Nevada has a plethora of climbable rocks, amazing weather almost year-round, and plenty of indoor climbing gyms, making it a great state for rock climbers of all levels.
From the world’s tallest climbing wall on the side of a hotel to a climb on volcanic rock above the country’s largest alpine lake, these are some of the best places to rock climb in Nevada, indoors and outdoors.
Indoors
Whether you’re an expert boulderer or just learning the ropes, you’ll find what you need at one of these indoor rock climbing gyms in Nevada.
Mesa Rim Climbing Center
970 Harvard Way, Reno
With high walls for top rope and lead climbing and shorter walls for bouldering, Mesa RimClimbing Center in Reno is considered a hub for climbers. Diverse, accessible, and inclusive for people of all ages and abilities, the center offers classes and private lessons for climbers ranging from beginners to veterans, as well as walls of varying difficulty levels.
Yelpers describe Mesa Rim as friendly, professional, and clean, with helpful staff and a wide range of activities, including “epic” yoga classes. They say it is “the type of environment that fosters safety and inclusivity” and a good place for families to recreate together.
BaseCamp Climbing
Whitney Peak Hotel, Reno
With the “world’s tallest artificial climbing wall” overlooking the Reno arch and N. Virginia Street and three curved birchwood boulders inside, BaseCamp Climbing Gym is fun for first-timers and beginners, and a training ground for top-level athletes. Formations change weekly inside, with challenging formations set by a highly trained team. There’s also a dedicated kids’ room.
Reviewers on Google describe BaseCamp as small on the inside with helpful staff, a friendly vibe, and everything you need to climb in one place. They say the outdoor wall is great for tourists, locals seeking a bit of excitement, and serious climbers. They also like relaxing in the saunas before and after climbing.
The Block
903 E. 4th St., Ste. 125, Reno
Locally-owned The Block Climbing & Fitness focuses on the facility, route setting, and community. Open 24 hours a day, the climbing areas include 1,000 square feet of bouldering surface, including an adjustable kilterboard, two tension boards, a spray wall, and a moonboard. Kids ages 12 and up are welcome during limited-staffed hours.
Google reviewers highly recommend The Block, with several people calling it their favorite gym. They like the supportive community, atmosphere, cleanliness, climbing walls, fitness equipment, and 24-hour access, noting, “This is the spot to climb in Reno,” whether you’re new to the sport or you’ve been climbing forever.
Refuge Climbing Center
6283 S. Valley View Blvd., Ste. C, Las Vegas
With 11,000 square feet of climbing walls and a variety of wall angles, Refuge Climbing offers something for all ages, including an area with kid-friendly boulders. Primarily a bouldering gym, with courses set weekly, the climbing area includes tension boards, spray set, moonboard, and motorized treadwall. There are classes and programs for youth and adults.
Yelpers appreciate the roomy layout, the wide range of climbs, and the friendly staff, noting that one staff member even helped a visually impaired climber. “Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned climber, there’s something for you.”
Red Rock Climbing Center
8201 W. Charleston Blvd. Ste. 150, Las Vegas
With walls designed by two of the world’s top climbers, Red Rock Climbing Center will “tempt, taunt, and challenge every climber that enters our doors,” according to its website. There’s over 8,000 square feet of climbing space for top-rope and lead climbing, with radical overhangs, roof routes, and boulder problems for beginners, experts, and everyone in between.
Yelpers offered mixed reviews, noting a “one-size-fits-all” approach to climbing that’s good for meeting new people, but say it’s not a great spot to take young children.
Nevada Climbing Center
3065 E Patrick Ln., Ste. 4, Las Vegas
Locally-owned Nevada Climbing Center provides access to more than 25 top rope walls, 35 lead climbing routes, six top rope autobelays, and a bouldering area. The owners have been part of the local climbing community for more than 20 years.
Yelpers recommend Nevada Climbing Center to everyone, from beginners to experts, noting that the staff has helped them become better climbers with “climbs that will help push you to new levels” and a “community feeling.”
Outdoors
The great outdoors is where climbing began, and it remains the best testing ground for climbers of all levels. Here’s a look at some of the best places to climb in Nevada.
Dinosaur Rock
Carson City
A good choice for beginning climbers, Dinosaur Rock is a granite crag about 140 feet high. The rock is widely eroded and decomposed, but the 15 routes are well bolted, making it a good training ground.
Dinosaur Rock offers sun in the mornings, shade in the afternoons, a refreshing creek, and beautiful views. According to blogger Cyberhobo, you may encounter graffiti and bags of trash, but don’t let that ruin your experience climbing these granite routes. Dinosaur Rock is accessible south of Carson City off U.S. Hwy 395, about 1.5 miles down Clear Creek Road.
Lake Tahoe climbs
Lake Tahoe
According to Tahoe.com, the “Lake Tahoe climbing scene is killer for sport climbs, trad climbs, or bouldering.” These include:
Trippy Rock: Trippy Rock, or Incline Rock, offers a few climbs up to 75 feet high, ranging from easy, beginner-friendly to very hard. Volcanic rock, rather than granite, the various crack and face routes offer breathtaking views of the lake. Trippy Rock is located 3.2 miles north of Incline Village on NV-431.
Spooner Crag: Located near Spooner Lake, this East Shore climb mixes crag climbing and bouldering on a small volcanic rock formation. It’s easy to access off the frontage road west of the Highway 28 and 50 junction.
Check out more Lake Tahoe rock climbing crags on Tahoe.com.
Red Rock Canyon
Las Vegas
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a must-stop spot for rock climbers. The iconic red, orange, and cream-colored Aztec sandstone makes for excellent climbing when it’s dry, but it’s fragile when wet, so it’s imperative not to climb after rain.
When it comes to where to climb, Rock Climbing Realms recommends the “multi-pitch climbs on iconic formations” in the Black Velvet Canyon and Pine Creek Canyon areas due to challenging crack systems and face features. At the same time, Calico Basin and the Sandstone Quarry offer a range of grades and multi-level routes. For bouldering, head to Kraft Boulders and Calico Basin.
Redditors recommend hiking from the first pullout parking lot to the Pantry Wall in Calico Hills—“the view is amazing”—noting you’ll pass additional walls and climbs on the way. If you’re climbing with kids, blogger Cliff Mama suggests Willow Springs, Calico Basin, and Calico Hills.
Rainbow Canyon
Caliente
This remote area south of the small town of Caliente is a secret oasis for climbers with traditional and sport routes along cliffs and canyon walls, adjacent to Nevada State Highway 317. The Mountain Project calls Rainbow Canyon “very special; a great mixture of cracks and chimneys, superb technical face climbing and awesome aretes.”
Recommended climbs include Sun King Wall, Finlay Crack, The Arêtes, and Sandy Cove. Climbing is ok year-round, though the weather gets hot in the summer, cold in the winter, and roads can wash out at any time.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
