The service was helpful and polite. The environment was really nice and beginner friendly. The gym was scattered with plenty of different options. The only confusing part is understanding the levels, since the colored tags were a range of what level it may have been. read more

Bridges Rock Gym - Entrance view of boulders - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Been here a few times & had fun. This gym is queer friendly & the staff are nice and friendly. And a little walk over is the Ranch 99 plaza to get some good food or snacks. They also have a room for beginners climbers if the climbing projects are a little tough. If you get tired of rock climbing they have loads of other activities to do from using their extensive gym equipment. If you're tired of rock climbing they have a little area upstairs to take a breather. This place has slack line as one of their gym equipments. Really fun & definitely give it a try when you visit. read more

Bridges Rock Gym - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I came to Bridges Rock Gym with one of my flatmates when I was living in Albany. He was really into bouldering/rock climbing (I would describe bouldering as rock climbing without ropes) and offered to help me out if I went with him. Aside from a few climbing walls I tried to climb before getting too scared of my height off the ground to continue (when I was elementary school aged), I did not have any experience. At arrival, I signed in as a guest including providing information such as my name and email for safety purposes. With the guidance of my friend I climbed higher than I ever did before. It was a cool gym like that in the sense he could teach me some things and I could work on them and the gym workers were not overly intrusive/interrupting. It helped me build some base confidence that I have called upon while out hiking on an occasion or two. After I moved back to Washington State in October/November 2019, I continued to receive emails from the gym, including when the COVID-19 pandemic initially flared up. Pursuing the unsubscribe feature, I opted for that and they stopped sending me emails. I appreciated their follow-thru with that. read more

I gave in and got a membership here just cause it's so close. And I must say it was the best decision I've made. Coming here regularly, I actually like it much better than the touchstone gyms now. Even in my last review, I noted how fun their routes are. They're always creative, challenging, and fun. Consistently the most fun routes of any gym I've ever been. These routes are also changed relatively frequently. While it is similar in cost to the touchstone gyms, there is no initiation fee, which really helps me as someone who travels places for several months at a time. No big deal to cancel and come back. The staff is also super friendly. From the front desk worker, to the route setters who are very encouraging when you work on a problem. I did also mention last time this place is never super busy, and after having been to several touchstone gyms, this is refreshing. From not having to fight for weight equipment, routes, and just lack of that overwhelming feeling that comes with too many people in one space. I really enjoy this gym and will be back frequently. read more

I've been a member for 8 or 9 months now, and I absolutely LOVE Bridges. As a new climber, I felt like the lower-graded problems were accessible, but still interesting, fun, and just the right level of challenging. Now that I've progressed to around V4 and visited other gyms (Benchmark, a few Touchstone locations), I've been really appreciating just how creative the routesetting is at Bridges. If you like the puzzle aspect of bouldering and lots of interesting and satisfying coordinated movement, you'll definitely love it here. They set a couple new walls every week, so you'll never run out of projects. There's a huge cave that's basically parallel to the mats, a chimney, a dedicated slab corner, a rotating wall of competition-style climbs, and a separate front room for beginner climbing. They also have a well-stocked weight room, cardio equipment, saunas, an upstairs lounge area, free beer and hop water after you're done climbing (!!!), yummy snacks for sale, and great yoga, climbing and fitness classes. There's also a few partner gyms that offer free monthly day passes for Bridges members, though I haven't checked any of them out yet. The biggest highlight is that the community at Bridges is AMAZING and so supportive, no matter what grade of problems you're working on. I was too intimidated to even work out in a regular gym before this, but everyone I interacted with at Bridges was very encouraging and made me feel welcome, and now I see friends and have people to climb with almost every time I go. The front desk staff are super friendly and fun to chat with (S/O especially to Anni and Star), and as a queer person it's great to feel represented there. I do wish the mats were a bit softer, as it's a little too easy to tweak an ankle if you don't fall with ideal form--but that's literally my only complaint. Seriously, if you live near El Cerrito and are interested in bouldering, this is the place!! read more

