I'm happy to be a member at mission cliffs and climb here 2-3 times a week but there's some things they could improve. First, the good. The routes are terrific and there's a frequent rotation of new stuff, to the tune of 50-150 routes no older than 2 weeks at any given time. As a member, the free monthly guest pass is a great way to introduce the unsure to climbing. The other climbers also are friendly and helpful, and patient with those who are new to climbing and might not have a handle on gym etiquette. Ok, so what could be better? For one, they need to be more judicious about changing out ropes that are beginning to wear. I never felt unsafe, but it's hard to ignore the psychological effects of tying into fuzzy ropes that look like they've been chewed on, especially when you're just starting out. Second, when they raise their rates, they need to broadcast it as loudly as when they change their safety policies. It's not cool to find this out by checking a credit card statement; it just feels sneaky. It gets crowded weekday nights too, but if you go in the morning you have the place all to yourself. read more

I stopped by this morning to ask info about joining the gym. The guy at the desk should look for another job- technically if I'm walking in there you should jump in the occasion and show me what you got so I can be excited and sign up . No, the guy was not motivated at all to answer my questions, he was very eager to get his stack of towels folded though! All the info I got from him I could have got from the website. I don't think I'm going to join this place due to the initial lack of service . Sorry guys, into the next one! read more

Common fears. Fear of close places. Fear of heights. Fear of intimacy. Apple? Check. Check. Check. Ok, well one of those fears can be conquered here. I used to be afraid of heights. I started rock climbing and that really helped me. Nothing like being suspended from a fifty foot wall, entrusting your life in the hands of one person and some friction on a rope. Climbing is an exhilarating experience. You can set goals for yourself, reach that rock, reach the top. Finishing a climb is satisfying, especially if it was a challenging one. The more you climb, the more you see improvement. It helps you build confidence, focus, decompress, and have a good time. A good date activity. Nothing like showing off your bootay to your partner while you are on the wall. Mission Cliffs is a great place to practice. read more

Dearest MC, First thing you should know is that I love you. That will never ever change. We've been through a lot together, huh? Remember when I first gathered the courage to meet you face to face? Timid and naive, I took you on and only lasted three routes, the hardest being a 5.6. Unperturbed and confident, I came back around and slowly worked my way up your ratings as you worked your way into my heart. I was completely okay with the idea of you seeing other people (97.5% of the climbing populous of San Francisco), but I'm a pretty open and understanding fellow, I had a girlfriend as well, so who am I to talk? Yes, we were both happy and content. But over the past year, though I'm still thrilled to see you, I will have to admit that that flame deep inside me does burn a little less strongly for you. Yes, it's true, I have strayed a few times, but in all honesty, I don't think I can be blamed for that. To my dismay, your popularity has been increasing, so much so that I struggle for your attention most evenings. I know, there isn't much you can do about that: you're the only one in the city. And we've worked through that issue by agreeing to meet in the mornings and early afternoons. It's worked well for both of us so far, tho parking has been a pain during the day. But yeah, I know you're in the Mission, so that's kind of expected... But also, for being fitness oriented, you've let yourself go quite a bit. I know, I'm being very superficial--but I have to be honest here. I find irony in the fact that as you've helped me get more fit, you've pretty much stayed the same, and in some cases have let yourself go. Your weigh and cardio equipment is quite small and limited, your locker rooms aren't as nice as your contemporaries, and air filtration isn't so great. And would it be too much to ask to improve your lighting and just put on a little bit more paint and deco every now and again? I mean, yes, you are a natural beauty in that industrial, alternative sort of way, but even you'll probably feel better and more confident yourself if you'd spiffy up a bit more. MC, I truly do love you. You've opened my eyes to a whole new world and have given me so much. But I think it's time for me to see others again. Don't worry, I won't walk away from this relationship that we've built. You're somewhat close by, but please don't think that I'm just keeping you around for convenience. You're still dynamic and crazy in ways that the others aren't. I don't want to make any promises or lead you on, but there may once again be a future for us. Only time will tell. And though I may not always be around as often, you are always in my thoughts. Always. Truly yours, M PS -- How about brunch a month from now? read more

Came here for the first time this past weekend (after having climbed for many months at PG in both SF and Sunnyvale). It might be the marina in me, but I wasn't super impressed. The gym definitely has a mission feel... a bit on the dirty side, old ropes and no modern conveniences such as gri gris. Bring your own ATC or you won't be climbing. Also be prepared to spend 10 minutes waiting for and then filling out a digital waiver on outdated computer systems which slow the whole process. I was also surprised by how uptight the clientele seemed to be. Everyone was SUPER sensitive about even the slightest route overlap, even if the climber on the wall was already pretty far up the route. A bit hyper I think... we can all get along and share, especially in a small gym. That brings me to the size. I have to caveat this by saying they are under construction to double the size which should be great. But right now the climbing area if pretty small (though are are a good amount of ropes, just too many people who are too sensitive about overlap to be much good). The gym area is also pretty tiny. Planet Granite SF is only a bit better in this regard, but the Sunnyvale PG blows them both out of the water - a ton of climbing and gym space. The one highlight here was that the staff was very friendly and happy to help when I asked to take a belay test (another qualm... PG and Mission Cliffs should have some sort of reciprocal agreement - I'm lead qualified at PG and yet still had to take a test just to get top rope certified at MC). All in all, I'm glad I checked out MC and had a chance to climb something different and in a new setting... but I'll probably be sticking with PG for the most part. read more

