My boys are taking a beginner climbing class here and it's great. Zoe is so great with the kids and the space is wonderful too. Its a really empowering activity for the kids and a good way for my youngest to work through his fear of heights. read more

ASCEND South Side - Check him out! - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been climbing at ascend for about 3 years now, since I got to Pittsburgh. Starting with the facilities, the building is always clean which I always find impressive with all the chalk being used. They always have a great range of climbs whether I'm bringing a friend who's a beginner or want to challenge myself with some harder or more complex climbs. Additionally they set new climbs pretty often but do it based on 4 different areas so that if there's a climb u need a couple weeks to work on, you have plenty of time while other areas are being changed. Every experience I've had with the staff has been very positive and they are always eager to help whether I need a recommendation for new shoes or I'm stuck on a climb and want to pick someone's brain for my next move. The membership also gives you access to classes like yoga, which I haven't explored yet but I'm sure they are all great as well. The membership is also reasonably priced and they even offer discounts for students which is nice. read more

See all

This gym was awesome!! My fiance and I checked it out and had so much fun!! The vibe there was very welcoming and there were people of all experience levels. They provided shoe rentals and were very helpful in explaining methods for bailing out and dropping from the wall. read more

ASCEND South Side - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ASCEND is such a great place with a fun, welcoming atmosphere! The yoga classes are awesome--Timmy is my favorite instructor. He leads an incredible flow. The space is also super beginner-friendly for both climbing and yoga, which I really appreciate. Whether you're just starting out or more experienced, there's something for everyone here. Highly recommend! read more

I went to two different classes, boot camp & yoga, and both were AMAZING! They have a super inclusive environment, and I felt super welcomed and encouraged in both my of my classes. I definitely will be back! read more

The Point Breeze and Southside Locations are the two best climbing gyms I've ever been to. Super friendly staff, helpful community, clean environment, fair prices, and tons of other benefits included in the membership and day passes. Point Breeze is notably better for high wall climbing, while still having tons of bouldering and even a wall for crack climbing. Both climbing gyms have plenty of normal gym equipment like free weights, treadmills, etc. Both gyms also have large windows, high ceilings, a kitchen to prepare snacks, and super chill environments if you're wanting to climb in-between "working from home" . I'll expand my review and add pictures later. 5/5; I usually go at least 3 times a week. read more

See all

I went to ascend with my siblings and we haven't had that much fun in a while! We climbed and then we went upstairs for a yoga session. Everyone is so welcoming here. read more

See all

First time here had a blast! Staff was super friendly. Very good climbs, lots of caves. Give you shoes and chalk for your first time. Only complaint is the grades are labeled as ranges (v4-v6) rather than just one grade (v5) read more

As a first time climber at this gym, I signed a liability waiver on their website before I visited. But you can also do this when you get there. I ended up purchasing a 10-punch pass. If you're currently enrolled in a university, don't forget to ask about their student discount! After a quick orientation on safety, etiquette, and general info about the gym, we were left to jump right in. I'm still a beginner at bouldering and was glad to see they had several V0 and V1-3 routes set up. Whenever I got stumped by a tough route, I didn't feel like I was being judged by any of the other climbers. It was a friendly and encouraging atmosphere. I can definitely see myself coming back! read more

ASCEND South Side - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

I never expected to find myself writing about rock climbing, but here I am! Ascend is a fantastic rock climbing gym located in the South Side. And they are the most welcoming group of people! Even on the website it says, "come as you are - get better." I don't know about you but that is exactly the atmosphere I need when I try any form of exercise beyond walking! Ascend offers tons of free-climbing space, plus belaying, fitness classes, workout stations, and yoga sessions. The climbing walls include runs for people of all skill levels - newbies like me can stick to the easier courses, and the more advanced folks can impress you as they climb and hang upside down. (Just HOW.) Trust me when I say that even if you've never climbed before, you can climb at Ascend - plus there are lots of resources to help you address your general fitness needs at the same time. And if you need a break, you can head back up to their front desk to get a snack, or chill in their lounge/kitchenette area. Ascend's prices, membership options, classes, and more are all on their website, and I highly recommend reviewing them so you know what your options are before visiting. Give them a try - like me, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much you enjoy it here! read more