I have been a member on and off here for close to ten years. I recently rejoined and went to purchase a promotional membership for my husband and me. Days later I hear from Kenneth- who informs me that we were "confused" about our membership and that we owed them double. It turns out that his employee purportedly undercharged us for the promotion. however, we went in the following day and spoke to another employee who confirmed that we were "all good"- he also rolled his eyes when told that it was kenneth making the issue. But the saga continues. Kenneth cancelled our membership and called it a "courtesy" (bahaha!) despite me saying that we had a contractual agreement sold by the gym to us and paid for. Kenneth proceed to imply that I lied when I said I understood clearly what I was trying to purchase. It's almost humorous it's so absurd. Kenneth proved quite unequivocally that he lacks the interpersonal skills and professionalism to handle the error of his employee without being disrespectful and ultimately losing multiple members (me, my husband and a friend of mine planning to join at the new year). Had he behaved respectfully, owned his staffers purported error and apologized, I probably would have paid the difference just to maintain the peace and keep going to the gym. I didn't seek any of this drama out, nor did I try to trick the gym into selling me something for less. I just went in and bought a membership. I asked to speak to the owner multiple times- and Kenneth completely ignored the request. What in the world. Way to ruin the vibe, Kenny. As a side note- every time Ive been in the place recently it has been dead (maybe because Kenneth keeps harassing members? Lol). It needs a good and thorough cleaning especially in the sauna, and obviously a rethink of their customer service policies. They insist on keeping the locker room doors open- despite privacy concerns, and have packed the weight room with cramped cardio equipment....What a shame- I enjoyed this gym for years. I hope they turn it around. If so- Id certainly amend my review here. read more

Bridges is a great place to boulder if you want an alternative to the crowded gyms and limited hours at places like Touchstone (the corporate chain gym that has a near monopoly on top-roping/route climbing in the Bay Area). The staff at Bridges have always been very kind and you get to know each other a little over time which is nice. The movement of the climbing setting usually has me trying something interesting and new, and there's plenty of hard stuff to work on--if you don't go too often--for intermediate/advanced climbers as well as a lot of beginner-accessible climbs. They're also open an hour later on weekends than many gyms and that hour makes a huge difference if you have to do something like, say, work during the day. The only reasons I give them 4 stars instead of 5 are -- their pricing is more than (or maybe comparable to) Touchstone despite being one gym and a MUCH smaller space. If this is your only gym and you go here multiple times a week you will probably run out of climbs to project. And their pads are pretty hard making falls quite scary; I feel it in my knees in ways I don't on slightly softer pads, and I got a concussion here when falling from just 3 feet off the ground (landed on butt, rolled back and hit back of my head on the pads). Also, the holds are old and pretty greasy. Which is probably good for your grip and skill-building or something lol but sometimes annoying and dangerous. But the vibes are such a relief that it's still a breath of fresh air to climb here when we can afford to. I'd say give Bridges a try and see what you think! And if you're one of those people who can afford multiple gym memberships definitely put them in your rotation (I would do this if I could!). read more

If you're interested in climbing/taking movement classes, this is the spot for you. This week I took Pilates with Natasha and Power Vinyasa with Sydney (sub) both of which were amazing high quality classes and included with the membership. I also climbed and had free shoes as well as a free guest pass--staff is super friendly helpful and flexible (the new person that they hired who was at the desk today was super nice!), highly advise trying to get it out when it's lunchtime as it's quieter :) Overall a great quality gym :) read more

Bridges Rock Gym was a fun filled day and a wonderful experience! I've been rock climbing on three different occasions before coming to bridges and I never seemed to get the hang of it. However, coming to bridges has completely changed my view of bouldering and sparked a newfound interest! My boyfriend and I had redeemed a Groupon deal that included a full day of bouldering with shoes and equipment. We arrive in the morning and were warmly greeted by the staff. The two females at the front desk were really welcoming and friendly. I would recommend to sign the waivers online before your visit, it definitely saves time! I would say definitely do it right before you go since they have to look through names to find yours. We got our gear and were ready to go! I found that the shoes were comfy here and I liked the ones I was given. There are also lockers on the side, so bring a lock if you'd like to utilize them. Also, keep in mind that there's a first aid kit box with bandages and alcohol pads on the side of the front desk right above the shoe rental returns. That'll come in handy! This bouldering gym had various paths for different strengths and abilities. I'm still at the V0 and V1 stage and I'm proud of that! I've never been able to get all the way to the top before today. However, I was able to get up there a few times! It's something I thought I could never do so I'm really proud of myself today. One unique thing about this bouldering gym is that you have an option to climb over the wall and take the walkways to easily climb down. This is a wonderful option, especially since you're exerting less energy by climbing over and down a path. It was also a cool experience to see the gym from a bird's eye view on top. We had so much fun trying out the different marked paths and constantly challenging ourselves. I've always found the rock climbing community to be every friendly and avid climbers will often give good pointers. I experienced the same thing today with having climbers trying to help give tips. It's amazing to see what everyone is capable of doing and how they make it look so effortless. Also, I love the variety of physical activities available here. There is a yoga shed with various times to practice yoga. There's an upstairs portion for exercise machines. We really enjoyed the rowing machines and the bikes. It's a great vantage point to see climbers as well. There's a slack line that you can practice your balancing on and it was super fun. I was happy once I could make two feet on the slack line. There's also a lifting area in front of the gym. After four hours of bouldering, our hands decided it was time for a break. Overall this is my favorite rock climbing gym in the Bay. I will definitely be back soon and I'm so happy this place helped me find my new love for bouldering! read more

