This review is only for their summer camp program. It should be noted that they change their name to the movement gym LIC. My kid is on the older side and doesn't know how to climb so I decided to sign her up for a one week class just for her to get a feel of things. The other climbing gym in the neighborhood didn't teach anything at all and just told her to have at it. This place though takes the time to really show technique and what the kids should be doing to make sure that they are safe and how to have fun. I am hoping she likes it enough to be able to join their afterschool program. So far the staff have been very friendly and professional when I've dealt with them via email or in person. I think this is a good place for a beginner just to try to see what things are- read more

been here a couple of times. Very clean and professional. spend about two hours here. Eventually want to bring my kids here to learn when they are of age. Been rock climbing since 2010 and is very familiar with bouldering and this place has lots of routes of just one level. You probably need like a couple of days just to go thru all the routes before they change the walls. Overall I would say this is one of the top places to rock climb in the area. Easy to get to and is a great date activity read more

Had a lot of fun here! Was severely hungover but we made it work hahaha our trainer was so informative, really helpful and didn't make us feel dumb for not getting it right away. We met some really cool people as well, some of which our friend group keeps in touch with. Was a lot of fun but wasn't like "here's your straps now go on" they trained us on everything, even the jargon, and you can tell the employees really love what they do. Got to really test ourselves and our fears, I think my friend even went on to get certified! Really speaks to the great experience :) read more

Activity: got invited to go climbing here I was so glad that I came! I don't really get to climb often so coming to this place was really a treat. The place was very large and there were tons of walls with different difficulty levels to climb Cost: luckily I was able to come here as a guest from my friend and all I had to pay was for the harness, shoes and chalk bag. Environment: it was great to be around people who are really into climbing, the group I was with was fantastic and we fed off of each other's energy. It was super enjoyable! Service: The staff here was very kind, I did not have any issue checking in and getting ready Uniqueness: the facility was big, nice and clean. Really enjoyed my time here. Before I even realized I had spent 4 hours here! Time really just flew by! read more

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Compared to the other climbing spots around the city/NJ, this gym has a lot of fun routes! They even have a tight rope going across the main area of the gym (it's pretty high up!). Each wall had various levels of difficulty so our group was able to stay in the same area despite our varied climbing abilities. The staff member that checked me in and gave me the belay test was friendly and helpful. Even though I am certified at the other gyms, I was a bit nervous (it is a test after all..). Luckily, she was really reassuring, encouraging, and didn't rush me, which I very much appreciated. There are plenty of lockers in the changing room. They are mostly small sized lockers - good for a backpack and maybe your sneakers too. There were also a few large lockers, which would be good for puffy jackets or if you need to share a locker with someone. Bring your own lock. It got crowded during peak hours (afternoon to early evening) and since the routes are pretty close together, you may have to wait a little to top rope. Around 6-7pm, there weren't a lot of people left so this may be a good time to climb if you want more space to yourself. I didn't get to check out their auto belay or bouldering section, so will have to do so next time. read more

Movement LIC - A good variety of routes - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

Sooo many good times have been had here! The community is amazing and the team here has made my high school experience so good and fulfilling. The setting is really good- especially in the lead cave and the dogs are suuuuch a cute bonus. Lots of fun events are constantly happening and they're super cool to check out. I miss my days at the cliffs :((( Highly reccomend everyone goes! read more

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I love it at Cliffs! There are so many routes to try out here, and it's always a good time, whether I'm trying to get a quick workout in or just hanging out with friends. They have both top rope and bouldering here, but it's more top rope heavy. But that's not to say there isn't good bouldering. There are a lot of challenging problems (and I do mean CHALLENGING). The one thing I dislike about the bouldering area is that it's a small area, the routes are not super spaced out, and there are always a lot of people there after work. It can be difficult to get your start bouldering at Cliffs. I'm not sure I would recommend bouldering for the first time at Cliffs, mainly because it can be a bit demoralising--the V0s and V1s are a bit more challenging here than at other climbing gyms in NYC. The staff here are amazing. They are so chill, so friendly, and just lovely people to be around. They're also very, very helpful. I started my climbing journey at Cliffs, and I wanted advice on gear, and the employee who helped me out took so much time to help me find the right size and fit for shoes. I really appreciated that! I also find that the staff are all really willing to answer questions, even though the front desk seems really chaotic at times. The only downside of this gym is that it is on the pricey side. With the cost of membership, you pretty much only get the membership. I mean, you also get some discount on the classes and the pro shop, but it's mainly the membership. But other than that, lovely, lovely gym and I would recommend it to everyone who loves climbing! read more

