got lots more variety. This place has couple of amazing pros: 1) it has its tension board which is good for training and practicing; 2) it offers free powder chalk for everyone. Pretty rad! :)

Bought a day pass for Central Rock Gym on a Tuesday evening. It's pretty small compared to other rock climbing gyms I've been to, but it does have both top roping and bouldering. I signed the usual waivers and paid for admission/rentals at the front desk, and went straight downstairs to the climbing area. The top rope area is small. There are two auto belays. The set paths weren't too difficult. The bouldering area is a little bigger, and it shares the area with a large power rack. Didn't see enough weights to get a decent powerlifting workout in, but people were using it to warm up. The problems in the bouldering area have a good degree of varying difficulty. The staff is friendly and helpful, but the price is a bit high for such a small gym. But then it is in Manhattan.

I'm a beginning at bouldering and can't comment on the more advanced bouldering routes or the auto belay/top rope portion. I thought the bouldering section had a good variety of V0/V1/V2 options. Everything was clean, and there is free chalk, lockers, and cubbies. Everyone who worked at Central Rock was great, and most of the guests were respectful. The cost of a day pass and rental shoes ($40) is fair. I was here from 10:30am to 12pm on a Saturday. By 11:30am, the bouldering section got a bit crowded, so I'd recommend coming earlier. The biggest con for me is that there is no Wi-Fi reception. I was trying to keep in contact with someone having an emergency, so that was challenging.

Awesome climbing gym in NYC! I came as a guest of a friend with a membership and really enjoyed their wide variety of routes. They had a bunch of beginner routes spread out throughout the walls and it was a great workout. Little things I loved: free wifi, free day lockers available, free chalk

Central Rock Manhattan is the first place I climbed, ever. Sometime last year, my friend asked me if I wanted to try climbing, and she took me here...and my experience here was so great that I eventually ended up getting a membership here. When the Chelsea location opened, I went there quite a bit more because it was nearer and easier for me to get to, but this location will always have a special place in my heart. The gym is full of great routes and it's a really friendly community. Getting a membership here is probably one of the best climbing memberships especially for beginners because included in their monthly memberships are climbing classes geared to help you improve on your technique and form! You also have the ability to attend conditioning classes. It's really all very worth it for the price, and I would recommend it to anyone who's looking to get into climbing but doesn't know where to start. Highly, highly recommend starting here with this community :)

First time trying the auto belay as someone who has never done this before. Staff were friendly and space was very clean. There were a handful of auto belays each with two routes. We spent about an hour climbing until our beginner bodies were worn out! Fun evening! Beginner tip: do not get a manicure before climbing

Best bouldering in NYC by far! I have been to Brooklyn Boulders and Cliffs in different locations. CRG is the def winner for me. Location is super convenient - 10 mins walk from Columbus Circle. I live downtown and took me 25 mins door to door! Can't beat that. Facilities. Barely one year old gym, clean and spacious bathroom, keyless locker(yay!) and change room. No shower; not really a deal breaker for me since I am close by. The vibe. Staffs are friendly and helpful. Fellow climbers too. Unlike Cliffs LIC or BKB, CRG is disproportionally focusing on bouldering which was great. Walls are high, plenty interesting problems to try your hands (literally. And legs!) Although the space is about 1/3 the size of BKB, it feels more spacious as there are WAY LESS people, even on a Sat afternoon. Kids have a separate area (bonus point) though apparently, some selfish people didn't follow the rule. Still more organized and peaceful then any of those climbing gyms in the burbs. I like it so much that I signed up for membership on my way out :) I will be out of the country half of the Dec but they allow you to freeze account for $10 per month here. Only slight concern - the bathroom and change room space is very limited - two booths to be exact. There has no "traffic jam" as for now. But if more people coming in, it will cause some serious wait time. I hope they can prepare and start addressing this issue now. I also discovered they are a East Coast based chain that have 19 locations in MA, NY, CT and Rhode Island. The membership is applicable to all locations. That comes handy if you happen to travel/live in these areas too. I can't wait to come back for the progression lessons!