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Nestled next to the Pacific East Mall, this place is a small and cozy facility located at the end of a residential street. There are several bouldering walls that people can climb, with rock arrangements changing on a semi-regular basis. The gym area is fairly small, but it has the essentials. There is a rack for squats and deadlifts, free weights along the wall, and machines for major muscle groups. There are pull-up bars with different grips, and a cardio section upstairs. For the most part, these areas are pretty empty, as most people are on the climbing walls. Ha-ha, I think I am one of the only people who intentionally goes to the traditional gym on a regular basis (whether I climb that day or not) since there is no one there. Each restroom has a sauna in them, but I have not had the time to check them out yet. One of the highlights is that there are monthly events that seek to spark community, such as Cupcakes + Cuties (the fruit) on Valentine's Day Weekend; I love the play on words. It's always nice to have a semi-structured opportunity to meet new people with similar interests. I would also recommend this place if you have children, as memberships allow you to bring them in for free. Potentially up to three, but don't quote me on that. read more

This was the first rock climbing gym I ever went to when I was around 16 years old. I visited again 10 years later at 26, when I took up bouldering seriously, and this gym still did not disappoint! I have been to around 15 gyms and Bridges holds up high! The route setting here is unique and I love that they have a World Cup wall for more competition types of boulders! Love this gym and highly recommend it for beginners or people wanting a challenge! Thanks for holding it down Bridges! read more

I personally think their circuit grading system makes climbing feel more accessible to beginners. Since each circuit level is a range, you have both beginner and intermediate climbers attacking problems on the lowest circuit level. This provides a sense that everyone is on a level playing field. It makes it easier to focus on my climbing rather than worry about what others might be thinking about my climbing. As they mention, it also forces you out of your comfort zone as you may be working a problem that would actually be the equivalent of a higher V grade than you normally would have the confidence to climb. Additionally, I love that this is a bouldering only gym. Bouldering has always been my main focus and it's nice to have so many options for it in one space. The staff here are also the most friendly of any climbing gym I've ever gone to. For those that live in Marin County this is probably the closest and most accessible climbing gym for us. read more

Though I was so excited for my Intro to Bouldering Class, unfortunately, I did not have a good experience at this Rock Gym. First, I wasn't greeted upon arrival, and me and two other folks were confusedly waiting for 5 min or more as no one was at the front desk. During a busy time of day, they would benefit from having a couple of staff members at the front to assist/check in etc. I am upset that I wasn't offered climbing shoes or told I needed chalk.... Was my first time and I got no introductory info on site. Hands are all blistered and I'm upset and frustrated. Front desk gal was alone and it was busy. On a positive note, she and curly haired guy, were very nice!!! :) Intro to Bouldering Instructor did not notice I was not using chalk our whole class and he knew I was new to climbing. He should have checked that each student was prepared with necessary supplies. Next, I was not informed that I needed to show a vaccine card. It was not in the information on the class confirmation page instructions, or in the initial class description. I was almost denied the class, even though I drove over 30min and had already paid and filled out waiver 2x. He seemed skeptical about giving me a refund for the class I had paid for-- if I wasn't able to take the class. I was there and ready to go, so that's not fair to me as it was based on lack of communication from Bridges. They were unwilling to make a one time exception for a 1 hr. class, even though I suggested showing it next time when I came back-- and could be prepared, now that I was aware of requirements. If a place is going to be this rigid, they need to also be vigilant about this in class description prior to sign up and in confirmation information afterwards. Lastly, I tried to get my concerns addressed internally by giving feedback to the manager. He offered me to take the same class again for free, but wouldn't just comp the class I had already taken. Either way, I would get a free class--why couldn't he be flexible to work with what is best for me? I don't want to repeat the class I just took. That's random. I explained that I don't live in East Bay and drove in especially for the class. He said he couldn't credit me for the class I just took, because I stayed and took it...yet I would be staying and taking the class that he was willing to offer me--so I'm not sure how that logic checks out. I don't want to come back and take the same class again, nor do I want to return to this gym, so I'd rather he just comped the original class. Anyways, like Kin L.'s review June, 2022--I also found this small gym disappointingly rigid, discriminatory and inhumane. I got injured because of their lack of care, and inability to properly inform me regarding class supplies. I wasn't given the guidance I paid for and deserved. They weren't willing to work with me, and neglected to provide good service all through the experience and weren't willing to try to make things right after the fact. I felt compelled to take my experience public in hopes of it benefiting others in their understanding of this business. read more

The climbing gym is great. The classes are worth the membership. A really nice atmosphere.

