A Local’s Guide to Rock Climbing in and Around New York City
Central Rock Gym Chelsea | Manhattan
CRG is where you will likely climb if you live in Manhattan. With two locations, a beautiful new gym in Chelsea and another on 60th street near Columbus Circle (and Rat Rock), CRG is a clean, classic gym. It has everything you need in a climbing gym and the Manhattan location even has ropes. With 24 gym locations across the New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and now, Florida, a CRG membership is great for those who travel throughout New England often.
Monthly Membership: $129
Day Pass Price: $33
Space: 10,000 square feet
Amenities: Bouldering, tension board 2, kilter board, weight and fitness area, access to all CRG locations nationally
Address: 537 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
Central Rock Gym Upper West Side | Manhattan
Perhaps one of the city’s more underrated gyms, CRG Manhattan provides climbers with big walls and a clean atmosphere. The centralized training location provides an open concept bouldering experience with long sight lines that make the facility feel even larger than it already looks. It has a Tension Board and Campus Board.
Monthly Membership: $129
Day Pass Price: $33
Space: 10,000 square feet
Amenities: Small rope climbing area, bouldering, tension board, access to all CRG locations nationally
Address: 21 West End Ave, New York, NY 10069
Chelsea Piers Fitness | Manhattan
A funky old school rock climbing wall nestled among other sports like golf, swimming, gymnastics, and “Ninja + Parkour”, among many others, Chelsea Piers Fitness is a massive club facility along the West Side Highway of Manhattan. With lots of high-end sport amenities, youth programs, and plenty of birthday party options, it’s not the most core gym in the city. But worth mentioning for those looking to learn the ropes nonetheless.
Monthly Membership: Inquire within
Day Pass Price: Non-members may book a day pass by calling 212.336.6083 or by emailing [email protected]
Space: 11,000 square feet
Amenities: Hella sports!
Address: 60 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011
DEI Organizations in New York City
There is a lot of room for growing DEI initiatives in the city, especially due to the high costs of climbing in New York. Fortunately, there are a number of organizations already doing the work to make climbing more accessible, like The Bronx Wall at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, which aims to introduce climbing to one of the borough lacking a proper climbing gym.
Community-focused nonprofit Brown Girls Climb, co-founded and run by climber Brittany Leavitt, offers indoor and outdoor climbing meetups, mentorship, and guidance for those learning to climb, set, get belay certified, and much more. Adaptive Climbing Group is another valuable organization in the city helping to improve access to climbing. Under the guidance of pro climber and native New Yorker Kareemah Batts, the organization supports professional, amateur, and first time climbers with disabilities.
Whether you are a climber looking to volunteer, an athlete hoping to train toward a goal, or a first time climber who wants a little guidance in a welcoming, safe space, these BIPOC outdoor community groups are well worth looking into.
Source: https://fieldmag.herokuapp.com/articles/new-york-city-rock-climbing-guide