I really love CRG. I climbed at the Touchstone gyms out west, which are fun because they're super-crunchy and hipster and kind of a pro climbing "scene" - but that can also be less fun when some dude who thinks he's Adam Ondra is preening and screaming around the boulders. The climbing stuff: CRG has a small but tall (40') top-rope area with three auto-belays and maybe twelve or fourteen routes including the autos. Routes are set from 5.5 or 5.6 to 5.11. Warning: during kids' hours, especially on weekends, parents and kids will hog the top rope and auto-belays, and staff don't ever enforce gym politeness - not only do the parents keep their kids on the belays for several climbs, the kids are out of control and running unsafely around the belay area - so if you really want to get your top roping in, try to avoid kid time. (The extended kid hours and chaos are one reason for the 4 not 5 stars. I love kids and watching them climb like Spiderman, just not when they are getting tangled in the floor ropes or hanging on the auto-belay for an hour straight.) YES, if you want to belay with a partner as opposed to auto-belay or staff belay, you need to pass a belay test. I can't believe anyone would complain about this. If you can't do a figure 8 easily, you should not be 40 feet up. CRG insists on skills checks on this, auto belay, bouldering, etc., and I am glad they do. The rest of CRG after the small top rope is bouldering. It's a good sized area, maybe a little light on the overhangs, but the route setting is creative. I would say the problems here are set pretty tough, like a grade or even two above my old gym, which is great. You won't come out of CRG Manhattan and find yourself struggling on a V1 somewhere else. They usually keep routes up at least two weeks and if you're working a problem they'll tell you how long it is likely to be up. If you are a beginning climber there are tons of classes (belay, movement, etc), but they are always full. Members can book ahead and classes are free for members, but I really wish they'd add more classes as it's so hard to get into them. Also, they don't really have individual instruction here for adults - the website says they do, but in reality the instructors at CRG are either only interested in teaching kids, or are focused on their own climbing. You can't bring your own coach. (Another reason for only four stars....either provide coaching or let us bring someone!) Overall the vibe is friendly; not a ton of climber posing; not a scene; just a climbing-focused gym. Again don't expect Equinox; the staff are climbers and they'd rather be climbing than working the desk lol. More good stuff: Free chalk! Free lockers that don't need your own lock! Only a couple small changing rooms, so not really a climb-before-work setup (if you go to an office. You can Zoom while covered in chalk ;-)). Free wifi! Climb on!

I'm from the west coast and on my travels to the city I stopped in for a climb. I love these route setters and I'm kind of jealous they are not at my gym. Super fun routes with very unique problems. I stayed until my hands felt like they'd fall of and my forearms couldn't even do a V1. Worth it!

This rock climbing place is great for all ages, with a variety of helpful staff willing to provide equipment for you to use. They have a large bouldering area as well as belay and autobelay climbs. Definitely recommend!

My friend and I are occassional top ropers and we usually go to the one in LIC but we decided to try this gym out since we both live in Manhattan kn the west side. We brought all our gear, paid and reserved. We were asked to do a figure 8 and use our own belay device (which we didn't have) i managed to make a figure 8 after a few tries but was told I did it "roughly". And I asked is it a figure 8 or not, the staff said yes. But they told us they cant "clear" us to top rope. We were told we can take their class instead. We mentioned that we were belay certified and knew safety protocols in climbing too rope we just have gotten used to Cliffs where the figure 8 and belay device is on every top rope wall. Then the staff stated, not verbatim but that cliffs are for the masses. We left, we weren't offered refund even though we did not climb. (We tried boulder wall once) we didn't asked. But I will not be returning nor will I tell friends who too rope to visit this location. We felt as though the staff were elitist, and mentioned our other climbing gym as too accessible. I think this gym needs to realize that we're not all Alex Honnold. Some of us enjoy climbing, know how to climb safely and just want to have a good time. Cliffs has as much following as it does because its friendly to beginners and recreational top ropers like myself and my friend and we will keep going back to cliffs from now on. Idp

A pretty neat climbing gym in NYC. I went bouldering here with a day pass ($30 and free shoe rentals with a Yelp check-in) and it was a great way to spend a few hours. There are a fair amount of beginner routes scattered around the gym and the other members were very nice and approachable. There are free lockers to put your stuff, free chalk and wifi! They also have a separate wall for rock climbing if you wanted to do that too. Overall, I had a great experience.

This place is absolutely amazing. I took my daughter here a few weeks ago and we had a blast. There is stuff for all ages and skill levels. Allen, the manager was particularly helpful and accommodating. I'll definitely be back weather it's for a good workout or just to have fun.

