Updated July 30, 2021
Surrounded by world renown rock climbing Las Vegas is a top of the bucket-list area, but getting out all the time isn’t always easy and if you’re new to the sport the barrier to entry can be daunting. Luckily there are plenty of indoor rock climbing gyms to help you learn the ropes, or hone your already impressive crimping skills. So check out this list of the best rock climbing gyms in Las Vegas for all your sending needs.
Every Air Conditioned Rock Climbing Gym in Las Vegas
Nevada Climbing Center
- Location: 3065 E Patrick Ln #4, Las Vegas, NV 89120
- Facilities: Lockers – bring your own lock!
- Types of Climbing: Bouldering, Top rope, Lead climbing
- Day Pass Rate: $14
The steep grading and walls make Nevada Climbing Centre make climbing challenging, but isn’t that the point? There isn’t much in the way of amenities, but if you’re tired of all the new punting hipsters walking under you then this is the gym for you. Classic bare-bones climbing gym with everything you need to ascend to the top and train for the gains. Weights, cardio, fingerboards, and a system wall are accompanied by the sweet sounds of 2000s rock playing over the sound system gym wide. Leave your friends in the choss and climb on.
Red Rock Climbing Center
- Location: 8201 W. Charleston Blvd. Suite 150, Las Vegas, NV 89117
- Facilities: Training area, Moon Board,
- Types of Climbing: Bouldering, Autobelay, Top rope, Lead climbing
- Day Pass Rate: $15
The Red Rock Climbing Center is a great place for anyone to climb, with easy introductory routes and classes for complete beginners, to full 100 foot climbs stretching across massive overhangs. It’s friendly for those flying solo with bouldering and autobelays that can hold their own against any level of climber. Plus if you’ve joined the training hype game you’ll be well taken care of with steep boards, campus rung setups, and dedicated training area.
The Refuge Climbing & Fitness
- Location: 6283 S. Valley View Blvd, Suite C, Las Vegas, NV 89118
- Facilities: Weights and Cardio, Moon and Tension boards, Treadwall
- Types of Climbing: Bouldering, Autobelay
- Day Pass Rate: $17
A fully decked out bouldering center, The Refuge Climbing & Fitness is perfect for anyone just looking to try out climbing for the first time, or push their climbing to the next grade. Beginner and improver classes are reasonably priced and catered to anyone looking to get more confident in their climbing and technique. Plus membership comes with access to yoga and fitness sessions for anyone looking to get more than just a gym pass.
The Pad’s Origin Climbing + Fitness
- Location: 7585 Commercial Way J, Henderson, NV 89011, United States
- Facilities: Weights and Cardio, Yoga room, Co-working space, Free Wifi and Coffee, Showers
- Types of Climbing: Bouldering, Top rope, Lead climbing, Autobelay
- Day Pass Rate: $23
With 22,000 square feet of climbing, The Pad’s Origin Climbing + Fitness Centre has loads to offer. Having everything short of real rocks, you’ll be able to progress from complete beginner to finger crimpin’ good unhindered. Plus, if you need the flexibility of getting some work done quickly their co-working spaces and free coffee will get you through that pile of emails that came in mid session.
Additional Resources for Climbing in Las Vegas
What to Bring
Everyone’s checklist
- Clothes – There’s no best outfit for climbing and figuring out what to wear is always a little tricky when you’re just starting. Shorts or trousers? Honestly, just dress for the temperature and any sportswear will do. Although protecting your knees is often a good idea, and going from climbing to casual without changing in a good pair of trousers can save you space in your gym bag. Honestly as long as it’s stretchy you’ll be fine, but if you can get a pair with a diamond gusset like Hippy Tree’s Sierra Pants or Patagonia’s Venga Rock Pants, you won’t regret it. Shorts wise, anything baggy or stretchy would also be fine, but I have noticed the cool kids do like to wear Prana’s Mojo Shorts. IF IT IS YOUR FIRST TIME – BRING SOCKS (those rentals aren’t getting any newer)
- Water – Any respectable athlete will tell you that staying hydrated is really important, and any climber will tell you there are 3 options for bottles, all of which you must plaster in stickers. They are: The old reliable BPA free Nalgene, the elite Hydroflask, and finally the eco friendly Klean Kanteen.
- Snacks – There is quite frankly nothing better than a little nibble when you’ve been trying hard, but a full meal will probably derail your journey on the send train. Personally, I always carry some sort of cereal bar to keep me going mid session such as Cliff Bars or RXBARs.
