This was so fun! After our mountain climbing experience in Colorado we wanted to learn more about this sport and have some fun on a rainy day. We started with the starter course that includes all equipment, belaying lesson, some practice after and another full day of access within 30 days. Our instructor was very good, he made learning the basics so easy by adding fun names to some elements of the belaying and that made it so much easier. After the course (a little more than 1h) we stayed for another 4h to explore the walls, the auto-belay machines and practice what we've learned. The entire staff was very friendly and welcoming. We will definetly go back for more. read more

See all

The staff is always friendly and welcoming. There's a lot of different levels of climbs. We love coming here! The parking lot is way too small for every car to fit down be prepared for that on a weekday evening or weekends read more

Planet Rock Climbing Gym - Rock Climbing Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

This was such a fun activity for my son and I we got to explore boulder rock climbing and ropes it was such a great experience for me and him alike. 10/10 will for sure be back again and the staff was very knowledgeable and helpful read more

This is a good spot to get your rocks on, literally. Went with a group a while ago. It's fun. It's a bit harder than it looks. I was not one to move fast the first try. The wall grips take some getting used to. The instructor was super helpful and cool tool. He had me demo what happens to the person as the belayer for the climber if I stand too far from the wall. The instructor purposely distracted me and the rope slipped out of my hands a bit since I was too far from the wall and didn't have good leverage. My friend had a bit of a free fall for a split second or two and it made his heart skip a beat. It's a good spot to let out some steam and help you clear you mind and focus on your climb and not slipping. read more

Great bouldering and top rope routes, just wish they had more difficult auto belay routes, but compared to most gyms their auto belay selection is pretty standard. Great, super informed staff. Loved their small slab bouldering wall and loved that they had a few slab top rope routes to choose from. Good pricing too. Will be coming back! read more

This place was cool!! My son and I had a great time and the staff was amazing!! It helps get rid of your fear of heights... bc you are always secure and the free falling is crazy... but you get use to it!! read more

Michigan doesn't have a lot to offer when it comes to natural vertical structures. The only alternative is to create one for people to play on. That's where Planet rock comes in and shows people how to really do the rock and wall climb thing.   If you're a noob, just like we were. Make sure you get the beginners package which comes with instructions on how to do tandem climbing. Here they teach you the wax on and wax off on safety and they are very thorough. Maybe it's because nobody wants to get dropped when they're 50 feet up on the wall. After the instructions, we proceeded to the floor and put whatever we learned into action.   They have walls climb courses from real easy to hard as heck. You like to free climb?? There's a wall for you as well. This isn't your garden variety wall climb at your around the corner YMCA,, no sir. This is where rock and wall climbing geeks come together and climb. This is probably the spot where you can test out if you'll become one of them or not ever.   This place is a awesone place for active people who wants to keep active. When your local gym becomes too reduntant, this is a pretty good alternative for a work out.   Life is way too short to do boring things. Weeeeeee! read more

Planet Rock Climbing Gym - (",) - Rock Climbing Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

Excellent staff! Went there with my girlfriend who was new to climbing. We had help from four different staff members who were all very polite and patient! Couldn't be more pleased with the service, cleanliness, and experience. read more

Bouldering, top-rope, lead climbing, and even a speed wall; this gym has it all. I went to boulder, and all-in-all had a great time; the route setting was good (there are routes that are great if it's your first time and challenging routes for even the most experienced climbers), and when I went it wasn't overly crowded. I didn't have any problems getting on the wall and at the most had a short wait to get on specific routes. As a visitor from out of town the gym offers everything you might need to get on the wall. The gym rents out shoes, harnesses, belay devices, and chalk bags so you'll be set no matter what kind of climbing you decide to do. I brought my own shoes but needed some chalk which they were happy to rent out to me. To walk through the doors to the climbing area you need to pass a belay test. I went to just boulder, so I was little confused as to why I had to spend time to pass the test. Even having passed the test they don't give you a tag or any other sort of identification to attach to your harness to let you know you passed which was also a little confusing. I noticed that lead certified climbers carry a tag, and I think it would be better if they had a similar top rope belay tag so that those who don't want to do roped climbing could get in/out slightly easier. I've seen the top rope certified and lead certified tag system work at other gyms and really wish Planet Rock had a similar system. The gym staff were friendly and helpful. There's plenty of parking in their private lot so you won't struggle to find a space even when the gym is crowded. The vibe of the gym was overall positive; other climbers were great, however I wasn't a fan of the colored top rope wall aesthetic (it makes the gym look/feel much older than it actually is); I much prefer the grey color of the bouldering walls and wish the rest of the gym walls matched. Despite my rating, I really am appreciative of Planet Rock and am glad Michigan has a solid gym to get people into climbing. read more