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Came here on a Friday night for their asian climbing tribe event. Day pass was only $15 and it included rentals, which was a very great deal for a climbing gym. If you like doing ropes, this place will be heaven for you! They probably have the biggest area for rope climbing in NYC and they even have a huge wall for only lead climbing. Their gradings of the problems are generally softer than what I'm used to but it was still very fun and I just simply went for a higher grade. Their bouldering section is relatively smaller but still have a decent amount of problems. Staff members were very nice and helpful. They have events almost every week and they always have discounted day pass during those events. Highly recommend this place, especially for those that love to climb with rope! read more

Movement LIC - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

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Came with a friend on their guest pass and was pretty blown away with this gym. During covid they do require wearing masks inside and limit capacity by requiring reservations that can be made in 2 hour intervals. Because it was my first time there I had to watch an intro video and sign a waiver. They gave me a set of climbing shoes as well. They have a wide range of bouldering and top rope walls with an additional smaller boulder wall on the second floor where they also have a mini gym set up and some treadmills. Everyone working there was very friendly and helpful and they seem to have a wide variety of climbers from young kids to adults at varying experience levels. I was at the very beginner level and mostly did v0 and v1 levels but I never felt judged or rushed. Definitely recommend this place. read more

Movement LIC - Auto belay wall - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

Stopped by last night for a fundraiser from 10pm-6am. This place is dope! I think it's very admirable for any establishment to open their venue to the public especially for fundraising purposes. Go Cliffs! The community is very nice and accommodating. The lovely staff at the front desk were very sweet and the community is very tight knit. I didnt venture upstairs but theres an actual fitness/weight/machine area upstairs -which is super cool. Great place to come if you're into climbing and want to get in a workout. Bike room, protein bars, snacks, drinks and climbing accessories sold inside! read more

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This is more a review of the mini rec sessions for young children, for 5 year olds. The instructor ratio is 1-3, which is fine if your child can have patience, but if not, the risk is struggling to keep your child engaged. My son did enjoy the actual climbing, and he ended up free climbing on another short wall instead of waiting around. However I think he lost interest in continuing rock climbing because the engagement wasn't there. If I was a rock climber if might have been different. I will try again when my son is older. To The Cliffs credit, they refunded a sign-up after we realized after a few sessions that long term it wasn't going to work out. read more

So far my favorite spot in NY to come to boulder. It is a smaller area than the Gowanus location, but they utilize their space so well. Problems are placed closer together to one another, but there's no issue with running into another climber during off times, not sure about busy times. Can't say anything about the more difficult problems, but there's a good variety for beginning to intermediate climbers. The facilities are smaller, so they don't a sauna. However, I'm not really bothered by it since I'm really only there for bouldering. read more

We went there late August and had a great time. It's a fun and great way to workout.

A friend introduced me to this place. I started coming during their BIPOC and Asian Climbing Nights on Fridays the first and second Friday of every month. I love the environment. The people were very friendly. It felt safe and welcoming. As a beginner, I felt the routes were challenging but also doable. I learned a lot watching others climb. Yesterday, was FREE CLIMBING DAY so I finally took the beginner class. MEG was amazing. She taught us how to belay and made it easy to understand. I'm a HS teacher and I vouch that it was easy to learn from her. I still remember how to tie a figure 8 by strangling the Alien! I'm very excited to go there again and get certified! read more