I did a month long pre-paid membership while I was in town for an extended time period and it was the best thing I did for myself. It's a very clean gym with nice amenities, nice staff, and a schedule that changes routes weekly. I will definitely be back when I'm in town. The grading system is really great, too, and I think helped me become a better climber in a short period of time because I wasn't hung up on the grade. read more

On a whim, we decided to sub one of our typical weight room workouts to try rock climbing/bouldering. This gym is located right off the freeway near the Asian market, but in a sort of discrete location. It's not too difficult to find and very accurate on Google Maps. There's a separate lot for parking, but not too many spaces available. The gym itself is pretty sweet. I mean, you walk in and are immediately hit with that heavy sweaty smell. But hey, it's expected. There's a separate mat area and weight room through the entrance, then continue forward to the front desk. Eli worked at the front desk. He was super welcoming and helped us out a great deal getting acquainted with the wall, techniques, and use of chalk. We put our belongings in the available lockers and got climbing. Once we got started, it was super fun! We even got help on some problem routes from other climbers! (Read thoroughly through the Facility Orientation so you know what you're doing.) There's also a cardio area with several bikes and treadmills and a slack line area. The restrooms appear to be clean, complete with showers and a sauna. Would love to go back, but prices are a bit steep - we paid $25 each for a day pass with shoe rentals, and $95 for monthly membership. read more

Bridges Rock Gym - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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First time experience, I would say don't have extremely high expectations about the greeting process. It's a little corner lot just North of Pacific East Mall. In fact you can go through the parking lot and out the side/back and see the gym from that angle much better. I walked in and you have to walk through a gym area with no representatives to even get to the front desk. At the front desk there were 3-4 guys all in the middle of conversation and so being acknowledged took a bit longer than it should have. I felt like more of a burden then a welcomed new potential longtime client. I was instructed to fill out their waiver form, which is what I arrived early for with a pen ready. No pen required it's all electronic and they are set up pretty high so if you were on the shorter side you might have some problems. They do NOT have paper versions of this waiver. Also once you submit you do not get a copy of the waiver, even if you ask for one. I think that's pretty crappy in this day and age why would you not offer a copy of a legal document to the person completing it if they asked. Not okay! Needless to say no return visits for me. read more

I was a little hesitant about coming here and trying bouldering for the first time. I just didn't see the appeal! And after my experience, I can't say it's my new favorite activity but this gym is pretty great. First of all, the staff is super nice and really helpful in explaining everything from prices (student night!) to how the heck to get started on those walls. Second, I was pretty intimidated especially because I went on a Friday evening and it was soooo crowded, but I quickly realized people there were friendly and also don't give a sh*t about how poorly I'm climbing. I gave it a good number of tries but I could never get to the very top so I went upstairs and ran a mile on the treadmill to feel better about myself. Then I mastered the purple slack line and it was a good night. Affordable prices with a variety of activities. Come here with friends even if not everyone is into bouldering. read more

Bridges Rock Gym - My view from the treadmill lol - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California

One of my favorite hobbies I've developed after living in the Bay Area! I have friends who are avid climbers and had convinced me to come try. As for bouldering gyms go, Bridges is amazing! They reset routes every week, so you never run out of problems to attempt. The problem designations (V1, V2, etc) are pretty on-point as for the difficulty of the sets. As someone who has just graduated to V2 problem sets, I know I will be coming back to Bridges to continue leveling up. The professionals are knowledgeable and helpful and the facilities are well-maintained. There's a weight room and treadmills upstairs, and the bathrooms are always clean and well-stocked (not to mention the sauna!!). Cost-wise, Bridges is pretty typical of climbing gyms and offers discounts for college students and commuters across a bridge. They often have Groupon deals, and if you're new, you can try it for free using a member's bottomless new climber passes! Heads up, it also costs $5 to rent both a chalk bag and shoes. read more

Bridges Rock Gym - Rock walls - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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If you see my profile pic, you'll realize I climb religiously. And it all started at this gym. I've checked out all the gyms in the bay. But none of them make you feel at home...unless your at Bridges The staff is incredible, really friendly fun group. The showers are always clean The towels are soft towels Best soap and conditioner I've ever used The routs are fun and creative Slack lining is a fantastic pass time Great classes for experienced instructors Gym Is small but well put together Just like home If it's your first time climbing. A:stretch your fingers and warm those puppies B: when walking around the mats look above you and around you, those holds can slip and people can go flying. C: It's a good practice to spot your friend in the wall, making sure nobody walks under him or her E. If you get stuck on a problem it's ok to ask for help. F. Have fun, meet people, be safe! read more