Planet Rock Climbing Gym - Speed Wall - Rock Climbing Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

See all

Great gym! The beginner package comes with an introduction class where hey teach you how to rope yourself and use the equipment. There is a range of courses you can use. There is also self ropes for individuals that come alone. I highly recommend this place for anyone willing to try something new! read more

Planet Rock Climbing Gym - Rock Climbing Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

Started climbing here. I'm still an amateur climber, but I always feel comfortable coming here. You feel the supportive and pro-climb environment. You need to take the introductory class before you even climb here. It takes about 1hr. It is primarily for safety reasons because you learn how to tie the knot and belay someone (which is important!). What's great is that after the introductory class, you get 1 free pass for the gym so you can practice rock climbing! I signed up for the 10 days pass $165, which works best for me because of the flexibility. I come here on my own to rock climb after work and do the autobelays. I like it because I can just climb and not be bothered. Almost the whole top stairs of walls are auto-belays. Downstairs there are 2-3 walls of autobelays. They change the course every so often, so you're never bored. I noticed that Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings are a bit less busy than the other days. read more

I signed my daughter up for classes because she loves to climb anything she can. Turns out this was a great choice. It's perfect for the whole family. Lots of level choices, auto-belay is great for the kids. We have a 6 and 12 year old and we all enjoy climbing together. It's fantastic exercise that happens to be equally fun and challenging read more

Unfortunately if there was an option for a "NEGATIVE" digit, then this would be the place. Don't be fooled by the positive reviews - i'm not stating they are lies but they were reviewed by people who were "at least somewhat" experienced climbers and knew what was going on. For anyone that new - then i might suggest going somewhere else because the customer service could care less about you being there literally. I mean you are paying $44 which includes lessons, rope, shoes, and etc you need to climb; I mean you're not paying $5 or $10 here. Any who...Let me first start off - being a customer i should be greeted when i enter the door unless you are swamped with people and this case wasn't that. I literally had to greet them (4 people standing behind the front desk) - they looked at us basically like i was messing up a good story or something; a guy pointed to tablets and said "fill out the waiver" and then continue with his story telling. Since no direction was given - we fudge our way through, then when we done and of course we had to stop the "story telling" - now what? Oh $44 please - i guess at least he said please. We were provided shoes and then took to seat in the corner like we were kids or something; no wait time given and/or not even a name who would be assisting us. I happen to hear a guy tell a young lady - finish eating; ok i get eveyone needs a break but someone else could've helped us. We basically waited for 15 - 20 mins without an instruction but to put on our shoes. Well that was the less straw; we gladly put back on our shoes and walked back up to front desk and ask for a full refund. You would figure they would at least apologize and TRY to stop us but nope - it was like "here's your money and see you later" type of transaction. After all of that - i'm glad we left because now i would've had to fear for my safety and obviously they didn't care neither to let me just walk out. **New comers beware** read more

This place is amazing! One of the best equipped rock gyms I've been to! Staff is super friendly and helpful. I went for the first time and the person who took me through the safety class (I forgot her name, sorry) was very patient. The routes themselves are very well marked and there's a good variety for all skill levels. They've got a really huge mix to choose from regardless of whether you're into bouldering or top rope or other things (they had an ice pick climbing thing and walls of different slopes). It's very clean and well-managed and I will definitely be back in the future read more