- Tape – I’m talking good sticky zinc tape. Offered by a host of climbing brands and easily bought at your local gym, tape is used to save some skin or seal up that flapper. Metolius makes my favorite, but there’s plenty of options out there.
- Hand Balm – There’s plenty on the market, but I’ve had the same nub of climb on for a couple of years and it’s doing me good. Although, I did recently get a tub of Joshua Tree and that stuff really works.
- Nail clippers – Now this is super underrated and honestly the last thing you want is to be the one making horrible scratching noises every time you crimp. Additionally, long toenails can make squeezing your feet into already tight climbing shoes all the more painful, so be sure to pick up a pair and throw them in your bag.
Established climbers checklist
- Climbing Shoes – The staple of all climbing, a great selection can be found online here. Picking the right shoe can be really tricky, but look out for our future advice article.
- Chalk Bag – Sweaty hands are the bane of a climbers existence. We carry chalk to quickly deal with those sweaty tips and up the friction. Chalk comes in balls, loose, bricks, or liquid, whilst the bags come in all shapes and sizes. Boulderers might prefer ‘buckets‘ to avoid losing your chalk in a tumble.
- Harness – These are much of the same, but some are particularly light to help you hit the higher grades, though they often end up losing a couple of features. Some of the best do-all harnesses include Petzl Adjama, Black Diamond Momentum, and Mammut Sender Fast Adjust which feature enough gear loops for getting into more complex climbing, as well as adjustable leg loops for when you need to layer up.
- Belay Plate – There are really only 3 factors to consider when choosing one of these; what you learnt to use, where you want to take your climbing, and the cost. Standard ATC, Guide ATCs and Assisted Braking Devices all work, but it’s really all down to personal choice. The flexibility of guide plates make them a favorite amongst those looking transfer their knowledge outdoors, while assisted devices can feel more secure to beginners.
- Brush – You only need a small personal brush for when the chalk has built up and make the holds smooth, a lot of gyms do provide them so you don’t need one. Saying that, why not accessorize your chalk bag with a colorful brush like these Lapis Boar hair brushes!
- Rope – When you get to leading you’ll probably want your own rope, but if you’re climbing indoors avoid making the ‘I need a light skinny rope to send’ mistake. You’re going to be running loads of laps, so get a good thick dynamic rope like this 9.9mm aptly named Workhorse rope from Mammut or even a fat 10.2mm from Black Diamond that’ll stand up to heavy gym abuse. Also, since you’ll be indoors you can skip any dry treatments that push the price upwards.
- Backpack – You’ll need a gym bag of sorts to help you lug all this around, and how big you go is totally up to you and what you’re going to be carrying. If you’re just hitting up the bouldering gym, or don’t mind wondering around with the rope on show, then a good 15-20L bag like the AR 20 from Arc’teryx is ideal. Plus it’ll suit all your future fast and light days. Going up to 20-35L, will let you start packing those extra layers and maybe get the rope inside your bag too. At this size Patagonia’s Crag Smith is full of features and makes a great all round day pack!
Post send and extras
- Belay Gloves – By no means do you need belay gloves, but some people like to keep their hands a little safer just in case (some people do let go if the rope starts to burn their hands). The trick to these gloves is leather palms to achieve the right friction. Outdoor research make a great set called the Fossil Rock Gloves, and they’re fingerless for both breathability and style points.
- Crack Climbing Gloves – If you’ve been inspired by the Wide Boyz, but are tired of ripping tape off the back of your hands then a pair of the new Black Diamond Crack Gloves or Outdoor Research’s Splitter Gloves could be for you.
- Skin File – If your calluses are getting a bit dry and you’re starting to get the equivalent of a hangnail in the middle of your finger, this is a sure fire way to end up with one big flapper. You can file it down with one of Climbskin’s portable solutions and avoid that week of taping up an avoidable mistake.
- Shoe deodorant – Climbing shoes get notoriously smelly, lucky I’ve got 2 great solutions for you – Boot Bananas and Disinfectant spray, I genuinely use these and they work a treat and when I run out the shoes stay out my bag.
- Acupressure Ring – Who knows if these work or not, but I’ve been using one religiously on a pulley injury and I think it’s helped a lot. They’re pretty cheap, so why not?
- Long Term Antiperspirant Treatments – Good skin care is important to keep you in top climbing shape. Rhino Skin Solutions are a great brand, endorsed and used by all the big names in climbing, with the big benefit of reducing sweating. I mean the less time you’re hanging around chalking up, the more energy you’ll have to send. The job lot Skin Abuse Pack and their Tip Juice might help you push your grades sooner.