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I got a groupon deal thinking this was rock climbing and omg did I play myself. (Read everything carefully, everyone). When I first got here, I noticed there were no ropes and I freaked the f#$% out. The last time I ever tried bouldering was back in middle school and I couldn't see this happening. But I did move on from my anxiety and proceeded to give this gym a try. I had a lot of fun and the staff made it very comfortable for me. Ask for a chalk bag and bring a lock for the lockers. As a beginner, I asked for the best places to start. For the first few problems I attempted, I didn't know if I had to climb over the wall or if I had to climb back down (ultimate noob here). Climb over the wall. This was an experience that got me out of my comfort zone and brought out my inner Laura Croft. Go with a group of friends cause they definitely added to my experience! read more

Love Bridges. Great facilities. Great people. Great selection and circulation of climbs. Family friendly. Great community.

TLDR; Small gym acting as cold as large corporations. After being a paying member for a year paying around $1000 they just lost some potential loyal members. Bye. Thought the smaller gyms were supposed to be more flexible and friendly, but I was wrong. I've been a paying member for a year paying around $1000 through annual membership and individual visits and the experience was alright because they are small. The only reason I go to this gym is because of it's close proximity from home. I used to go regularly to the Touchstone gyms especially Dogpatch which I think are much better and costs about the same. But this gym is closer so I decided to go here. I've recently been frequenting less because of work etc and have not used my membership as much and one day I decided to go to the gym and upon scanning found out my annual membership had just expired. The guy told me it expired about a week ago and asked if I wanted to renew. Since the renewal and membership was comparable to Dogpatch, I said I'd think about it. I figured that well, I haven't used this membership that much and I paid a lot of money over the past year, I was wondering if they could just let me use the gym this one time even though my membership expired since I was already there. My membership had just expired and I haven't even used the gym this month so I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for ONE free visit after paying around $1000 for the whole year. I figured that maybe I'd renew afterwards, but not today. After a year of loyalty I was offered a discount for a day pass for $25 instead, LOL. So small neighborhood gyms are just as cold as large corporations huh? That one visit literally would cost them nothing as they let membership visitors in all the time for free, not to mention the many groups of friends and the friends of their friends. That left me a bitter experience and I'm never going to support this gym or recommend anyone here again. Thank goodness they're not the only rock gym around. You know, if you weren't such stringy cash grabbers and learned to give some leniency, I would've actually been inclined to renew with a positive experience. Instead, what you have done is help me make up my mind about not giving money to this place ever again. For that price and attitude, I'll stick with the other gyms. read more

I brought two under-14s to the gym and was told I would have to PAY $22 as well in order to enter to keep an eye on them since the gym has a rule that an adult guardian has to be within six feet of them. We went to the gym in July and August and I didn't have to pay to watch the kids. I was told there has been a change of policy yet nowhere on your website does it state this change. This policy is not very welcoming to younger climbers to say the least. You've lost at least three customers. read more

Surprised I hadn't already reviewed this place. The bf introduced this place to me. I was aware of the general premise; that it was a climbing gym. I wasn't aware that it was a bouldering place (and that that meant that there were no ropes or harnesses). Honestly though, I prefer it the way because it seems more comfortable/free (maybe more potential for danger if/when done in real life...who knows...not I). It's great. There's different levels denoted; the higher the number, the greater the assessed difficulty. You can rent bouldering shoes or try to climb in your own [whatever-you-bring] shoes...highly recommend bouldering shoes--either your own or the gym's as they have more grip--very helpful for bouldering. And...then, you buy the time you spend there. A day pass is pretty reasonably priced from what I remember. read more

Classic gym for me - I started going as a kid, and I still consider sort of my go-to "garage climbing" gym.

TL;DR AWESOME ROCK CLIMBING WALLS + SLACK LINE!! PLUSES: + SLACK LINING!! + Got hooked by the Groupon ($25 for 3 passes, what a deal!) + Hours basically all day for a regular functioning human + Affordable membership prices + Right next to 99 Ranch + Other classes + equipment in the gym + Friendly & helpful staff + Shoutout to Andrew and Clara who helped my friend sign up for the SUMMER DEAL $130 for 3 months! DELTAS: - NONE read more

Honestly, I'm not sure how to rate a rock gym. I had a great time here with my friends. We climbed rocks, strategized our climbs, forced each other to try hard levels, held up one another as we climbed on the upside-down wall, took fun pictures, and exhausted ourselves through and through. The staff was courteous and helpful. I only wish I knew about the Groupon deal before we each paid over $20 for single-day passes, but I'll be sure to use it next time! read more

