Dylan YoungWant to ditch the dumbbells and treadmills and switch them with rock climbing for that awesome full-body workout? Thankfully, Toronto has a handful of awesome spots for the sport!
Join us here as we take a closer look at some of Toronto’s best climbing gyms. So lace up your climbing shoes and let’s ascend through the different items on this list!
Basecamp Climbing Bloor West
Website: https://basecampclimbing.ca
Address: 677 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L3, Canada
Contact details: +1 416-855-0430
Operating hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Tuesday and Thursday: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Basecamp Climbing Bloor West can easily cater to both beginners and experts because of its variety of walls and routes to take. Some of their walls are so accessible that kids as young as 6 years old can opt in, making this place a great family-friendly destination as well.
If you want to be better as a rock climber, you can opt to take one of their group classes and programs. This kind of community is also a reason why it’s favoured by fitness enthusiasts and rock-climbing addicts from Toronto.
| Pro tip: If this climbing gym is fully booked or you find it too far away to your liking, they have another branch located at Queen West. It features the same massive space, comprehensive classes and world-class facilities. |
The Rock Oasis Inc.
Website: https://www.rockoasis.com
Address: 388 Carlaw Ave Suite 204, Toronto, ON M4M 2T4, Canada
Contact details: +1 416-703-3434
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Weekends: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
The Rock Oasis is one of the biggest climbing gyms in Toronto, spanning over 25,000 square feet. This size allows it to hold several walls that can cater to climbers of all levels so it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time doing this activity or if you can do it blindfolded.
The courses for beginners are separate from the more advanced ones, but that’s for the best, as it prevents different skilled climbers from getting in each other’s way. However, we feel like getting in each other’s way won’t be an issue, as the environment here is friendly and safe.
| Pro tip: If you’re an expert, you’ll be pleased to know that the gym also features a bouldering space! If you’re not familiar with this type of rock climbing, it’s when you’re not required to be roped in while ascending. |
Joe Rockhead’s Indoor Rock Climbing
Website: https://www.joerockheads.com
Address: 29 Fraser Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 1Y7, Canada
Contact details: +1 416-538-7670
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Weekends: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Joe Rockhead’s Indoor Rock Climbing claims to be the first of its kind in Canada. Whether there’s any truth to this claim or not, we can’t take away that they’re one of the best places to go for rock climbing in Toronto because of their comprehensive classes and variety of walls.
Featuring over 22,000 square feet of climbing space, one could easily spend hours in this place without getting bored! Plus, they also have bouldering courses for those looking for a bit more challenge with their rock climbing experience.
This kind of variety and the type of lessons they provide here are huge reasons why they’re still at the top of their game today!
| Pro tip: We recommend opting for their Beginner Lesson package (45 CAD) if you’re just starting as a rock climber. Aside from the lessons, this already includes the day pass, a pair of climbing shoes and the rental fee for your harness. |
Boulderz Climbing Centre
Website: https://www.boulderzclimbing.com
Address: 80 The East Mall #9, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 5X1, Canada
Contact details: +1 416-255-6676
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Weekends: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Boulderz Climbing Centre may not be as big as the other rock climbing gyms in Toronto, but it does pose the biggest challenges for expert climbers. This place mostly offers bouldering courses, forcing you to make your way up the wall without any harness.
You can consider this as the stomping grounds for climbers who want to take on real mountains in the future, as it greatly helps in improving your grip. Just be sure to get your upper body in condition beforehand, as the courses here will leave your arms feeling sore—no pain, no gain!
This isn’t to say that the climbing gym isn’t beginner-friendly, however, as they also offer in-depth beginner lessons! These lessons usually last around 90 minutes and they are held by the gym’s talented and supportive instructors.
| Pro tip: You can also drop by their branch at Dupont Street if East Mall is too far from your accommodation. |
Hub Climbing
Website: https://hubclimbing.com
Address: 165 McIntosh Dr, Markham, ON L3R 0N6, Canada
Contact details: +1 905-604-4588
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday to Monday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Hub Climbing is another gym that mostly focuses on bouldering courses, making it a playground for advanced climbers.
It’s more of a place where climbers can hone their skills by purely relying on their grip without harnesses. Don’t worry though, as there’s a foam pit that lies below the walls here for those inevitable falls.