ASCEND South Side - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

As a long time climber, there are a lot of things I love about this gym. It's mainly bouldering but they do have a few short top rope sections if you really want to do that. Their boulder problems are set with a decent variety and they make fun comp-style problems of the week. They offer a decent selection of gear too, Ive bought a good bit of accessory cord there at a good price. Staff is great and I like their free weight/calisthenics area a lot too. The only one thing I really want them to do is set up the slack line more frequently! Its rarely ever up :( read more

I'm really impressed with this place because they offered a free community yoga class. Once I got there I realize that they do this once a month. And after the yoga class you could go and climb for a little bit of a discount. What a great deal and a great way to get new people interested in climbing. Marketing ploy or not, it seems like a good time to me. If I wasn't pregnant I would have tried out the wall, but alas, maybe next time. I found out about the class and this place theougha friend. She has a monthly membership here and you get to go to as many of the classes for free for just paying for the membership to the climbing wall. She has been singing their praises for months now, so when she invited me out to the yoga class I took her up on it. I think that's a pretty good deal considering that you can get two for one. It's nice to have both things in one place so you don't have to go all around the city trying to find a good class and also going to exercise and climb. A downfall is parking. But you're going to get that in the Southside no matter where you go. There are free spots right on the street if you go during the correct times you'll be able to snag one. We went on a weekend and we had no problem finding a free spot. The yoga class if they did was a general one and the instructors were great. For the free class they did it around the climbing wall which was interesting because they had a few of the teachers walking around helping and watching people in their positions. Even though it was a large space I felt taking care of and didn't feel like I couldn't follow along. The women's bathrooms were also spacious and very clean. I was impressed by this changing area. It is something to keep in mind when thinking about choosing a gym. You want a nice place to change before and after. And this one met all cleanliness standards I had. Granted, it was 8:30 in the morning but still. It was nice. I would definitely go again,for the free class, and I'm thinking about a membership to the climbing wall. It just seems like a really fun thing to do. read more

After visiting this place twice, my new obsession is rock climbing. I absolutely love this place. A great place to visit with ur family and friends to lose all that summer gains lol. For my first visit, they made me sign an online waiver and then let me choose their rock climbing shoes. Ikr! There is a specific kind of shoes for this activity. Since this was my first visit, they offered this for free. Finally, the staff members gave me a tour, basically explaining about the rules and regulations of the gym. They also gave me a demo on how to climb the rocks and also how to fall the right way. My brother is a member of this gym since he moved to Pittsburgh. I would love to be a member as well but I live in Florida. However, i highly recommend you guys check this gym out. Tip- Make sure to chalk your hands before climbing those climbing those rocks for a good grip. Don't worry if you are not able to climb on the first try. Im sure you will have a lot of fun at this gym especially if you like adventure and sports. read more

See all

I came here for my very first climbing experience and was blown away by the hospitality, atmosphere, and extensiveness of the place! First of all, it is ginormous. There are so many places to climb, and they had a lot of variety! So there were a number of V0s and V1s that were very reasonable for a beginner like me. But then they also had V1-3s that I could try to challenge myself on. At the same time, it was amazing to sit and watch the expert V7-9-ers, and just see how amazing people are! The staff does a good job of giving you an orientation at the beginning, after you fill out your waiver, like teaching you how to fall safely and explaining what all the numbers mean. It's really cool because this place has other activities as well. They have yoga, other fitness classes, and an open floor with weight equipment, so a fair amount of people make this their primary gym. The most amazing thing is -- the hospitality and customer service! If you're visiting with an Ascend member and it's your first time at Ascend, you get free admission and free climbing shoe rentals! Not only that, I accidentally wore my wedding rings and was told by my friend that I shouldn't climb with them. There are a lot of cubbies to put your things, but I felt uncomfortable putting my wedding rings in the open cubbies. So the staff actually let me keep my wedding rings in their safe at the front desk! On top of that, they also were kind enough to help me charge my phone when it was at 1% battery life....I was blown away by their kindness and willingness to help their customers. The staff seem genuinely happy to be there. Oh! And they recycle the paper towels you use to dry your hands with in the bathroom! Extra win for being environmentally friendly! The only drawback might be the parking; it is hard to find parking in the designated parking lot, but there is adequate street parking on the adjacent roads so you can definitely make do. This is a great climbing facility for a newbie like me, but the range of climbing routes is truly impressive. Apparently they make at least one new route every week. I highly recommend them for newbies and pros alike! read more