Bridges Rock Gym - between the bouldering walls! - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California

This has been my home gym for the past 3 years, and I could not love it more! It may not have all the bells and whistles of a Planet Granite or Touchstone gym, but it makes up for it with a tightly knit but extremely welcoming community (and of course some righteous slacklining). Just to be clear - Bridges is a bouldering gym. They do have some toproping in the back, but this is more for kids' birthday parties than anything. The reason that the routesetting is so awesome here is that they reset at least one wall every Tuesday, so you never run out of new problems! Each wall stays up for about a month so you have ample time to work on any given problem. Plenty of slab, overhangs at varying degrees, and a pretty decent-sized cave considering the size of the gym. They do tend to grade a little easier, but I think they're addressing this issue by allowing climbers to grade a problem themselves during the first week that is up, then putting up the official grade based on consensus. Pretty cool system! This gym is very friendly to beginners. For starters, there's a 3-day pass for ~$30 on Groupon! They also have an introductory class that seems very helpful from what I've overheard during my sessions. Additionally, climbers here are super-helpful if you're struggling with the beta, and not condescending at all. That's what I love about climbing... even though it's an individual sport, there's no sense of competition between climbers; we're all just trying to get up that rock! As far as membership goes, Bridges is the most budget-friendly option. For those of you who commute across a bridge (waddup Vallejo), annual membership is only $360, which is a steal! They also have semester memberships available for students. Their other workout areas are pretty nice. I like that there are always slacklines up. The weightlifting section is much-improved since they added that huge power rack. Plenty of hangboards that you can swap out too! There are several treadmills and rowing machines upstairs for those of you who actually like cardio :P Lockers and bathrooms are decent. Sauna room is nice. Towels available at the front desk! Parking is just ok. They have their own lot, but it's small and cramped. The gym is right across from the super-busy 99 Ranch plaza, but I can usually find residential parking within a few blocks. read more

Bridges Rock Gym - The three amigos at the 8th Annual Bridges Competition! - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California

The best local bouldering gym near my home. I started rock climbing a few months ago and discovered this hidden gem through a friend. I now go here every weekend after trying it out for a couple weeks. They change their routes every 2-3 weeks to freshen things up, and I can literally spend up to 2 hours just climbing. After spending about 2 months climbing before I injured my finger, I was able to progress to V4. As I mentioned earlier, they have a nice gym here too which comes with standard gym equipment as well some tires and a sled. There are also a ton of pull up bars with varying grip formations, which I like to hit after climbing. The reason I personally chose this gym over the other big brand climbing gyms is the family environment and the garage gym that comes with the membership. I highly recommend this climbing gym for anyone in the area read more

Gumby arms and a weak ankle, a good boulderer this makes not. Yet upon my recent visit I discovered that the security of a rope builds different strength and technique and that free climbing practiced different skills and strategy. It was also cool to see how challenging short top rope could be. Set up some more good stemming problems, and it'd be solid gold. The owner, Damien, an accomplished slackliner, happened to be around and was super welcoming and down to earth. He gave us insights into his personal interests (deep water free solo) and a behind-the-scenes perspective of the gym. It was in the locker room that I realized how genius he and Jeffie (his lovely wife) really are: immaculate, lots of privacy and a glorious sauna for all! There's really no need to ever leave. Palm some rock and get tired? Hop on the slacklines! Need a break? Check out the climbing vids and surf on the free wi-fi. Hit the wall again and need some extra juice? Grab a meal at the cafe! Want to wind down? Chillax in the sauna. Feeling flexible? Get into position with yoga. You can even bring along the kiddies as there's a toddler play area! I might just live here. read more