My sister and I climbed here today and I'd say that we had a good experience. First time at a new gym, even for an experienced climber, can be hard to know what to expect and not often a smooth experience. Friendly staff helped us the moment we got in the door until we hit the walls. A couple of things to note is that whereas at some gyms like Hoosier heights where you they have carabiners on all the topropes so you just clip in, at Planet rock you tie in each time with the figure eight follow through knot. Also, at planet rock you have to rent the belay device, a BD ATC pro. So if you're used to the typical gym grigri, just keep that in mind. Top rope routes here vary in height and difficulty pretty well. They have some tall walls, I think the tallest was close to 90ft. They have a really nice boulder area, which I used the most. Almost all of the boulders were steeper then vertical, I.e. not a lot of slabby boulders. But a good variety of problems, quite a few in the V4-V6 range but good variety none the less. Routesetting for the boulders seemed spot on. I had a lot of fun working out some V5 and V6's. they don't use tape to mark routes and boulders. Each route has the same color of holds which adds to the aesthetic. Smaller gym than say Hoosier heights, but the addition of big windows by the boulder area brought in some natural light and makes other gyms feel grungy in comparison. read more

Planet Rock Climbing Gym - Working on a dual-tex V5+ - Rock Climbing Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

See all

I'm just getting into the climbing scene and was initially a little intimidated to get started. Upon my first visit I had to go through a belaying safety class, which I think is great that they do this, regardless of the type of climbing you plan to do. Our instructor (forgot his name but looks like Ben Platt) was patient, informative, and had a good sense of humor. The class flew by, and I was on my way after about 40 minutes of learning the ropes. I've now been two times, and I will continue to come back. The staff is really friendly, good day pass rates, a coffee shop, snacks, and plenty of beginner and experienced climbers on the floor. It's a collaborative community (I've gotten some good tips from more experienced climbers!). I initially thought I'd get booed off the walls, but instead was cheered on when I sended my first boulder! A lot of options to climb and they change the routes up every week I believe. Tons of fun to go as a group or alone, a great workout both physically and mentally, all made possible by the facility. I highly recommend! read more

Visited planet rock for the first time today. It was my first time ever climbing and really had a great first experience. It was NOT easy but it only makes me want to go back and improve. The staff was welcoming and super nice when it came to the safety introductory course. My only complaint is that the shoes were super old and worn but I imagine if I become a regular I would invest in my own pair anyways. read more

Planet Rock Climbing Gym - Rock Climbing Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

See all

Mixed feelings about this place. Writing this review after my second visit. Prices on the higher side. They do have discounts on some days and for students. Like other reviewers mentioned, some of the staff do not make newcomers feel very welcome. I have experienced this firsthand and witnessed this at the front desk as well. They don't lose customers for bad service because we have limited options for indoor climbing in the metro Detroit area. Beggars can't be choosers I guess. Also, beware of the rented climbing shoes! They turn your socks blue and when I brought this to the attention of the staff, they seemed indifferent and wouldn't even provide a replacement pair of socks :( Other than that, there is a pretty good variety of self belay and partner belay rock walls. They have rappelling/top roping as well. The best part about this place is that the other climbers are super friendly! read more

Quite possible the rudest staff of any business of any type that I have ever visited. With the nearly $1,000 membership fee, I have been surprised by the incredibly poor customer treatment by these entitled teenage employees. On more than 4 Separate occasions, staff has behaved in an unkind, rude and unprofessional manner. The ownership needs to step in and retrain staff in basic human kindness or fire them all. read more

Great Wall climbing courses for beginners right up to competitive climbers. I tried their starter course and will be going back for their Climber 101 class. The instructors are amazing, very helpful and supportive as you go through their instructional course. Staff overall was pretty friendly and receptive to helping get comfortable which was especially important for me as a new climber. Definitely consider king making this a regular hobby of mine. read more

Son climbs here - I love it. The people are super friendly, the coffee is affordable! I would come here all the time if summer wasn't coming up. Gets busy, be aware. But the staff and patrons are friendly so it is fine! Highly recommend. read more

This place is great! The instructors are super knowledgeable and teach at a pace that all can understand. Went here for the first time and took an introductory class where they taught you how to tie proper knots and really ensure safety while climbing. Each intro class comes with shoe rental, harnesses, other climbing equipment, and 1 additional entry to use within a month or so. Don't get your nails done before coming here as they are likely to break, especially if you have longer nails (heads up to my ladies out there). read more

In town for business and had high hopes that this would be my climbing gym in Detroit. I don't feel that the gym was unwelcoming of newcomers - sure the guy at tbe front desk could have been a little nicer and a little more patient in explaining the gym and the rates, but the climbers were generally very nice. The issue I have with this gym isn't the customer service but rather the holds. The facility is great but there is clearly a lack of maintenance of nearly all the holds. Every single hold was black with oil and slippery. I found myself struggling even with v1/v2 routes here due to my feet slipping. Also came across a few spinners on the top rope routes. Overall very disappointed. I may come back in a few weeks in hopes that they've updated their routes. :( read more

This is a very nice climbing facility. I like that their check in/cafe/merchandise area is large and open. Their locker room and shower area is clean and easily accessible. In comparison to the ann arbor location I would say this facility is cleaner and smells better. The climbing areas feel less cramped as well. The staff here are just as helpful and friendly as the other location. Parking is tight and overcrowded, something both facilities share. On my second day climbing we choose to visit this location and I'm so glad we made the drive! I used by free day pass from my intro session and only had to pay $10 for rental equipment. I was able to climb to the top of 2 half walls, which I was very excited about!!! This facility has a few different climbing opportunities that I didn't see at the a2 facility like a climbing rope (expert level) and some cool shear face climbing walls (think emperors new groove wall climbing). I'm very excited to come back and see what I can accomplish next!! I see membership and owning my own equipment in my future. read more

Fun time! Rude staff! Like reviewers before mentioned- newcomers are not welcomed. Almost like a burden on the staff that they HAVE to show you the ropes, literally. Our "teacher" was a blonde girl w glasses who had no intention of being friendly or getting to know the newbies. She seemed annoyed if you didn't get the hang of the safety technique the first time around. I would have learned easier from friends who have been climbing before. After the lesson, our group had fun on our own. Pros: nice facility, decent price Cons: rude staff read more

Love coming here! Frequent 3/4 times a week usually evenings, and a Sunday morning. Coming later after work (6ish) can be busy at times, but recently they have extended parking so no worries. They change the routes up quite frequently which is great when coming often. Staff is great and has always been there when needed! Gym area is always clean and tended too, as are the locker rooms! They have two nice showers if you need them as well! Love having a coffee bar and snacks, nice if you want to relax after a climb. read more

I have also never written a review on here, but my experience was so different from the 1st one that I was compelled to share. I brought my kids to climb after a long break. I rented them harnesses and we were bouldering. One of the staff members (LJ) noticed that my daughter's harness was fouled, and helped her fix it. She was super friendly and non-judgmental. I admitted that I thought I could use a refresh course. She checked if there was one scheduled, and there wasn't, so she took me through it herself for free. She talked me through it and answered my questions quickly, and before I could say 'top rope' I was belaying the kids myself. Great place, great customer service. I held back on the stars because they're still moving in, and the decor is spartan at the moment. Climb On! read more

Planet Rock Climbing Gym - Great bouldering areas for the littles - Rock Climbing Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

Pros 1. Helpful staff... the staff doesn't "do too much"; I am not a customer that even needs a smile or "how is your day?" just get the business right, be respectful and we are fine... Planet Rock does this well. 2. Amazing facility... I have tons to learn about climbing but I can't imagine this place is missing anything related to climbing. Cons You ever really like something, but don't really talk about it because you don't want to be associated with the other people who do it? Believe it or not, there are probably some mum CrossFit Vegans out there who drive BMWs not like jackasses... I digress... To a noob like me, climbing seems very personal... and what's cool is that there are competing sides to it and competitions for people who are really about that life and who are talented. What is very weird, slightly funny and big cons are how SOME PEOPLE at these gyms passively compete with noobs... 1. Trying to 1-up noobs instead of challenging yourself aka Cake Walking someone's Project... this place is huge! There are literally problems on problems on problem cubed -- why are strapped folks who are clearly regulars with their own gear lurking on v0 and v1 to sprint up them after a noob takes a couple falls. That v4 looking too tough for ya? Those 10000 other v1s aren't available for you to warm up? Gotta use this one right here right now after seeing a clear noob fail three times...ok pal! Lol that'll get you better... you win? 2. Spraying beta... didn't even know this was a "thing" but I knew at the time that it felt hella awkward and weird when it was happening. There were dudes and women killing it out there, minding their own damn business and just working/having a blast. Then there are SOME mediocre people who clearly have some experience but usually not the best talent that are giving out free "advise/directions/coaching" that you didn't ask for while you're in the middle of doing the thing... ugh... to say the least. I see why some people wear earbuds... read more

Friendly staff. Always a great experience! Other reviewers were complaining about the price, however this sport is much cheaper than most other sports. Also, they probably did not consider that they are climbing in a brand new beautiful facility that is still not finished. Let alone the cost of their insurance..... I go there 3ish days a week and I am never disappointed. read more

This place is great. My 1st experience was awesome. I did the beginner's package which included instruction, rental (for shoes and harness) and includes the 2nd visit pass. The instructor Nowway (not sure how to spell) was very helpful and explained things to me very well. This was a great experience that was really challenging. I hope to visit again very soon! read more

Really appreciate we've got a good rock climbing gym in metro Detroit. Have taken the belay class here and have been climbing here for about a year. I like the Madison Heights location better than the Ann Arbor location. It's bigger and more updated. I'm a fan! read more

First time rocking climbing, I couldn't be happier with it! Can't wait to go back and do it again. My friends and I had the beginner package and our instructor was really nice and friendly. The staff had good vibes, and we're very friendly. read more

Planet Rock Climbing Gym - Rock Climbing Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

The Planet Rock empire is the only place to climb in Southeast Michigan. They could be total monsters about this, could be monopolistic. Instead, they involve their client base in creating the ideal experience. This place is the culmination of everything their customers wanted and it is still growing. Great facility. This is also the only place, in my opinion, you should be buying your climbing gear. Not only is this your only chance to try before you buy, but you have staff right there to make sure you're safe and getting the info you need. They price match too, this stuff isn't cheap. This is a good opportunity to buy local and work with staff who are serious about the sport. Great Product. Full disclosure here, I know these people. I'm friends with a good portion of the staff. That said, they are some of the most knowledgeable people you can find to help you purchase gear and learn to use it. Cody Landry and Brad Barr have an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport and exude confidence in everything they say. So whether you're a veteran climber looking for that next trad piece or your buying your first harness, these guys will take you seriously and sell you what you need. Great Staff. Great facility + Great Product + Great Staff = 5 stars (according to Pythagorean's theory on yelp reviews) read more

I loved this place, it was so much fun. The costumer services was great as well. They actually taught us how to tie the ropes and how to make you feel safe when you're up on the wall. I just moved to GA and they don't have Planet Rock here but I am wishing they did. :/ read more

Had a great experience here! I came in for the beginner package class and the instructor was super helpful and nice. One of the parts of the class was catching him with the rope if he fell off the wall and he would say "thank you for catching me" every time. What a guy! read more

Experienced climber. From out of town. Came here for a quick climb expecting to pay $17 for a day pass, as it misleadingly states on their website. Apparently, if it's your first time, you must pay $44 for a "first time" package which includes a "belay course" and a 2 day pass. This made no sense for me, considering I would just be bouldering with my own equipment for a couple hours. I've climbed at a ton of other gyms, and have never had to do this. I do not think this is standard practice, and would not recommend this gym if your coming here for just a day. I talked to the owner, who claims it's because people say they are going to Boulder only and climb routes without being evaluated for knot tying and belay skills. However, this does not explain why you would have to pay for a 2 day pass on your first time. read more

Great rock climbing gym in the Detroit suburbs. Many bouldering and top-rope routes that are continuously updated by a dedicated staff.

Went here for a climb while visiting family. I found the day pass reasonable and comparable to what it costs at other climbing gyms. I have my own equipment so didn't have to rent. One thing to note is that they require you to pass a belay test even if all you plan to do is boulder or have someone else belay you. So if you are a new climber, you'll probably have to take their belay class. It wasn't a problem for me, but it's worth noting if you are coming from another climbing gym. One thing that was new to me was the auto-belay devices! That was fun. I was traveling away from my normal climbing buddies so it was cool to climb route by myself. The bouldering was cool because you can top-out, something many gyms don't have. That's a really good skill to master if you plan to boulder outdoors. I will say compared to my usual climbing gym, the ratings for bouldering problems felt a bit more difficult. I'm still relatively new to climbing but am somewhere between a V3/V4. I found some of their V2s to be very challenging and designed for very tall people. There are a ton of underhung problems, which require a lot of strength. It was probably good for me to not have many slabby options. One major critique is that the holds are well-worn, especially the foot holds. I felt my shoes slipping on a V1 during a warm-up and looked to see that the toe-holds were shiny from use. I put my finger on them to see how slick they were, and they were very, very slick and not very sticky. I found myself using the wall to flag and smear more than I used the holds (again, probably good for me to practice, but they should probably purchase a few new holds so the new climbers can learn good feet.) All-in-all, I was happy for the couple of day passes I purchased. I'd say new boulder people might have difficulty given the wear on the holds and some of the challenging problems (even at the V0, V1 level). It was a good challenge for me as an intermediate climber, but I imagine someone new to the sport might get frustrated. The auto-belay was really cool and I wish my gym had something similar so I can practice route when my partner isn't available. It does get busy on weekends, but you'll have the gym to yourself on a weekday. I will say some of the vibe felt a bit "cliquey". IDK, perhaps it's because it wasn't my normal gym, but usually at my gym people offer beta even if you're just doing a VIntro on your first climb, cheer you on when you send even the simplest problems,and watch as you tackle problems and help you work through issues. It felt like if you weren't part of the "clique" that participating in that part of bouldering wasn't cool here. One final thing: this gym is bad about labeling problem ratings. They use the tape method (so don't follow the color holds - follow the tape) and sometimes it's difficult to read the ratings (or they are not there at all). For me, this was actually good because I tend to limit myself to where I feel comfortable so I'm sure I sent a few problems I might not otherwise have done, but it is nice to know the rating. I also like to see the route setter name. I find that some route setters complement my style better than others and if I'm feeling tired, it's good to know which route setter I should stick to on that off-day. Tl;dr: Holds not well maintained, toe-holds really slick, need to clearly rate routes, and perhaps reevaluate ratings. Price comparable, top-out cool, auto-belay awesome. read more

Awesome gym that always seems to be growing but damn there are some rude employees here. Wish more climbing gyms would open up around metro detroit to keep the integrity of this place in shape. read more

I've had only great experiences at planet rock so far. I was new to rock climbing so came here with no experience and took the beginner class. It really made me feel comfortable climbing. I started on the easiest ones and since then have been back a handful of times. They have something for everyone from easy to difficult climbs, bouldering, and auto belay for if you go alone. I usually go with some friends who are very experienced and there's always a new challenge for them. It's also great for all ages. The staff is friendly and inviting as are the other climbers. The only negative is it does get very crowded if you go during peak hours. Overall great experience and I love coming here. read more