ASCEND South Side - the arch - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

A great place for learn rock climbing. The staff are super nice. The activity is fun and challenging. I have been there twice. It's beginner friendly and clean. I Will definitely go back! read more

SO MUCH FUN and SUCH A GREAT WORKOUT! First, let's talk about parking, they have a nice little parking lot but if it's full I found some one the street behind which was totally fine. You fill out a waiver and then take a walk through with one of the instructors and then you get right into it! Each course is color coded and has a level 0-9 (9 was the highest I've seen anyways) 0 is obviously the easiest and for my first time we couldn't get higher than a level 1-2. If you fall off, no worries you fall into a big soft pillow! They have an entire kitchen and eating area so you can pack a lunch and enjoy your whole day. There is also cardio equipment and basically all the free weights one would need free with your daily pass. There are also yoga and fitness classes throughout the day you are also welcomed to join, free with your daily pass! How sweet :) I could not recommend this place more! There were people of all ages - young and old! A great way to get out of the house and enjoy a different kind of workout for the day! read more

See all

Was in town for a wedding and had time to kill while the women got ready. Me and another guy went to check it out. Place had some really great boulders. Top rope didn't look great, but that's ok. Bouldering was challenging and had some really fun walks. read more

ASCEND South Side - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Visited ASCEND with my husband during our weekend trip to Pittsburgh. We intentionally stayed on the South Side so that we would be close to this as we knew it was something we wanted to experience. We paid $17 each for a day pass which was BEYOND worth it, with our day pass we were able take a free fitness or yoga class (we opted for Yoga) and our class with Levi was amazing! After yoga, we started with bouldering but quickly discovered that we needed more experience, so we then were able to climb on the rock wall w/ auto-belays. The staff was so welcoming from beginning to end and were very helpful in terms of making sure we knew what we were doing and felt comfortable and safe while climbing! The best part of this gym was definitely the community feel! Everyone made us feel more than welcomed and a few of the regulars even gave us tons of pointers (as they could probably tell it was our first time). I HIGHLY recommend this place for anyone visiting or currently in Pittsburgh, the experience can't be beat! read more

ASCEND South Side - Rock Climbing - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Awesome bouldering gym. Really big and lots of features. Fun route setting. The arch feature is definitely hype. The routes were rated well and there was a good variety. The top roping is about the same length as the bouldering TBH. But they do have a moon board, yoga classes, some exercise equipment, and great sunlight to make up for it with the big windows. This is not your dungeon bouldering gym like so many places around the world. One of the best bouldering gyms I've been to. Period. Check it out if living in or need training in the area. Great vibe of fellow climbers as well. Decent amount of little ones though. I did find the walkthrough too cookie cutter and long for an experienced climber but that doesn't affect my grade. read more

ASCEND South Side - Arch feature - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

One of the best gyms in Pgh imo. I like strength training as my primary exercise, but this provides an excellent alternative for other days. Day pass includes one of their classes. Bouldering routes have a good mix of strength and technique. They get involved in local policies and activities, which is nice for a business. Post covid, could use the little work area they have, can make this a whole wfh gym. read more