I'd never been rock climbing or bouldering, but I am relatively fit and joined a friend whose family has a membership. We had a great time. The space is clean, the staff are mostly friendly, and I got to overcome my fear of heights. I'd most likely only go back only a guest pass unfortunately, as a membership cost prohibitive for me right now, and a drop in + shoe and harness rental sets you back $40 for one visit. Might be a good date idea though!

We had so much fun at this gym. The staff is helpful and the space is pretty expansive and clean. I've been to other gyms with a much larger selection of climbing walls. This gym seems to devote more space to bouldering. I wish there were more high walls for climbing but considering the space is in Manhattan, they've done a great job. The pricing structure is also a bit high and seems structured in a way to encourage memberships. I wish it was a bit more geared toward drop ins.

Visiting family for the weekend and decide to find a gym to get a climb. Great bouldering focus gym. Small workout area in center with weights, lot of resistance bands to warmup. Problems are set by color. Enjoyed all their V2 tried a few V3, walls aren't as high as I'm used to in a gym but still great. I went when there was a kids camp and it wasn't that crowded. No locks needed on the lockers. Guess it's first come first served but still plenty of cubbies to store your stuff. And major plus free chalk, I had all my gear with me but still a major plus for next time. I'll definitely be back next time I am in town.

Spacious, clean and modern indoor rock climbing gym! We had a group of friends climb with 2 instructors for my husband's 30th birthday and the experience was flawless. The staff was exceptionally nice and professional. Most of us were first-timers but will definitely be back! We especially loved Chris!

I've been a member here for a few months and I love it. The staff recognizes you when you walk in, they are constantly walking the floor to do safety checks, answer questions, or just to say hi. For the adult crowd, they have hours where kids can't climb, so you don't have to compete with 8 year olds for space. And even when it is crowded, it is easy to get on the bouldering walls as they have a large selection with a variety of features and have ample routes for all levels of climbers (even beginners). There are great climbing classes they offer that have really helped up my bouldering. On the top rope wall, they might not have as many routes as the bigger gyms, but they frequently change them so that you can master them but also not become bored with the same routes. And they make sure to have a variety of levels (5.4-5.5 on the short walls, 5.6-5.12 on the taller ones). They also have three auto belay routes with varying degrees of difficulty. If you live in Manhattan, this is the gym to join, especially if you want the opportunity to top rope.

Not alot of value for money here. $33 for a day pass add extra fee if you need to rent gear. They have a rope wall but it's tiny, with mostly very easy, first time grades. They had a couple of easy 5.10s, one good 5.11 but that's it. The hardest they had was a 5.12a which is still intermediate. Basically do NOT come here and expect to get a good rope session in. It's simply a bouldering gym. The bouldering area is medium to small, with low walls. The crash pads were a lot firmer than usual. Some good routes. You can have a decent indoor boulder session here. Small gym area in the center- kinda like the rope wall- not really worth it. They have no showers here, which sucks. They do have communal chalk bins, which was great. Overall I would avoid this gym unless it's very convenient location wise. There are simply better places in NY.

Amazing gym, especially for kids - lots of classes, camps, and private lessons. Josh is our daughter's favorite instructor!

I have been a member for 3 months and love it. Huge bouldering area with all sorts of different walls - cave, overhang, slab, etc. The setting is very creative with lots of different hold types, and I like that the walls are not overly cluttered with overlapping problems. Problems are color coded and start and end holds are clearly labeled. New problems go up on a different section of the wall every week or so, with problems staying up typically around 1-2 months before reset. The facility itself is bright & clean, with changing rooms available (though no showers), keyless lockers, and a workout area with pullup bars, hangboard, weights, etc. They offer free chalk in big vats as well as foam rollers, yoga mats, etc. There's also a small toprope area but this is definitely a bouldering focused gym. The staff run a pretty tight ship and do a good job supervising kids (preventing them from running around the bouldering area, etc.) I also like that the gym has no-kids climbing hours, though my only (minor) complaint is that they are not always strictly enforced, especially on weekend afternoons. The environment is very chill and not intimidating at all - good mix of different ability levels, balanced gender ratio, different body types, and fairly diverse. It's not the kind of place with a bunch of shirtless dudes grunting up walls. I would guess most people here are in the V3-V7 range but on any given day there are a few new people trying climbing for the first time. Very newbie friendly, there are lots of beginner level problems. Overall - super happy with this place and hope it doesn't get too crowded!