Aside from bouldering, this gym also features roped courses. This allows kids and beginners alike to enjoy rock climbing without the risk of falling.
| Pro tip: You can extend your fun workout routine by stopping by the Skyzone Trampoline Park! |
Cave Rock Climbing Gym
Website: https://climbingthecave.ca
Address: 1705 Argentia Rd #5, Mississauga, ON L5N 3A9, Canada
Contact details: +1 647-794-8520
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
If you want to challenge yourself or simply want to hone your skills, then Cave Rock Climbing Gym should be right up your alley! It’s the first boulder-only rock climbing gym in Mississauga, allowing climbers to experience an untethered climbing experience.
This climbing gym allows climbers to experience a more realistic simulation of free climbing but without the risk of injuries thanks to the padded ground. The gym also features a variety of routes and walls even though it’s relatively smaller compared to other gyms (3600 square feet).
Furthermore, Cave Rock also features some optional lessons for beginners and those who want to improve on their craft.
| Pro tip: If you want to dip your toes in rock climbing but don’t want to settle for the full amount of a 1-month pass, you can opt for the 1-month trial pass. It costs significantly cheaper, making it perfect for those who want more than a day pass. |
Up the Bloc
Website: https://www.upthebloc.com
Address: 1224 Dundas St E #28, Mississauga, ON L4Y 4A2, Canada
Contact details: +1 905-272-2562
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Weekends: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
It’s not unusual to find pros chopping it up at Up The Bloc, as this gym specialises in bouldering AKA untethered climbing. This gym aims to help aspiring climbers improve their grips through a series of courses and routes on their massive overhangs.
However, this gym isn’t strictly for the experts, as it also features other courses and walls that can cater to beginners. This allows climbers with different levels of expertise to come together in a healthy and supportive environment—pretty cool!
Lastly, another thing that Up the Bloc does differently is that it constantly refreshes the climbing routes, giving climbers some fresh challenges regularly.
| Pro tip: If you want to get a taste of their membership but don’t want any long-term commitment, you can opt for their 1 CAD a day for 1 month! |
Toronto Climbing Academy
Website: https://climbingacademy.com
Address: 11 Curity Ave Unit 3, Toronto, ON M4B 1X4, Canada
Contact details: +1 416-406-5900
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Weekends: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Since it opened its doors in 1993, Toronto Climbing Academy has been providing fitness enthusiasts with an exciting way of getting in shape. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities and walls varying in difficulty, this gym can welcome climbers with different levels of expertise.
One of the best things about this gym is its goal towards making climbing more realistic, using different textured walls. Speaking of walls, there’s an abundance of them here ranging from caves to overhangs and of course, kid-friendly ones!
Overall, the atmosphere here is quite nice, especially with its big windows that allow natural sunlight to peep through the gym, making the experience much more realistic. Plus, climbers here can experience the utmost comfort thanks to its air conditioning.
| Pro tip: If you want to treat your kids to something interesting during their summer vacation, you can enrol them in the gym’s summer camp. These camps last a week and they’ll teach your children the fundamentals of climbing so they can start young! |
True North Climbing
Website: https://www.truenorthclimbing.com
Address: 75 Carl Hall Rd #14, North York, ON M3K 2B9, Canada
Contact details: +1 416-398-7625
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
True North is one of the most famous climbing gyms in Toronto and a huge reason for this is its facilities. For starters, this gym is popular for housing the world’s largest climbable stalactite wall, which is always a fun challenge to conquer.
Aside from that, the variety of walls and routes inside this gym allows it to become a haven for both beginner and expert climbers. For instance, some spots are solely used for bouldering while others are dedicated to training kids.
Furthermore, the gym also features additional lounges where climbers can catch their breaths after a long day of climbing. They also have a fast Wi-Fi connection, which is always nice to have in this day and age.
| Pro tip: If you don’t want to encounter dense crowds during your climb, consider becoming a member of this gym! They have a members-only time, which runs from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. |
Rock On Climbing
Website: https://www.rockonclimbing.ca
Address: 474 Front St E Unit 4, Toronto, ON M5A 0E6, Canada
Contact details: +1 647-217-9461
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Weekends: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Rock On Climbing is one of the best gyms to consider if you’re just starting, as it offers some of the most helpful coaching and classes in Toronto. Furthermore, the gym itself is an accessible and welcoming environment, featuring creative walls that can be enjoyed by different climbers.
This kind of accessibility makes it a great family-friendly destination, but do keep in mind that kids that are below the height requirements are not permitted to climb.
The overall space isn’t as big as the premier climbing gyms in the city, but it’s part of what makes it accessible. Plus, the routes and walls are constantly refreshed to keep things fresh for climbers.
| Pro tip: The gym is dog-friendly so if you want to start your climbing experience but don’t want to leave your furbabies at home, don’t worry! They can have fun here as well. |
