Clean, friendly folks abound. They were good at giving me a rundown of the basics and give free…read moreshoe rental.

I have loved going to Bouldering Project (both MPLS and STP), but I am disappointed to hear how…read morestaff has been mistreated while organizing union efforts (including a very suspicious employee termination on the last day of voting). At the leadership level, please earnestly reflect on the choices made so far. Work with your wonderful team to create an even better fitness, wellness and community space for staff and guests alike.

I purchased a customized group outing here as a Christmas gift to my 11 nieces and nephews and we…read morehad a BLAST! Our instructors. Ellie and Ella made sure we're kept safe and having fun the entire 2 hours of rock wall climbing and swinging. This is my 2nd time to request a group outing and they make the experience so easy. First, I filled out an online form stating my expected group size and requested date(s). Within a day, a nice gentleman called me back to set expectations and told me which dates and times were available. I then called back the third day to finalize everything. They answered all of my questions quickly and I just had to put a $50 deposit to hold my reservation. Once we arrived, each kid got a wristband so the instructors could easily find which kids belong in our group. Then, we all got a harness and they began a 10-15 minute introductory lesson on how to climb using the auto-belays. They offered to manually belay us, but we all preferred the auto-belays. I settled the bill after the event finished, and it was $30 per person as advertised. Pro Tip: don't forget to bring cash! I gave the instructors cash tips as there was no way to add tip to the credit card transaction. I loved their auto-belay systems. It makes climbing so easy and I felt safe belaying down from the very top. I especially love the Minneapolis location because of the abundance of natural lighting in each climbing area. I'd love to buy a 10 visit pass next time for my family to share as it's a fun way to burn some calories.

Just went for the first time! I'd never been rock climbing before, and they have a good system to…read moreteach you how to clip into the auto belay. It does take a few tries to get used to the auto belay, but it is fun after! The staff here are super good at answering any questions and giving you tips on how to stretch. I'd definitely visit again!

This VE location has character! The wall quality is nowhere near comparable to the Bloomington and…read moreTCB locations, but the lead wall is sick. The setting quality throughout the gyms is consistent, which (if I remember correctly) is because the setting team travels between gyms. I've never checked out their training area as I've only come here on a day pass, but if it's anything like the other VE locations it's pretty damn good. The others have system boards, campus boards, hangboards, etc. - enough for just about any training program. Overall, it's worth the visit. Of all the VE locations, this is probably best for beginners as there are quite a few shorter walls and it doesn't ever seem too busy here. If you're seeking out the most high-end climbing gym in the Twin Cities, however, you may want to check out your other options.

I had a great time at Vertical Endeavors with a group of friends! I haven't been climbing in years…read moreso we took a quick orientation and then got to climbing. We went on a Saturday but it wasn't terribly busy! There are definitely less automatic belays than there are regular belays but luckily we had someone in our group who could practice his belay skills! He did have to go through a safety lesson first though before he could belay for us. The courses were definitely varied in difficulty so it was nice to get a few easy ones under our belts before we attempted the more challenging ones. After an hour of climbing we decided to check out the bouldering area before heading home. It was a fun experience and the staff were super helpful! Would recommend!

My favorite location out of all the VE! Such a variety of paths to climb. Plenty of auto belays…read moreacross a decent range of levels. Large facility. If it was closer to where we lived- I would definitely consider getting a membership. Besides the walls and bouldering options they also have a small gym and offer a small variety of classes.

Had a great time here as a newbie. They give you a little safety training which is important to…read moreattend, and it was very helpful. Enjoyed my experience here for the hour I purchased. Really good workout, and it's cool watching the experts

I love big island, such a fun spot, great atmosphere, solid route setting, fully stocked gym, and…read morethe employees are great. Couldn't recommend more!

fantastic bouldering gym. it's about time someone put one in the burbs. tired of going downtown…read moreto get my climb on. it's a really nice facility with good variety on the walls.

We rented Base Camp for an over night lock in for a high school girls basketball program's team…read morebonding event. Setting it all up was so easy! They were quick and responsive and everything was all planned via email which made things so convenient! They were straightforward about what to bring for the lock in. The night of, the girls had fun! Lots of space to run and around and be teenagers. All the girls had games the next day, so they came in and all said something about the temperature, some were too hot and some were too cold. One common thing was if they just had blankets on the floor, they were cold. The other minor thing that could be improved - online waivers. I had to manage all the parent waivers. Overall, a great experience! When we went there was only rock climbing and archery available - that said they got their fill of those activities, so we probably would not do it again next year.

We love base camp. We go for our troop's annual banquet. We always have fun! We have plenty of…read morespace for our troop. After the banquet the kids play gaga ball, rock wall climbing and archery. The staff is nice and friendly. And there is plenty of parking. We look forward to going every year.

Amazing experience white water rafting down the river with multiple points of interest,…read moreopportunities to swim, and beautiful untouched scenery. This tour is a 11/10 for me! You really get your money's worth and my family and I had a great time on the water! Thank you!

I had such an incredible experience Ice climbing. Tony, our guide and shop owner, was incredibly…read moreinformative, easy going, and truly made the experience enjoyable. He even worked with my limited availability. You can tell he is passionate about what he does. He provided me with quality gear to use! I would come back ! Highly recommend.

today was great! came in with the kiddos and friends- jack was so great and sweet, climbs were so…read morevery fun and the overall environment was fun. great time and would recco!

Great bouldering gym with so many different styles and levels of routes. They have a space for…read morestretching and yoga where they sometimes do workshops and classes and a weightlifting gym available for anyone who buys a day pass or membership. Employees have always been very kind whenever I go and will make sure you understand safety in the facility when you come to climb and are also available for questions or support.

The new Bouldering Project in St. Paul is awesome! The gym is upstairs and feels more updated than…read morethe Minneapolis spot. Vibes are always great and it didn't seem too crowded at all. Check this place out!

The Saint Paul Bouldering Project has been a long time coming, especially for those of us who…read morestarted climbing at the Minneapolis Bouldering Project when it first opened. All the hopes, ideas, and community conversations that have built up over the years have finally taken shape in this new, loving, and accessible space. The gym was created with community, inclusion, and opportunity at its core. There are showers available, plenty of parking, and, as an avid gym goer, trainer, and bodybuilder, I can say that the fitness machines and classes are freaking impressive for anyone looking to do more than climb (best fitness equipment I've ever seen at a climbing gym). The team is wonderful and feels like a natural extension of the community that was built in Minneapolis & BP Community. More photos to come, but I really do encourage you to check out the space yourself and fall in love with the same community that I have. As someone who has climbed at both gyms since before day one, I'm excited to see where things go next. I will update in a few months!

If you have fond memories of Midwest Mountaineering, that longtime Cedar-Riverside staple, this new…read moreoutdoor activity gear shop is definitely good news for you! That shop's manager has now opened Lake State Mountaineering with similar wares and similar values. So we're talking high quality canoeing, climbing, camping, and hiking gear from a combination of large, small, and local vendors. They have a website you can order from, but if you want to browse in person and get knowledgeable advice from this passionate crew, you can pop into the shop. They have some pretty high-end merchandise, but I'm seeing some tempting sale offers and they have a rental program that might help you get kitted out for an adventure. This storefront location might be tricky to find at first. Enter through the building's Washington Avenue door, next to the barber shop, then follow the signs through the door there and up the stairs, where you'll spot them. I promise there's a nice store up there! You're on your own for parking but it's easy enough to find metered street parking. If you want to properly gear up for this kind of activity and want the best equipment, sold to you be a locally-owned store who will give you honest recommendations that come from deep experience, this is where to go.

Despite not finding what I was looking for what I did find in this store was even better! At the…read moretime I visited they're going through their end of season sale and practically the entire store is on sale. They also carry high quality gear like marmot and Patagonia and those are not excluded from sale which is a rarity. Definitely a hidden gem of a shop and where I will be coming back to get gear for a good value. It's nice to have a local option that caters to the outdoor market besides REI.