Went here on a Sunday with my boyfriend for the one hour staff balay. Neither one of us are experienced rock climbers but staff member Oliver not only explained everything to us with knowledge and experience but he also made sure we had a great time! we had a lot of fun and would definitely come back. The facility was clean and spacious and not too crowded.

My King & I had sooo much fun. Complete beginners, but still enjoyed ourselves. Facilities are super clean which was nice & Sam was great! Parking was a bitch.

The staff do not like children and it shows. I can't say I expect anything different from Manhattan businesses anymore...this is typical nowadays here.

Loved it so much I got a job there! Genuinely amazing people visit this place and I have a wonderful time with each and every climb or shift. I always see a friendly face and enjoy the creative and engaging bouldering challenges.

Great addition to the UWS! Very friendly and helpful staff. Facilities are new, clean and welcoming. Come here by yourself, with friends, family, whoever - it'll be fun for everyone. Can easily spend 1-2+ hours here before the soreness settles in.

I'm a new climber and decided to give it a shot, the staff has been very helpful and friendly. It's a great location with lots of problems that they rotate out. They also have top rope with 40 foot walls and free classes for members.

The stuff was very friendly and walk me through the safety steps. The place wasn't overcrowded which gave me a chance to practice more. I will definitely come back.

Really good high quality climbing in midtown west. The staff are all quite nice too! They have a couple hang boards, pull-up racks, trx straps, and rings for training.

Great bouldering gym with fun problems, excellent facilities and friendly staff.

I love the place it is good they have lessons for rock climbing

Best rock climbing gym in Manhattan, with a great climbing community! Fun problems, amazing facilities and friendly staff

Awesome climbing gym in Manhattan! Great new facility with tons of problems and 40 ft tall walls for top rope. Definitely check it out!

Great facility and great instructors. Went with a group of 8 first-time climbers and everyone loved it. The rock walls were clean and the instructors were very patient and friendly. Would definitely go back again.

My son and I are in town for a short visit and decide to try out a climb gym for fun. The people there are friendly and showed us a tour plus demonstrated how to fall correctly. We did a day pass and had a great time. The bouldering wall is well designed and marked with level and color coded. The gym is clean and air circulation is great. The lockers are easy to use and brand new. I would come back again during my next visit to figure out more challenging climbs. Highly recommended!

I'm so excited that my boyfriend found this gym nearby our apartment. We went to test the waters Friday night and had so much fun. The people who work there are super nice, friendly and helpful. The gym is clean and you can get free chalk and a free locker to store your things. There are tons of different climbs from beginner to expert so you don't get bored. I love that they have the automatic belay so you don't need to be certified and can rock climb up and come down on your own. It was pretty crowded on Friday night but there was still plenty of climbing space. I just wish it was a little cheaper - $40 for a day pas with all the equipment isn't bad but being that I get tired after like an hour and a half makes it seem a lot (that's on me and my weak muscles though).

Great new location in NYC. The staff is very friendly and inviting. They have a very large bouldering section and the 40 foot wall has quite a few lanes with varying degrees of difficulty. They also added a couple of automatic belays now, so belay certification isn't necessarily required (still required for the other lanes).

Incredible staff and facilities! We signed up our 5 year old for Breakfast Club for 2 months. It's worth every penny. The instructors were fun and clear. They are firm about following instructions and rules for safety purposes. We signed up for a family membership and so far it's been worth it!

Did my daughters 7 yr bday party here and I like not have been more happy! They were super helpful and polite and friendly. Def going to start rock climbing here. Great vibes! Keep up the great work team.

Love this gym! I'm a new climber and the staff has been nothing but helpful and informative. The gym is clean, well managed, provides shoe rentals and free chalk, and has changing rooms and bathrooms stocked with hair ties, combs, deodorant and nail files which I thought was really excellent. They also have an area where you can do pull-ups, stretches, and dips, and they also have a large range of dumbells. Couldn't be happier with this place!

Allan and the team at Central Rock Gym are amazing. The facility is surprisingly large for Manhattan and has diverse bouldering as well as roped routes. The facility is a truly special place within the confines of NYC. It is a great place for both beginners/kids and accomplished climbers. We participated in an event for Cookies for Kids Cancer so it's nice to see that this young business is giving back to the community. This gym is a must visit !

Such a great place for beginners through experienced climbers. The staff is really helpful, the training equipment is awesome, and the climbs are a lot of fun! I reccommend everyone to stop by!