Before visiting Bridges the other night, I had never previously tried indoor rock climbing. It has always been something I've been interested in, but I just never had the chance. A few months ago, I had a blast in my brief introduction to outdoor climbing (see review of Cragmont Park http://www.yelp.com/biz/cragmont-park-berkeley#hrid:l3j73mtZ-1339P5QOI_UbQ), but from what I've heard, the indoor experience is quite different. So, with yet another SFGate deal in tow, I met up with a friend after work to check out the beginners class at Bridges. From the get go, I could tell that the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, and even though both of us were absolute n00bs, no one seemed to think any less of us. When we walked in, we were greeted by Chris (who was also the teacher). He was very friendly, and didn't mind answering any of our asinine rookie questions. The gym itself - although not very large - is very clean, and patrons can immediately notice that the ownership takes great pride in maintaining the facilities. I'm not sure how crowded it can get on weekends or on nights when they have special events, but on this Wednesday evening, around 7 pm, it was relatively quiet, then picked up a bit around 8. It never got to the point of overcrowding with people bumping into each other. There was still plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the walls. As mentioned earlier, since I am a rookie to indoor rock climbing, I really no have a basis for comparison with other facilities, but one thing that confused me here is the labeling of the routes. They use a system that starts with B for beginner, continuing upward through a series of numbers to indicate difficulty, all preceded by the letter V. So, VB would be the absolutely easiest, followed by V1, V2, and up. However, sometimes it seemed that the ones deemed the lowest in difficulty were not such a cinch after all, and others with V4 and above were a snap. Perhaps I was doing it wrong, but I'll probably figure it out as I return to use up the remainder of my SFGate passes. As for the comparison to outdoor climbing, other than the obvious disparity in equipment involved, I must say that they aren't so different after all. They both ultimately require the same level of concentration, the same muscle groups, and similar technique. I'm not well versed enough in the "culture" of rock climbing to know if there is any rivalry between the two groups (I assume there is), but I enjoy both equally as well. The barrier of entry for indoor climbing is much less imposing, as no equipment is needed, much less instruction is required, and above all, it is much more affordable and accessible. You can pretty much take off and visit the indoor gym whenever it strikes your fancy - much like you would the normal fitness center - but the same certainly cannot be said for outdoor climbing. If you don't feel like climbing walls on certain days, there are also treadmills, slacklines, a dry sauna, and even a soon to be weight room currently in the works! With the all day pass, feel free to come in and out throughout the course of the day. Best of all, Bridges is located conveniently adjacent to Pacific East Mall, which should more than satisfy all of you Asian food aficionados out there. Don't forget to stop by J&S (http://www.yelp.com/biz/j-and-s-coffee-and-tea-house-richmond#hrid:M27O1wtnU7xTmo4JxHiB1Q) for some of the finest milk tea in the Bay! read more

I have been coming here quite often since they have an amazing Groupon only $41 for 5 day passes! This gym is located next to an Asian plaza, since the parking lot is kind of small you could park in the plaza. This is a bouldering gym, they have a top roping section but the walls are only 18 ft tall. This gym has the tallest bouldering wall in America 18.5 feet, it is highly suggested that you do not climb this wall until you can climb the lower walls since falling from the 18.5 ft.. wall is dangerous. There are many different routes here from VB - V10 level. The majority of the routes are more strength - based, but they do have some technique based routes which I personally find a lot funner to do. They also have a cave which is where the more advanced climbers usually climb, unfortunately I do not have the arms of a spider monkey so I cannot climb the cave yet. This gym gets really crowded on friday nights.. there were at least over 100 people which was kind of unsafe since people were jumping every where and not watching where they landed. I love this place because they have many different routes all of different levels! You should come here if you want to get better at bouldering / work on your technique, the day pass is only $10 before 3, and $12 after 3 pm!!!! So even without the groupon it is still worth it to come and try at least once ! read more

Nice, mostly bouldering gym. They have a few, short top rope routes. The setting is hit or miss - some routes are set pretty hard, others are super easy. You can top out most of the bouldering problems but watch your head. Some of the top outs are really close to the supports for the building and the walkoffs require you to duck a lot. If you are looking for a climbing gym to have a kid's birthday party, I'd pick this one. Much cleaner than your regular climbing gym. They have a nice table upstairs where you have your pizza or cake without being in a cloud of chalk dust. Now that I've encouraged people to have their kid's parties here, I'd like to point out that the kids here can get super annoying for people trying to work out. The staff tries to keep them in the top rope area, but that usually fails. The kids are attracted to the top out bouldering like a moth to a flame. They run around the top out area, making a ton of noise and being super annoying. On top of that, the staff and parents are constantly yelling at the kids to stop but to no avail. For parents, keep in mind that you are in a gym. Would you let your child loose in a 24 Hour Fitness to run around and scream and climb all over the gym equipment? I sure hope not. Despite the brightly colored holds and fun bouncy gym mats, this is the same thing as any other gym. People are here to work out. Plus, the climbers could fall at any moment, crushing your precious baby girl or boy. So try to keep them on a short leash. Also, the top out bouldering can be super dangerous and I've seen way too many kids up there, precariously close to the edge of the boulder. If they fall off, birthday party fun is over so keep them under control for everyone's sake. read more

