FAQS

GENERAL INFO

  • Monday - Friday: 6am - 11pm

    Saturday: 10am - 10pm

    Sunday: 10am - 6pm (Members only)

  • Yes. For safety and liability reasons, everyone who enters the gym—climbers and non-climbers alike—must have a signed waiver on file. You can fill it out online ahead of time or at the front desk when you arrive. Any minor needs their waiver filled out by a legal guardian.

  • For most visitors, no reservation is needed—you’re welcome to drop in during open hours.

    However, if you’re coming with a group of 6 or more, we recommend booking in advance. Group visits must be scheduled at least 2 weeks ahead of time, and include a discounted rate of $15 per person, plus any rental gear needed.

    Planning a group outing or celebration? Reach out—we’d love to help you set it up!

  • Yes—children must be at least 3 years old to use our facility.

    Please note:

    • Climbers who weigh under 40 lbs may have difficulty being safely lowered by our auto-belays.

    • Children under 25 lbs may require special supervision or may not be able to use the top-rope area.

  • Yes—we provide open cubbies in every room where you can store your belongings during your visit. Please note that these are not lockable, so we recommend leaving valuables at home or keeping them in your car.

    For safety reasons, we ask that climbers do not keep anything in their pockets while climbing, as items can fall out or cause injury during a fall.

FIRST-TIME CLIMBERS

  • Great question—and welcome! We love introducing new climbers to the sport. Here’s what to expect on your first visit:

    • Waivers: Everyone entering the gym—whether climbing or not—must fill out a waiver. You can do this online or in person.

    • Gear: Climbing shoes are required for all climbing activities. If you don’t have your own, no problem! We rent climbing shoes and harnesses at the front desk.

    • Orientation: Once you’re checked in, we’ll give you a quick orientation of the facility. From there, you’ll have the option to become autobelay certified, which allows you to climb the full height of our top-rope wall without a partner. Autobelay certification is free, quick, and available to climbers ages 15 and up.

    • Bouldering: No certification is required to boulder (our shorter walls with padded floors). It’s a great place to start if you’re new to climbing.

    • Youth Policy: Children under 15 must be actively supervised by an adult at all times while in the gym.

    Want to Learn Even More?

    We offer two great options for beginners who want a deeper introduction:

    • Free Belay Classes: Included with a day pass or membership, these small-group classes teach you how to belay (manage the rope for a climbing partner). They run hourly from 5–7 PM each day, take about 1 hour, and are first come, first served (max 4 people per class).

    • Climbing 101 Class: This is our most comprehensive intro to climbing. It’s a 2-hour class that covers both belaying and foundational climbing skills. We recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance, as space is limited.

    Still have questions? Stop by or give us a call—we’re happy to help get you started.

  • Wear comfortable, flexible clothing that allows you to move freely—athletic wear like leggings, joggers, or shorts and a t-shirt or tank top works great.

    Avoid clothing that’s too baggy or has zippers, and be sure to empty your pockets before climbing, as items can fall out or cause injury.

    Climbing shoes are required (we rent them if you don’t have your own), and socks are optional but recommended.

    If you have long hair, please tie it back—especially if you’re belaying—to prevent it from getting caught in the belay device.

    **We do have a shirt-on policy while climbing.

  • Yes! We love welcoming new climbers, and we offer several great options to help you get started:

    • Climbing 101 – Our most in-depth beginner class. This 2-hour session covers basic climbing movement, safety, and how to belay. It requires advance booking (at least 2 weeks) and is perfect if you’re brand new or want a deeper introduction to the sport.

    • Free Belay Classes – Included with a day pass or membership, these classes teach you how to belay a top-rope climber. They’re offered
      Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-7 PM and Saturdays from 12-6 PM , with a max of 4 participants per class, and are first come, first served.

    Not sure which class is right for you? Just ask—we’re happy to help you find the best place to start!

  • You can absolutely climb solo! We have bouldering areas and auto-belays, both of which are perfect for climbers without a partner.

    If you want to rope climb and don’t have a partner, the auto-belays allow you to climb the full height of our top-rope walls after a quick orientation and certification (for ages 15+).

    If you're interested in learning how to belay with a partner in the future, we offer free belay classes with the purchase of a day pass or membership.

CLIMBING RULES AND SAFETY

  • To belay on top rope at Elevation, you must be certified at our location. This is to ensure the safety of all climbers in the gym.

    If you’re planning to:

    • Belay a partner – You’ll need to pass our Top-Rope Belay Certification

    • Climb using auto-belays – You’ll need to complete a quick auto-belay orientation (required for climbers 15+)

    • Be belayed by someone else – No certification needed on your part, as long as your belayer is certified

    If you’re not yet certified, don’t worry! We offer free belay classes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays with the purchase of a day pass or membership. These classes are beginner-friendly and a great way to get started.

  • All belayers must pass a certification check at Elevation, even if you’re certified elsewhere.

    If you already know how to belay, you likely won’t need to take a class—but you will still need to demonstrate proper technique and safety practices during a belay certification with our staff before belaying in the gym.

    Safety is our top priority, and this helps us keep everyone on the same page. Let us know when you’re ready to test—we’re happy to walk you through it!

  • An autobelay is a device that automatically takes in slack and lowers you gently to the ground when you finish climbing—no partner needed! It’s perfect for solo climbers or anyone new to top-rope climbing.