I've been rock climbing here often for several months and it's easily one of my favorite facilities. Lots of great options for both bouldering and top rope. There's also auto belay as an option. I signed up for the new member package, which included an into to technique course and a learning to climb course. Since then, I've become a monthly member and believe that it's worth the price. As a member, there are perks like discounts and a free guest pass. Staff is friendly. Only con is that it's fairly crowded most days so I usually go early morning or late at night. read more

Great place. Went today and took an intro class. The instructor was patient and helpful even helped me after the 1.5hr class to go over knots. I went alone so climbed mostly using the autobelay. Going down was the hardest part for me. read more

Movement LIC - Autobelay area - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

Best gym in the LIC area especially if you want to sport climb. That said,their bouldering area is just ok. While the grading feels about average, the V5-7 grades feel like they are 1-2 crux move dependent or very fingery. Because the walls short there are lot of awkward starts or sketchy finishes. I tweaked my ankle (my fault) one time on this stupid slab right before a RRG trip. My main problem with their bouldering is that their setting doesnt really help you develop power. In comparison, GP81 and Vital (to lesser extent) have better quality setting (IMO) because it makes you stronger. On a tangent, when the slab wall was changed to hard comp style problems, it got almost zero use. What a waste especially when the problems are not updated that often. I know autobelays are not high in priority but because of my schedule, I don't have time to coordinate and climb with a partner. Also, sometimes you just really want to train for a trip and not deal with climbing with strangers. When you're doing laps for an hour 3x a week, you definitely want the autobelays to be updated more than 3-4 months. All in all, it is a good starting gym for newcomers but I don't think it is great for bouldering. While I am no longer a member, I wish they had a kilter or tension board, sport routes (epic 11-12s) like Gowanus, more frequent setting in par with other gyms, more autobelays, better boulders, cheaper day passes (one visit is almost1/3rd of monthly!!!!!) and sometimes, better music. Staff can play some pretty bad stuff. read more

Excellent route setting over here. All the boulders and rope routes are tricky and are not gimmes. Yes, even the low grade routes like v1 and v2 makes you think. I'm not a superbly strong climber but I think this is a great place to start your climbing journey. Front desk is always super attentive and nice. Route setters definitely deserve much praise. The route setters are what makes the place good. Just like any good restaurant needs good chefs. Send your next project here! ‍ read more

I really like The Cliffs but I think I'm more of a BKB QB devout, although I really love the mecca of top-rope walls here (haven't done one yet). The staff here is amazing and always try to do their best to help. They often have events and opportunities for free day passes, which is great if you go climbing only recreationally like me. The space is massive and I think the walls could've been allocated a lot more better because the layout is just super awkward. All the bouldering is compacted in one area and it can get irritating when multiple people are simultaneously waiting to climb on nearby problems in one space--I feel like my chances of falling onto someone is about 8/10, just because of how close everyone is chilling by these walls. The training/weight room area is quite nice and you can overlook the entire place, but a bit off-putting to get to if you end up on the other side of the second floor. Simple equipment that'll get the job done but not enough bumper plates for barbell lifting, in my opinion. That said, I really enjoy the well-thought out complexity of each problem. I'm somewhere between a V2 to V3, but even the V0s and V1s can get me sometimes. After a few climbs, you might just get tired. There are a lot of fun problems but my time here is usually a quick one because it's always crowded in that one bouldering area. Their Dumbo outpost is also amazing when they're open during the warmer seasons if you don't mind the chip floors. I've taken several friends there and they all love it for a place that is just all fun. read more

Best place to come for top roping. My impression is that top roping in this facility is divided into many sections: stamina and power. The stamina one is the one that is long and it tests your stamina to finish a long route in one go. The power one is the one that tests your grip power and your finger skills. This is the one that hurt my forearms afterwards. In addition, it has multiple routes that are good for lead climbing including a cave. My next challenge is to become a lead climber. That's gonna take me lots of training! The place has lots of routes with multiple difficulties. It can become pretty crowded before 9pm. When it is crowded you might have to have a climber right next to you and it might be uncomfortable if you are used to BKB and other places. However, it seems that everyone is used to being crowded so just go along with it. The crew seems helpful and knowledgeable about climbing. When they were testing me for the top roping certification they also taught me new things that other places did not teach me about. Pretty cool crew! read more

