Located conveniently with a large parking lot and access to the Red Line at Alewife, this Central…read moreRock Gym is one of the best climbing gyms I've been to in the Massachusetts! The bouldering area is expansive, with a wide range of problems for all skills levels. They have slab and walls with a various levels of overhang. I noticed they had a wall that catered to beginners as well, which is awesome for people starting out. Even during peak hours after work on a weekday, the gym didn't feel super packed and it was easy to get on the wall whenever. The open setup is also nice to see all the problems and what people are working on from one spot. This CRG also boasts a solid lifting area in the back with free weights and power racks, along with a few cardio machines. They have multiple training boards, hang boards, and a pull-up area. Free chalk bags are available at the front, along with self-serve rental shoes. The membership is a bit pricey ($125/month), but they do have classes like yoga included, as well as access to other CRGs. Overall, excellent bouldering gym, excited to go back and try more problems!

Probably the largest central rock gym in Boston, this location in Alewife is known for its more…read morechallenging climbs. I spent about 2 hours here and was quite humbled but enjoyed the experience. If it weren't so far from the main Boston area, I would go more often, but it's worth the trek and visiting at least once!

I've visited a few times, and although it's one of the smaller Central Rock locations in Boston,…read morethere are still enough climbs to spend several hours here. I appreciate I get to really hone in on each problem rather than trying so many climbs only once or twice at a larger gym. The staff are very nice, and the facilities are clean. Since they've switched to communal chalk bags which get moved around a lot rather than the giant containers, I've been bringing my own chalk.

Great gym, restroom needs work, but the people here are friendly and the climbs are greatread more

Central Rock Gym is the place to go if you're looking for a rock climbing place in the area!…read more I've only visited once but I had such a fun time. I had no idea they had a fitness room with machines + good amount of equipment needed to get a good workout in. They have one side that is geared towards beginner rock climbers & more difficult climbs on the other side for more advanced climbers. Workers are super kind and are helpful. Would definitely come back again!

A friendly and welcoming Rock Climbing Gym for any level of experience!…read moreI only rock climbed once and recently wanted to try it again for fun. This spot was not crowded at all and had a lot of open area to try new things. There is a video that they have you watch to get an understanding of the gym, and what sections are for what type of climb. The staff was also very nice in answering questions and making sure you are safe. For beginner climbers, you can climb on short rocks without gear and you can climb tall rocks with gear. There is a large section of the gym where you need a certificate to climb so those were off limits to me. Overall I spent about an hour and a half trying each climb. A very good spot to check out if you are a beginner or just need an open space to climb.

The gym rocks! Very helpful staff and great group of locals. Highly recommend checking it out!read more

Came here with a few coworkers and had a blast!…read more Although it's been decades since I've rock climbed, I wasn't too rusty.

Came in for the first time to see if I wanted a membership here. Brandon was very nice and helpful…read moreand gave me a tour. Another female employee came up unprompted and decided to mansplain climbing to us and told me I was not allowed to ask my friends for a spot while bouldering. Just coming back after recovering from ACL and meniscus reconstruction and felt I might land awkwardly on my bad leg. Still not sure why it was not allowed for them to make sure I landed straight down vs sideways on one leg (exact situation that tore my ACL). Regardless, not worth getting a membership somewhere with an employee like that.

I love this spot! It's located in a nice area, right by Aeronaut Brewing. I've been to a few other…read morerock gyms in the area and this one 100% takes the cake. For starters, the gym itself is huge, which I feel like is a pretty big accomplishment for a place by the city. The facilities itself were clean and everything seemed pretty modern. The staff were also friendly and helpful, and were quick to show me the ropes (quite literally)! There's something for everyone here, at all climbing levels. I like that they had auto-belay for those who aren't trained in belaying or are climbing solo. There's also a sizable bouldering area, as well as top rope sections. Besides climbing, they had some regular fitness equiptment as well. I hope to return soon!

The staff and culture here is great. Wonderful experience for a first time climber. It could've…read morebeen a very intimidating experience, but they made it super accessible and pleasant. Will definitely be back.