    To use an autobelay at Elevation, you’ll need to complete a quick, free orientation and certification with our staff. This ensures you understand how to clip in correctly and use the system safely.

    • You must be at least 15 years old to use autobelays independently.

    • Lighter climbers (under 40 lbs) may experience difficulty being lowered properly.

    • Weight limit is 250lbs.

    Just ask at the front desk when you arrive for your free autobelay certification.

  • We allow assisted braking devices only. The most common devices used in our gym are the Grigri and the Pilot, which are also available to rent at the front desk.

    ATCs and other non-assisted braking devices are not permitted, as they don’t provide the added safety features we require.

    Not sure if your device is allowed? Just ask one of our staff—we’re happy to help!

  • To lead climb at Elevation, you must pass our Lead Climbing Certification. Here’s how it works:

    • If you’re new to lead climbing, we highly recommend taking our Intro to Lead Climbing class, where you’ll learn the foundational skills in a controlled, supportive environment.

    • If you already have lead experience (either outside or at another gym), you can test into our system by taking the Lead Certification Assessment.

    • The first three attempts at certification are free. After that, it's $10 per attempt.

    • To lead climb, you must be lead certified. To lead belay, you must also pass a lead belay certification.

    Certification Requirements

    • You must demonstrate safe and competent lead climbing techniques, including clipping, rope management, and fall awareness.

    • Lead belayers must show proficiency in belaying technique and be able to safely catch a lead fall.

    • An approved assisted braking device is required for lead belaying (e.g., Grigri, Pilot).

    • Climbers must provide their own dynamic rope (minimum 30 meters, in good condition) and climb with a partner.

YOUTH

  • The afterschool programs meet once a week and are catered towards kids with less experience (ages 6-13) climbing. We go over the fundamentals of climbing and play lots of games. The team is broken into three separate teams: Developmental, Club, and Advanced. The different teams meet twice a week (three times for the advanced team), and are expected to participate in drills and workouts alongside the climbing.

  • The team is for dedicated kids who are self motivated to get better at climbing. The ratio of coaches to kids is smaller, so there is a higher expectation of responsibility from the kids on the team.

  • When are team tryouts?
    Tryouts are held on Saturdays from 8:30am–12pm.

    USA Climbing has combined the fall and spring seasons into one unified season that includes both bouldering and ropes, so we now hold only Fall tryouts each year.

    Fall tryouts take place in late August / early September

  • USA Climbing has combined the fall and spring seasons into one unified season that includes both bouldering and ropes. Because of this change, we will now hold only Fall tryouts each year.

    During Fall tryouts, athletes will complete three boulders and one rope climb. Each climb will have a set amount of climbing time and rest time, which may be adjusted based on the number of athletes participating.

    *The exact time for climbing and resting is subject to change based on the number of athletes who sign up.

  • We don’t expect any kid to complete every climb. We use the tryouts as a way to get a general sense of each athlete’s ability level so we can place them on a team that will challenge, but not overwhelm them. For the boulders, your child will have a set amount of ‘climbing’ time, but they will perform much better if they use some of that time to rest between attempts. We’re looking for athletes who are excited to climb, wanting to grow, and have a good attitude. If these qualities describe your athlete, they have nothing to worry about.

  • There is no strict requirement of what grade your athlete needs to climb to make developmental, club, or advanced team. Which team your child makes depends on the abilities of the others trying out, since we make each team about the same size.

  • Because there are limited spots on each team, there is an attendance requirement of going to 90% of the practices. For most seasons that means athletes are able to miss 2-4 practices.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • We offer several flexible membership options to fit your climbing lifestyle:

    EFT Membership (Most Popular)

    • Billed automatically on the 1st of each month

    • Option to freeze your membership for $5/month

    • Ability to charge snacks and gear to your account

    • Recurring until you cancel

    Punch Passes

    • 10 discounted day passes

    • Never expire

    • Use up to 2 punches for guests

    Prepaid Memberships

    • Pay upfront for 1 month or 1 year

    • Great for short-term or seasonal climbers

    All Memberships Include:

    • Monthly Buddy Pass

    • 15% off retail and rentals

    • Discounts on climbing classes

    • Free Member Events

    • Members-only hours on Sundays

    • Free Unlimited Yoga

    Not sure which option is right for you? Just ask—we’re happy to help you choose the membership that fits your goals.

  • Yes! If you have an EFT (monthly recurring) membership, you can:

    • Freeze your membership for just $5/month—perfect if you’re traveling or taking a break.

    • Cancel anytime—just let us know before the 1st of the month to avoid being charged for the next billing cycle.

    Prepaid memberships (monthly or annual) cannot be frozen or refunded, but we’re happy to help you choose the option that fits your needs best.

  • Being a member at Elevation comes with more than just unlimited climbing. Here’s what you get:

    • Monthly Buddy Pass – Bring a friend for free once a month

    • 15% Off Rentals & Retail – Save on gear, snacks, and more

    • Free Climbing 101 Class – Perfect for getting started or brushing up

    • 25% Off Lead 101 Class – Take your climbing to the next level

    • Free Unlimited Yoga – Included with all memberships

    • Discounts on Climbing Classes – Learn new skills at a lower cost

    • Free Member Events – Exclusive happenings just for our community

    • Members-Only Hours – Quiet sessions every Sunday