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What a great climbing gym! Went here for an intro ropes class. The place is huge, especially compared to other climbing gyms in NYC. There are a ton of bouldering areas, a big slacklining area, and they have multiple auto-belays! Our instructor was Nana, and she was awesome! We got a nice little corner in the back room for our class, so it was nice and quiet. The rest of the place was definitely buzzing though. The place gets busy, so plan accordingly! There's also a small gym upstairs. Don't expect anything crazy, but they have dumbbells, squat racks, a padded area, and a lot of grip training tools. Not bad for a quick warmup, but don't expect this to replace a dedicated gym. There are also cardio machines on the other end (you have to take a different staircase to get there). They also have a decent sized shop, plus they often do events where companies come in and let you try their products. Only minor complaint is that the locker room was a bit tight, and half the lockers were tiny. But if you don't have anything valuable, there are cubbies all throughout the floor. read more

Movement LIC - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

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I went here for a Meet Up on a Saturday afternoon with a few ladies from a women's group. Acessible by traveling via the E and G subways. This is located in Long Island City. If you're driving you'll be circling blocks for a while. Be smart, save time and take the subway. Upon entering you are bombarded by a funk and intense odor arising from the rental shoes and stench of sweat arising from the spidermen and women climbing the walls. There are a few kiosks available to complete the waivers prior to purchasing your day pass and equipment. The Customer Service here was impeccable. Jamal was amazing and very detailed. For $28 this was a cost effective group activity. I only wish the staff was monitoring turns on the walls. Because the beginner walls are limited, everyone wants a turn and it can be like waiting in line at Six Flags Great Adventure. I didn't like the fact children were frolicking throughout the gym and dogs. To me, this presents a safety issues. Children jumping on the tight rope while adults are flying down a wall. There were several accidents that almost occurred during my visit. I was a bit disappointed by how this gym is really dedicated to more advanced climbers and competitors. With a $28 Day pass you have the opportunity to make use of gym upstairs equipped with fitness equipment, learn bouldering and instructions on the roped walls that require training and partners. If you are a beginner you will spend time mostly on the beginner walls and bouldering. Ladies, my best advice is DO NOT GET A MANICURE or any nail service prior to coming here. Climbing will ruin your paint job and Bouldering involves the use of chalk on your hands to effectively climb. This is a great idea for a fun work out, date, a good team building exercise for those who have the time and energy to learn by the videos and instructors. read more

Movement LIC - Waiver kiosk. Climb at your own risk - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

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A huge rock climbing mecca and gym. I can't even begin to tell you the awesome wall choices and heights and the spacious facilities. There's even two levels to accommodate different climbing scenarios and the general fitness area. The climbing spots are all matted and be sure to wear comfy climb shoes. If you don't have, I believe you can rent or borrow a pair at the front desk where you check in. I saw 30 ft walls all the way to 80 ft walls. How awesome is that?! All levels welcome. Plenty of instructors on hand. The locker rooms and bathrooms are sizable and offers great storage space. Bring your own lock please. There are shower stalls and plenty of coat rack space if you need it (in the rest room area). I came here on a Sunday and it was busy. Opens early and offers items for sale in case you forgot your gear. They sell protein bars and snacks. There's even a bike room to park your bike if you need. Again, bring your own lock. Overall a great place to join if you live nearby. Train stations are minutes away and buses are accessible. It's minutes from the LIC flea so that'd be a nice walk in warmer weather. Must try this place at least once. The kids' birthday party I attended was great. All of them had fun and the trainers or guides were extremely helpful. read more

Movement LIC - Birthday girl! - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

