Rock climbing gyms are opening up at a rapid rate all over the country. In the greater Phoenix area alone, there are 10 indoor climbing gyms. With that many, how do you know which is the best? When looking for a climbing gym that doubles as your fitness center, essential features include top-rope and bouldering terrain, climbing boards, hangboards, and a fully equipped fitness center with workout class options.
One climbing gym company, with two facilities in the Phoenix area, checks off all the boxes. Alta Boulders & Fitness facility in Chandler, AZ, and Alta Climbing facility in Gilbert, AZ, offer two gyms for the price of one. As a member, you’ll gain access to all the terrain, classes, equipment, and amenities offered at both gyms.
What Types of Climbing Does Alta Climbing Offer?
The bouldering and fitness facility boasts 20,000 square feet over 17 bouldering walls with climbs ranging in difficulty from V0 to V12. The gym also features a Kilter Board and multiple hangboards for use during training or warm-ups.
The Gilbert location offers bouldering, top-rope, lead, and speed climbing. It is the only rock climbing gym in Arizona with an Olympic-standard 15-meter speed climbing wall. The tallest rope walls reach 55ft and offer over 125 different routes. Despite splitting the space between ropes and boulders, there are over 200 boulder problems. In total, climbers have access to 30,000 square feet of climbing.
The gym features a Moon Board and a Tension Board, as well as a dedicated training area for the competitive youth climbing team. There are two floors with rope climbing on both. The upper level features many auto-belays and unique kids’ climbs, such as hopping between towers of increasing height.
What Fitness Programs Does Alta Climbing Offer?
The fitness center has a variety of free weights and cardio machines. Some equipment available includes cable machines, Smith machine, seated leg machines, ellipticals, treadmills, dumbbells, barbells, and medicine balls. Not sure where to start in the fitness center? You can sign up for group or private fitness classes or take yoga and cycling classes in the studios.
Group fitness classes offered at Chandler are:
- Movement, Mobility & Activation Class – Thurs
- Zumba – Tues
Yoga class options include:
- Ascend Yin – Mon and Thurs
- Heated Power Yoga – Tues
Alta Boulders and Fitness hosts group cycle classes every Tuesday and Thursday.
The fitness center at the Gilbert location is as robust as the one at the Chandler facility. The facility features a yoga studio, a cycling studio, and a main fitness area equipped with free weights, cable machines, and cardio equipment.
Group fitness classes offered at this location include:
- Roll and Release – Mon/Tues/Thurs
- Muscle Up – Mon/Thurs
- 45 Minute HIIT – Tues.
Yoga class offerings include:
- Dynamic Flow Yoga – Thurs/Sat
- Yoga for Climbers – Fri
- Yoga Nidra – Wed
- Fiery Fusion Hot Yoga – Mon/Wed
- Align and Center Yoga – Wed
- Healing Enhanced Flow – Sun
- Ascend Yin – Mon/Thurs
Cycle classes are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with two per day on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Other Perks of Alta Climbing
Both Alta facilities offer activities for the whole family, including a variety of kids classes, teams, and homeschool groups for ages 6 – 17. Want to learn to climb as an adult or improve your skills? Choose from courses that teach you the fundamentals or join an adult bouldering team. The Chandler, AZ gym offers Kilter Board classes, climb with the setters nights, and group climbs for climbers at the V1-V3 level.
At the Gilbert, AZ gym, you can have fun at partner yoga classes or headlamp climb nights. The gym offers Learn to Lead classes and Gym to Crag courses, including rappelling, making outdoor sport anchors, basic self-rescue techniques, and Multi-Pitch Climbing 101s.
Don’t let a Google search for ‘rock climbing gyms in Phoenix, AZ’ overwhelm you if you’re looking for a climbing gym that offers everything you might need or want. Climb at either of the Alta Climbing locations!