I am 100 percent a casual rock climbing person and this place is so welcoming and accommodating for beginners, so don't feel intimidated! I've done occasional bouldering at a few local rock climbing facilities over the years. However, Ascend is by far the largest and offers the most varied options. I usually stick between V0 and V2 climbing options, which are always clearly labeled. The bouldering area also has a wonderful soft landing pad, so getting back down is kind of like dropping onto a marshmallow. The facility is B-E-U-T-ful. There's a breathtaking panoramic view of the city here, which I had not expected the first time I visited the facility during a Yelp event. My friend who I brought with me to the Yelp event has actually since become a member, so I've met up with her using my ClassPass membership, which is great. It's just $4 to rent climbing shoes besides that. I love that there's lots of options for going, between having a membership, ClassPass, drop in, punch card. You don't have to be locked into something to come out. They also have fitness equipment and a weight room. I've hopped on the ergometer they had there to give my forearms a bit of a rest. If I lived closer to South Side, I'd consider a membership, but it's definitely worth checking out. read more

Love climbing here. It's close to my house and easy to get started climbing. Whether it is your first time or you're an experienced climber, Ascend has something for you! read more

First two times climbing...this place has a huge area for bouldering free climbing without ropes and one large and higher rock area for climbing with ropes. The also have a yoga studio on the second floor and the changing rooms have showers. They use Rockbot? So you can play good music for free unless your musical tastes sucks then they give you the tattered ropes they only occasionally malfunction or tear (i noticed this happen during a requested vanilla ice song for example.. ( just kidding ) Mom's and Dads with new borns? They have really cheap day care ($5/hour I think ) and they have a WiFi lounge area with a fridge and stuff. If you're into climbing, you've found your home in the Burgh! read more

ASCEND South Side - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ASCEND Pittsburgh is a fairly new startup who's business has boomed over the past few years. As rock climbing has become more popular, many have gravitated towards ASCEND to be their primary gym. This is due to its welcoming atmosphere, ever changing rock climbing and bouldering walls, and their additional features such as fitness classes and general exercise equipment. This climbing gym goes above and beyond when it comes to rentals and safety. For your first visit, there's an in-depth tour of the gym and staff available to help you find the perfect fit for climbing shoe rentals. From there, you are free to roam the gym as steps forward are self explanatory. Courses are clearly marked and color coded offering no confusion for difficulty or paths. There are levels for literally everyone. ASCEND can seem a bit pricy for day visits + rentals. People who climb often would benefit from a membership which pays for itself within four visits per month. There's also parking which makes getting to the gym a lot easier. On top of that, they host parties and group events for a good price. Overall, I'm very impressed, and I hope only the best for this business in the years to come! read more

I took a group of 10 college students to Ascend this afternoon, and they loved it. None of them were experienced climbers, but they all had fun. They appreciated the "choose-your-own-adventure" approach. As someone who has visited other climbing venues in the Pittsburgh area, I honestly thought this was one of the better ones. Friendly staff, very accommodating. I loved the bright and vibrant feel to Ascend. It's nice, big and open. On the first visit, everyone gets free climbing shoe rentals and chalk. We also got the 10% college student discount. I love that it feels like a gym. More than just climbing. Ping pong table, fitness machines, snack bar, kitchenette area, etc. read more

ASCEND South Side - Lots of climbing and bouldering options - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

ASCEND is a really great climbing gym! There are a very good number of auto-belays and an overall decent top rope area, as well as parking, a cafe area, WiFi, etc. And at a really affordable price for a day pass or a membership. It's a much better option for amenities than the Climbing Wall. read more

What a great place for indoor rock climbing in Pittsburgh! The facility is spacious and has all of the equipment you need for a day of climbing (harnesses, shoes, chalk, and snacks!) There is a section for bouldering as well as as for top roping. There are auto-belays as well as partner-belays and all of the climbs are clearly labeled with difficulty levels. Thank you Yelp for a fantastic day at ASCEND! read more

Great facility. Amazing climbs. Recommend highly. Good climbs for all skill levels, and good competition climbs. My favorite climbing place In Pittsburgh by far. read more