So I didn't realize until my friend had already purchased tickets for us, that we were going to be learning to harness and belay (not just climb while a staff member belays us! Holy crap!). I was very nervous about this but the fact that it was a group for beginners and just a small group of max of 6 was semi comforting! I was thrilled the E train stops basically down the block from Cliffs LIC- get off the court square stop- saves trouble with parking. Sign the waiver before you get there to save time, or you could fill it out quickly on their iPads when you get there. They have lockers without locks, but you can bring your own lock (I believe you can rent a lock too). Our instructor was steve(n?) who had a good sense of humor about our group needing special help with visuals/repetition everytime we poked fun at ourselves at being really bad at this/scared Lol. I wish he had an assistant or the instructions were written down with pictures to go along with his lesson just to make it easier when we were asked to show what we learned by doing it ourselves. We went a little over the time he was supposed to be with us (although he was a little late too) because of the extra practice we needed, but eventually we got the hang of it with teamwork! It was nice after the lesson he gave us a tour of the facility for bouldering, auto belay, and belaying walls. We got temporary belay passes and were free to stay the rest of the night until they close (midnight!!) if we wanted. The walls are color/# coded by level of difficulty so we stuck to the 5.5 easier ones. I haven't been climbing since I was a kid so I forgot how much energy and upper body strength it requires, and how scary it could be at times (although this time I was relying on a friend belaying me for my safety rather than a staff member). Even the easier walls were quite challenging so I didn't feel like it was very beginner friendly... For those that have been doing this awhile, they definitely have a variety of walls to challenge yourself and to also get a good workout. We tried out auto belaying also, which was great to not have to partner up, but when you come down it's much faster than when your partner controls it! We didn't do bouldering but looked cool too. We are happy to have "survived" and live to tell the tale. Now I'm kind of intrigued to try it again, but may opt to have a staff belayer just so I can climb myself (if they even have that option) or just do autobelay. read more

The cliffs now Movement overall used to be better prior to being acquired by movement. Since the acquisition the bathrooms have become utterly disgusting while you have six employees standing in the front desk doing nothing and the bathroom quality continues to go downhill. I have been multiple times and all I see is employees standing in the front desk doing nothing what a dream job!!! Dirty facility not there problem they are just going to chat a watch from the front desk!!! read more

I've been climbing at this gym for 4 years. They have some great variety of climbs - bouldering, top rope, lead climbs. The bouldering section has a cool cave area, and so does the lead section. I'd give this place 5/5 stars if it were not for the bathrooms. I think those bathrooms need to be gut renovated. read more

Oh what fun! Went today with my seven year old and let me just say... from the call I made this morning to ask some questions, to arriving and doing the orientation and the actually climbing... The experience was great. Everyone was soooo helpful! And even the other climbers were so nice to us and encouraging. It was our first time ever visiting a place like this and the experience was so great. HUGE thank you to the staff for being so kind and helpful. They were sure we knew what we were doing before leaving us solo. Can't wait to go back!! read more

I've only been to Chelsea Piers and this rock climbing gym in New York, but I must say I was very impressed with the amount of climbing offered here. There was plenty of bouldering and top roping, including a self belaying system. One interesting thing here is they don't directly label the routes with the difficulty but rather post it elsewhere. This allows you to challenge yourself without even knowing it. They also have these Moon Boards that are configured to be the same everywhere across the world. This allows them to challenge other climbers that also have access to the boards and is a neat innovation in the climbing world. I came on a guest pass, but I could see myself buying membership if I wanted to focus on climbing here. The vibe here is really chill and collaborative. read more

The Cliffs has such a special place in my heart. The 6 months I lived in NYC, I never thought I would become so immersed in the climbing community here like I did. People are friendly and there's always a lot of fun climbing problems. Membership here is $115 per month and you can also climb at the outdoor Dumbo location during the warmer seasons. They offer lead classes at a discounted price if you're a member which is where I learned and have been in love with it since. Lead is essential the next level if you're already belay certified. The Cliffs is such a well-kept facility and I just love how they let you rent out lead ropes for FREE. All the climbing gyms here in California, you need to bring your own. The top rope/lead walls are much bigger than the bouldering section but the bouldering section is a decent size to get a workout in. Missing my climbing family here but I'll be back! read more

Movement LIC - Traversing on the walls ! - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

This was my first time doing indoor rock climbing. The Cliffs were great, more than enough walls to scale for varying skill levels. The "orientation" was good and quick - nothing really formal. The rents shoes were super tight, but I understand that's how they're expected to be. If you're looking for a great workout, a little bit of challenge and some fun, definitely head on to The Cliffs. For me, the only draw back was that there were so few self belays available in comparison to the partner assisted belays and boulders. It would've been great to have more options self belay options. read more

Movement LIC - Rock Climbing Near Me - Long Island City, New York

The best rope climbing gym in the area! I gladly go from manhattan to LIC for this gym. Some extremely strong climbers here as well. Bouldering section is decent as well read more

As a newbie to climbing, this place is very welcoming & new climber friendly. We went on a Saturday morning around 11am and even though there was a good amount of people there it wasn't overcrowded & we didn't have to wait on any lines to climb. We decided to do the boulders and auto belays and it was I think $42 for day pass & shoes/harness. The facility itself is huge with two floors that includes a gym, locker room, and endless climbing options. The bouldering section was extensive with options for all levels. If I go back I would simply pay for a day pass and just do this part. If the downstairs section is overcrowded there is a small section upstairs that was completely empty. We also decided to try the autobelays which required a quick orientation with a staff member who showed us how to use it safely. This section also had a lot of options in terms of easy to difficult and allows you to climb much higher than the boulders. Overall I loved this place and it was a super friendly environment! read more

The staff is knowledgeable, the walls are great, equipment well maintained, membership price reasonable, but it's just too damn busy. The only ok time is before 10AM. After work and on weekends it's packed til closing. Have seen people demand money back for day passes on the weekend. 10-5 it's not as crowded but screeching school groups take up the easy walls. I know complaining about a gym being busy in New York is like buying a smart car and complaining it's too small, but I really wish they'd cap the membership. There's also some bad gym etiquette... People encroaching on your wall space, unsupervised kids running under autobelay, people texting on equipment, sweaty shirtless guys using equipment, people eating BBQ in gym.. etc. read more

Soo sooo much fun! :D Came here yesterday with a friend I met in passport line :) He was really helpful in teaching me all the routes and helping me have a great time! :)) The cost was $11 (he paid which was nice), registration was pretty quick and so was the check-in session. Different colors represent various route, but a given color doesn't denote a specific difficulty. As my friend told me, difficulty is actually measured by numbers - e.g. 5.6, 5.7, ..., all the way to 5.15 which is just super super hard! And on bouldering, there is a different system - V1, V2, etc. I tried the V1 or V0 one which was the easiest :) It's quite scary too, since you don't have anyone to bulley you! Just a mat to fall down on. Or you can try to climb down yourself as I tried my best to do (but my friend still had to catch me once aha =)). And for the actual rock climbing, I did a couple 5.7 and 5.8 routes! Got some sick pictures :D I attempted 5.9 twice and that was a bit too hard, though. Maybe next time! Well, and finally we also tried walking on the tight rope - apparently my ankles are too weak, I was wobbling so much! But with practice I'm sure I'd be better, and my friend could walk all the way there and back with no help/hands! I had to hold one hand and still struggled a bit ^^ So, that was the day of rock climbing - first time in 5 years or so, and was so so fun! I want to go again, and felt so motivated to conquer the world after :D read more

Great climbing gym with what is probably the largest selection of lead/top rope/autobelay routes I've seen in NY. The space is clean and spacious and didn't feel too crowded, even on a Sunday at midday. Unfortunately, I had an awful experience taking the belay/top rope test. While I appreciate that the test needs to be thorough and detailed to make sure that people are climbing safely, there is no need for attitude. The woman who had me take the test was absurdly passive aggressive and condescending, and it killed my mood right off the bat. Needless to say, I'll be sticking to MetroRock and Brooklyn Boulders going forward. Super bummer, as it was a great place to climb, but I'd rather spend my money and time at a place where they value their customers and hire staff accordingly. read more