Went for a massage with Justin, who seems like he might be kind of new at the gym. So here's my review! Setting up the massage, I called in to the number listed on their website, and eventually a massage person called back. She had me go online and fill out their waiver form, then call into the main office to help me redeem my Groupon in time (it was expiring soon). She gave me a convenient time slot for the massage, within a half a week. Arriving at the gym for the massage, I came about 10 minutes early, which was good, because they had me fill out another form (besides the waiver) about my health history, sore muscles, etc. Then I was to bring the form to meet my massage practitioner, Justin. I recalled from another Yelp review that it was kind of a bummer to wait in a rock climbing gym, as opposed to in a day spa...but I didn't have to wait at all, was greeted immediately upon entering the "massage corner," even though I was still a tad early. Justin's massage started with a couple of minutes of touch without any oil--I was reminded of the feeling of rubber, and was wondering if a sports-style massage doesn't use oil. But then, with oil, he massage my back, concentrating on my lower back. I won't lie, it was a little painful, but I decided to go with it. Glad I did, because the massage seems to have opened up some kind of new energy for me. I found myself thinking about a professional problem that's been plaguing me for a few weeks, and I came up with a solution. Do you think massage brings oxygen to the brain? The rest of the massage felt great--no pain, even around my knees that had been troubling me. I don't know much about what a sports massage would be like--I've mostly gone to day spas out of town while on vacation--but the style of this massage wasn't radically different than the others I've had. The "massage corner" was darkly lit, no audible noise from the gym right outside, and In the background played some great piano music (not New Age, thank goodness, more like Jazz/ Classical/ Improv). Nice paintings! Used the restroom while I was there, it had a sauna and showers. I didn't ask specifically whether massage clients could use them, but it looked like a clever person might easily get away with it :-) read more

Bridges Rock Gym - The "massage corner"-- very quiet, private and restful. - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I got into Bouldering because of this gym. On weekdays, it's $10 for a day pass. People are friendly and it's never too crowded. I hope I have some time to come back here. read more

I am a total beginner!!! I got a groupon deal for this place and it was WORTH IT!!! It makes me want to get an actual membership! Too bad I live an hour away. This place is VERY busy. A lot of kids come here and they aren't rowdy so it make the experience a whole like more pleasant for a beginner like me. There are also a lot of hardcore people and if you're a beginner as well, don't be intimidated! There are a ton of beginners too!!! I wish there was like a pamphlet of how they do things here. They have color coded tape on rocks and a letter and number to show where to start. I wouldn't have known that if my bf told me. Pretty much if you're a beginner, find a starting point that has a letter, then a "B." After you get the hang of all the "B" ones, work way way from 0-7. I'm not sure if there is more than 7. They also have a gym, kickboxing lessons and yoga. The bathroom is SO CLEAN!!! It has lockers, a SAUNA, shower, scale and lotion (for your tired hands). The staff is very friendly and helpful. Everything about this place makes me want to come back, and I most definitely will!!! read more

I go bouldering here occasionally. It gets pretty crowded sometimes, but I like that there are a lot of different walls available. They also have tight ropes that you can play around on if you want a break from rock climbing. The staff is always super friendly and helpful. Sometimes if they see you having trouble with a route, they come over and give you tips. The locker room/bathrooms are really clean. I'm kind of OCD, and I really like this place overall. Sometimes gyms smell, but this place does not. read more

I've been here with a small group of 3, a medium group of 10, and a large group of 20. Whatever the group size, this place rocks! (Pun intended). I would recommend coming in the afternoon if you're coming with a big group. The problems (routes) are pretty varied and fun. In addition to bouldering, there are ropes and rings off to the side that are a lot of fun, even if you are like me and have no idea what you're doing with those things. I wish the place was a little bigger, and the workout gym could be better (though I have particularly high standards for gyms). Overall, though, there is still plenty to keep me occupied for easily 3 hours every time I come. For comparison, I've also been to Planet Granite in south bay, as well as a few other rock gyms. The staff were chill. They gave tips, but only if you wanted them. And when I just wanted to fool around (i.e. attempt to balance on the ropes, or try to do a flip on the bouncy floor), I never felt judged. In fact, I felt pretty much at ease to just try whatever I wanted, as long as I wouldn't put other people at harm. Most of the time I had a car, but once I took BART and walked to get here, and it wasn't too bad of a walk. Caveat: Bouldering is pretty different than climbing. So if you're expecting to be harnessed up and climbing huge walls, then you will be disappointed. But I personally have done a decent amount of both, and I find bouldering to be much more fun. Protip: If you're new to climbing, expect your hands to turn red and your muscles to be sore! read more

I was introduced to this place by my boyfriend. I come with him once a month with his membership guest pass. Time goes by so fast when you are having fun burning calories, toning your body, and sweating! We usually go on weekend mornings. Quiet and no judgements! They offer Groupon deals once awhile. Look for them! read more

Bridges Rock Gym - Trying V1 - Yoga Near Me - El Cerrito, California