Sorry for the length, just wanted to give a decently detailed review of the location and my…read morethoughts. Got back into climbing after about two years off. I am a 5.10 and V3 climber. I have experienced most gyms in the Boston area and other gyms in a few different states just to give my review context.. CRG Stoneham is a friendly gym with knowledgeable staff. I notice some of the staff came from a different gym that closed down which is great to see them in my local gym and able to ask them questions knowing they have experience. I don't feel any awkwardness if I talk to them or ask them some questions. They have always been willing to answer my questions or help me if needed. The space is modern and clean. I never feel like this place is dirty and gross despite it being a climbing gym which is nice. They sell small amounts of gear chalk, shirts, shoes and even ropes (which one colleague told me just have not been put out yet). This is great if you like buying stuff from a gym ( I personally don't but I did buy some swag like a hoodie and a T-Shirt). The gym itself is pretty large with two floors. The first floor mixed between top rope and lead climbing, which has roots for all levels and experience from straight vertical routes to overhang for lead. The variety of skill levels is nice for people who are not avid climbers or getting back to it. Do not let that fool you though there are plenty of experience routes that will be a good workout for the avid climbers searching for the indoor challenge. The bouldering area on the second floor has a good wall selection with plenty of space. Everything from slab and V0 to overhang V7 and up. I really like the variety that this whole space offers. Also there is a tension board training wall, and a hang board ladder system that provides a great training section and nice variety to just climbing routes. Again something for every skill level including a warm up/kids wall that is nice. They have a modest workout area, couple treadmills and cardio machines, two squat racks, dumbbells, hang-boards and other training equipment. I never have a problem using what I need in here because they have enough equipment for everyone. I can do a complete workout here that is not climbing related with all the equipment they have. The membership has some decent perks, free classes that are put on by the gym, a progression training from coaches (not sure if you pay extra for that or not but it is offered). One of my favorite parts is the employee belay. They are there a few days a week and will belay you if you do not have a partner. It does not cost money, granted you can not take up your entire session with this employee but the fact they offer this is amazing. Also you can pay 30 per hour and have an employee belay you if you would like. They also offer a adult team for the more competitive climbers for 85 monthly plus membership. With good come a few bad things. One being the website. I know not gym related specifically but I find some of the programs they offer hard to find on the site and I actually needed to email management to get the information (management got back to me within 24 hours which was great). As other reviewers have commented climbers with shoes walking around the bathroom. There is a sign on the bathroom door but it didn't seem to stop the people I have seen in there on a few different occasions so this is an issue and not a one time problem. The weekends are usually a little chaotic with some form of birthday party, which lead to kids sort of running around wild at times. I was doing some overhang work last week, when i feel off the wall I almost took out some little kid just running around the boulder area. My concerns is the kid will get hurt because I fall on them from any height. This does seem to happen quite a bit as other reviewers have commented and I tend to only notice this on weekends when there is a birthday or something. Not the worst thing but for me I would feel awful falling on some kid zooming around and hurt him or something. Closing thoughts: Definitely check this gym out if you are into climbing, plenty of gyms included in the membership including the Cambridge location which is bouldering only and geared toward more experience climbers but still awesome. Friendly staff and clean location. For 100 a month I feel like I get my money worth. Keep up the great work. If anyone read this far thanks. I do not write reviews often but really like this gym and the company so I wanted to give a shout out with an honest review. Keep up the good work CRG!!!

This space is so welcoming and I always have a great time when there. I just recently started rock…read moreclimbing and have only been a handful of times but the vibe is so easygoing and helpful that it was not scary at ALL! The facilities are very clean and the people there are super aware if their surroundings and respectful of people climbing! Will definitely be back here again!

A well-maintained and clean facility with a variety of climbing options for all skill levels. They…read moreoffer a great Night Owl special from 9 PM to 11 PM for just $16. For frequent visitors, a 10-session pass is available for $199, making it a cost-effective option for regular climbers.

First place I ever climbed in. Less than a month later, I decided to become a member and have been…read moreone ever since. The Central Rock Gym separates their routes using hold colors which is much better than gyms that put stickers near each route. The gym is clean and staff if very friendly. A member of the staff, James, had a strong role in getting us into the sport.

My interaction with the staff has always been a pleasant one; they definitely know what they're…read moredoing and are definitely passionate about rock climbing. The facilities are also well-maintained since they are clean and properly managed. My biggest concern for this place, however, is the affordability of the memberships. I'm sure the up-keeping of the facility can be expensive, but the prices only attract a particular group of people. Perhaps this is intentional; I am always looking for places that seek to incorporate diversity, both economically and racially. Keeping up with the monthly membership price is surely not sustainable for someone who lives off minimum wage or, even for someone who makes a bit more. Thus, though this can be a fun and safe place for the community, it lacks the actual representation of the latter. Moreover, no incentive programs currently exist to make this place a bit more affordable for the average working-class family in the city. Now, while they do have a family plan, it is exclusively for immediate family. I tried to create a membership with my older brothers but, was told that the family membership was only for my spouse and children. of which I have neither. This is truly a disappointment since with the single membership, you can only bring a guest with you once a month; after that there is a fee. So, if you're someone like me, who likes to bring a friend along to help with climbing or to encourage you with working out, this isn't the place for you. Unless of course, you friend wants to purchase a membership, too. But again, it´s just not cost-efficient or worth it for the average low/medium income person. But, for those of you who make a good amount of money, this place can definitely be worth it. They offer a wide range of workout classes and opportunities to get better at rock climbing. You'll just want to make sure you're taking advantage of everything- to make the dollar count. Overall, I really enjoy rock climbing, and this facility is truly well-managed and maintained. It has a lot of potential to actively engage with the community it's in; however, whether intentional or not, it greatly lacks in being a racially and economically diverse space. This is truly unfortunate for a place as fun and engaging as this one can be. Frankly, it's intimidating when you can count, with one hand, the number of people of color during a typical night, or even to witness the non-existence of the lower/ lower-middle class. And if you're from Worcester, you know it's a large community they're keeping out, a community that is greatly diverse. This facility has the opportunity to bring people together, but unfortunately, the prices hinder this from doing so and have instead, settled for just one particular group. And oh! the prices just recently went up $5.00 for all memberships.