Second time trying a rock climbing gym, and I must say I may become an avid climber :) It's a great workout, definitely leaves your whole body sore especially the arms. Various levels available to climb, as well as boulder-ing. Some basic gym equipment is around. Staff is helpful and friendly. Location is clean and organized. Prices are so-so. For the day and renting equipment can add up to close to $50. I would love to come back, but I'll probably get my own gear first. read more

I've only been to The Cliffs once, but I had a really fun time. I came here on a guest pass with a friend, and it was my first time climbing, but it was pretty enjoyable. There are tons of options for beginners and experienced folks alike, and everyone is super kind and encouraging. The dogs allowed inside is also a fun plus! My only downer here is that it can get VERY crowded here! read more

A word to beginners... TLDR; Intro to Climbing class only included about 5 minutes to practice climbing/controlling the ropes; day pass to climb ropes not guaranteed; not enough individual feedback. I recently took an Intro to Climbing class (as a complete beginner), and it was really informative. We spent a lot of time learning how to tie key knots and control the rope for a climber, but you don't really get time to practice what you learn alongside the instructor. I spent about 5 minutes actually climbing, and another 5 minutes controlling the ropes for my partner, and then the class was over. I was really disappointed by the lack of transparency because while the website mentions that you'll be able to climb after class... that's not entirely true. You're welcome to climb the boulders, but in order to receive a day pass to climb the ropes for the day (before you come back another day to get your belay certification), the instructor must feel comfortable giving you a day pass based on your performance. Unfortunately, this isn't specified on the website or at any point during the class. Well, I wasn't cleared to climb for the day, but it was disappointing that the instructor didn't provide additional feedback for areas of improvement or a chance to continue practicing. This is especially problematic because in order to get your belay certification, you need to be able to successfully perform what you learn in the beginner class- so, how exactly can you successfully pass the certification test without the opportunity to thoroughly practice what you learn? This made the experience feel really discouraging and like a complete waste of money. My friends and I actually left the class feeling worse! So, if you're a beginner and interested in getting started and having an opportunity to practice, I recommend doing your research to find a location that actually guarantees this experience and creates an enjoyable and welcoming environment for beginners. read more

Wow, we got through Groupon a beginner experience that lasted around 1 hour and it was great fun! As you arrive, check-in at the counter and head to your respective changing room. The lockers require a lock and it they are a bit small, I wish that was improved as you have to bring your clothes, towel, etc. (That is, if you want to take a shower there). By the way, bring your regular gym clothes if you want or anything that is comfortable and doesn't interfere with your movements in order to go into the walls area. The climbing equipment is provided with this course. I would suggest bringing some water or liquid as if you were in a gym. It is cool that dogs are welcome inside. The instructor shows you how to tie the basic knots first and allows you to practice. You will usually do that in front of an easy wall (note that there are different difficulty levels: 5.0 to 5.7 is considered easy, 5.8 to 5.10 is considered intermediate, 5.11 to 5.12 is hard, and 5.13 to 5.15 is reserved for a very elite few). After climbing several times you are left alone to be inside as long as you want to have fun and try different walls. Just as a reminder, this is an exercise of 2 people/couples - you need somebody to be at the bottom of the wall to assist you when climbing (so it is a good idea to come with at least one more person). ---------------------- There is a specialized boutique inside and you can sign up for material demos as well as yearly passes, to become a member of the Cliffs (prices are more expensive than regular gyms as Blink, etc.) ---------------------- I really recommend trying this sport as it is fun, it requires teamwork and it is a bit physically demanding, which is of my liking. If the lockers were a bit bigger it would be great and slightly lower prices would make it much more interesting and attractive. Location wise it has lots of space, but a bit far away from everything. read more

The Long Island City Cliffs is a great spot for rock climbing within the 5 boroughs. They have sections from all beginners to advanced levels of climbing and just being there makes you want to do be a better climber. They have a great amount of bouldering if you don't like heights. Two impressive Top-Roping sections with small and large walls with lead-climbing routes as well. The staff there is great and know their stuff. They are very helpful and want to ensure your safety so ask questions to see if you're doing things right. Some even do yoga lessons and other classes that will pump your day. Although this place gets pretty busy in the evening, try to get there early! read more