Rock climbing and bouldering gym in Southside. They also have cardio equipment and yoga classes all inclusive of your day pass price ($17). The cardio equipment is older and not the best however I would still say this place provides a good value. I can't quite put my finger on what I didn't care for about this place. I encourage others to go check it out for themself! read more

Love Ascend-- they're invested in the community and a good climbing gym. Been going to ascend ever since they opened. Only gripe I have a them is that they host way too many competitions which makes it hard for regulars to train for about a week leading up to the competition. However I think they were receptive to this complaint and are now working on getting more routes in ASAP after the comps are over. Good varieties of difficulties and fun sets lately. read more

Super helpful and friendly staff all around, had a front desk employee named summer assist me with gear and properly unpack it

I writing this as a horrible climber who is a HUGE FAN of their entire staff and how fun, easy, and collaborative it was to plan an event here. This place is such a gem, super cool and one of the most unique facilities in Pittsburgh. Their staff is attentive, friendly, and actively assisting others - whether it's your first time climbing or pro status - they will give you the instructions and/or confidence boast you need. Looking to plan a unique networking event, team bonding activity, or birthday party? PLAN IT HERE. read more

Hands down best bouldering gym I've been to so far. And I travel the country a lot. Granted it's almost all boulder hence an AMAZING selection. But it's also well thought out problems. Holds are not too old/slimy but feel new. Super cool atmosphere with a lounge area and a weight area. And benches everywhere. Perfect. Exactly what you need! read more

ASCEND South Side - Climbing gym - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great place! Good vibes, great climbing, CLEAN!! Love this gym, will be back. They have great bouldering and belaying walls. They also offer yoga and have a small free weight and cardio section. read more

This place is a great place to climb! The space is open and airy with a lot of different climbing options: Boulder, top rope, caves, slabs, etc. One thing I really love about the way they set routes is that all of the rocks are the same color; therefore, they don't use tape. This makes all the routes really easy to follow! Ascend also has cool fitness classes like Boot Camp and Yoga. I haven't tried any of these yet, but I was on a guest pass (FREE) for my first visit with a friend who has a monthly membership and in addition to a full day of climbing, my day pass included a yoga class or fitness class. That's a great way to try out all of their offerings! I loved my first visit to Ascend and I'll definitely be back! read more

A great place to enjoy a day off with friends or family. They are welcoming and accessible to climbers of all abilities from beginners to seasoned professionals. I had a great time here and am excited for my next trip! read more

I started climbing in the New Year and I have become obsessed! Ascend is a well run & fun bouldering facility! Luis has been a great help & is extremely encouraging! He always goes above and beyond making me and anybody else that I bring feel comfortable and confident in our climbs! read more

I've been to ascend Pittsburgh a few times now and gotta say each time it gets more and more fun. I've introduced a lot of friends to this place and since then we created a climbing group and normally come here about once a month to climb. It's a incredible hard workout and you'd be surprised how sore you can get and how quickly you may need to take a break till you build up some muscle power for the sport. The staff here are incredible and so nice and friendly and always willing to help someone if you need a hand. The climbing space is kept very clean and well taken care of. They sell lots of snacks and drinks for you while climbing. Also they carry climbing stuff you can buy if you would like to have your own personal stuff instead of paying to rent something depending on how often you go. Overall I'm definitely going to continue to come here and keep trying to get more people involved in the climbing scene in Pittsburgh! read more

ASCEND South Side - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

$16 for a day pass! Includes shoes/chalk bag, and a yoga class. Got an entire tour as a first-timer. Suuuper spacious and not crowded compared to the bay area gyms. Favorite unique thing: they give a range for ratings, like V1-V3. Nothing like feeling super powerful when you did a V1 but tell yourself you finished a V3. Padding is good, holds are fresh. Seems like slightly taller walls but I could also be shrinking. Also there are routes that are crowd-sourced ratings - super cool idea! read more

A great facility, friendly staff, challenging courses for every level! It was an arming experience and we will definitely be back read more

ASCEND South Side - Rock Climbing Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania