If you’re hoping to reach new heights (pun intended), then Pittsburgh is a great place to rock climb. Here’s a look at where you can climb year-round in the Steel City.
Pro-tip: Most gyms aren’t just for climbing! Some offer yoga and fitness classes and have traditional gym equipment like squat racks, treadmills, and stationary bikes to keep you moving.
Safety First
On your first visit, you’ll sign a waiver and get a tour from a staff member who will point out basic gym do’s and don’ts and where to find equipment and classes. From there, staff will review how to fall safely (there is a right and wrong way), and then let you explore on your own.
If you’re ready to hop on the walls, then bouldering – a climbing style that doesn’t use ropes or harnesses – is a great place to start. Just grab your shoes and go!
If you want to top rope (aka, climb with ropes), you can use auto-belays that let you clip in and climb, or climb with a friend who’s passed the gym’s belay test.
What’s the difference between top roping and bouldering? I like to think of top rope climbing like running a 5K: It requires endurance, stamina, and a comfort with heights. Bouldering is more like sprinting: you need power and technique to stay on the (much shorter) walls.
Don’t have the gear? Gyms usually have shoes and harnesses for rent. You can also buy your own in most gyms’ pro shops, or find a good deal on a secondhand pair online or at an outdoor store like Three Rivers Outdoor Company.
📍 South Side & Point Breeze
Ascend ushered in the city’s latest climbing wave in 2017. Both its facilities have walls for bouldering and top roping, though the walls in Point Breeze are higher (up to 42 feet for top roping) and offer lead climbing for more advanced folks. Ascend regularly hosts free climb time for affinity groups, like women and femmes and LGBTQ+ climbers, and organizes interest clubs such as “Sustainability Club” and “Peak Parents” where climbers can take turns belaying kids. Check the community calendar to see which groups resonate with you.
📍 Lawrenceville
Look for bouldering and yoga classes, plus private coaching if you’re interested in one-on-one support. ICB hosts great events including monthly “Funday Friday” where day passes are discounted to $15 and the gym invites food and drink vendors, musicians, and more for a block-party vibe. ICB also offers discounted day passes and free rentals for PPS students and the occasional “Student Rush” discount night for college students.
📍 Station Square
My former spot! It’s bouldering only, and sadly it’s closing at the end of the month. Until then, you can still take climbing and yoga classes per usual. FA also hosts weekly discounted sessions like Wednesday night College Climb and Sunday Family Climb Time. And look out for their “Send Off” party and community competition Saturday, Aug. 29. When you visit, make sure to park in the garage by the Sheraton Hotel and bring your ticket in for staff to validate – parking is free for four hours with validation.
📍 Allison Park
This 33-year-old gym north of Pittsburgh offers bouldering and auto-belays to get climbers on the walls. Climb North also offers youth options if you’re also bringing kids into the gym, including a home-schooling meetup every Monday and weeklong summer camps.
📍 Plum
Outdoor climbing typically means traversing real rocks, but you can get the indoor bouldering experience with colored-coded holds and varying grades at Boyce Park’s new outdoor climbing walls. The park is also home to many playgrounds, trails, an off-leash dog park, and bicycle pump track; you could spend the whole day there trying something new!