I'm fairly new to rock climbing, so we took the class that shows you all the ropes (bad pun intended). Our instructor was absolutely friendly and helpful. Even though I'm sure they do this all day long, he was very energetic and attentive. Then it was time to climb! My belay parter and I felt very safe the whole time, and it's fun to try out the different routes. Super welcoming atmosphere, great staff, and a wonderful experience overall. Will be back! read more

First time rock climbing and I had a blast at Mission Cliffs. My $28 went to an hour-long tutorial of how to become Spiderwoman and an all-day pass to climb the walls. Shawn, our instructor, was patient with a person who can't follow spoken directions very well (aka me). After he gave his blessing on me, we were permitted to climb on our own. Wow, those walls are freakin tall. There was a fair amount of climbs for beginners, but there were many for those in the 5.10 and up range. I was a scaredy cat and could only make it half way up before I wanted to come down, but man, every time I'd go up, it'd be a workout! Mission Cliffs is cool because it also serves as a gym, but doesn't smell funky like one. The place is clean and spacious. I had a great time and would be very interested in coming again with my friends. read more

So much fun! We took a belay class where we learned to rope ourselves in and belay our partners. Once I was stationed on the ground and realized that I had somebody's potential fall in my hands, I gripped on tightly. I thought that we'd clock in a few climbs just to say "yeah, we're really adventurous, we went climbing today." We stayed for three hours! There were a whole variety of climbers and people bouldering. You know that when a seven year old climbs past you that you need to work on your climbing game. It was $28 for the belay class and a day of climbing- well worth the feeling of superiority that washed over me as I left. read more

I started here with a month membership from Groupon and I couldnt be happier! I've been renewing my membership for the past 2 months *The staff is really friendly and helpful. *If you're a newbie, the intro to climbing course is $29 for non members, free for members. *there's a sauna in the locker rooms! My muscles wont allow me to climb everyday, so MC accomondates by having exercise equiptment and classes (yoga, spin). They even have ipads for use when you're exercising. Close to the 16th Street Bart and buses (33, 22, 27, and all mission buses) Apparently they are expanding their space soon, which will make it even better! read more

First-time rock climber here. Took the bf with my Groupon and it turned out to be one of our favorite dates (no chocolate, flowers or fancy dinners required, just baggy gym clothes and plentiful wedgies!). The extent of MC's climbing walls and boulders are both intimidating and impressive. John was our funny/patient/all-around awesome instructor and did a great job teaching us everything we needed to know to climb and belay safely and effectively. Once you've taken the class, you never have to again, although there is a safety checks quiz that you have to pass on every subsequent visit to ensure you're not going to fall and crack your head open. Day passes and equipment rental prices are all very reasonable, and there are some traditional exercise machines available on the second floor (eliptical, cycling, etc., though the emphasis here is definitely on climbing). Locker rooms are spacious and there are tons of lockers in which to store your things (bring your own lock). I wish I lived closer because this would be my gym of choice (plusss, great music!). CLIMB ON, my friends! **A word of caution: PARKING IS A NIGHTMARE. It took us half an hour to find a spot 5 blocks away. Unless you have a residential parking permit, street parking is limited to either 1-2 hours, which honestly is crap if you're planning to workout/rock climb. Thursdays must be the absolute worst because it's street cleaning day on half the streets in the area, further compounding the problem. I just wish MC had their own private parking lot.** read more

I just recently got into rock climbing and decided to start a membership here. $75 a month is probably the most I've spent on any gym but luckily my company expenses a portion of it or else I'm not certain if I would have considered it. Intro to Climbing (belaying to be specific) classes are free for members which I highly recommend for anyone starting. I just took mine today and it was very helpful! Belaying involves 2 people for those who don't know what that is. One person climbing and the other being the "belayer" who feeds the rope to the climber. It's intimidating at first but so much fun when you start retaining everything! I actually made a friend in intro class who I will start belaying with which is pretty cool! Besides the option to belay, you can boulder (free climbing without a rope), take yoga classes, and there is even a small area for lifting weights. It's good to know I don't have to miss squat days anymore with this gym so close to my apartment. Though I do have to admit this space isn't that big and can get overly crowded during peak times. Or else I would have given this a sold 5 star. read more

Having a one on one with your boss bouldering at 6:30am is definitely something to tick of the list of things I've done before I die. "Look at how I glide effortlessly up the wall, understand the symbolism boss man." Sadly I did not glide up the walls but rather cussed as I dangled from one arm like a frustrated monkey that believed inside she really was a collie but lived in a village that would ostracise her for coming out.... Lost? That's OK it's one of my talents. For bouldering I found this disappointing. There wasn't the mix of climbs and walls to satisfy me. Also the basic matting had me a bit nervous. Great spot for rock climbing though. read more

If any venue deserves an a-okay rating, it is Mission Cliffs. Location, convenient hours, and general consistency are winners. It's a gym full of sweaty people, so there are occasionally weird smells and always chalk dust on everything. It does seem to be getting consistently busier and busier everywhere - from climbs to the locker room. And sometimes, when I'm lead climbing I feel like an extra from Thunderdome (you know - Tina Turner, Mel Gibson: Two enter, One leave...) because questionable safety choices happen often. I don't want to blame people who are new to the activity, but the general approach to safety here makes me a little nervous. And FYI: the outside bike parking provides A LOT of parts to the local bike thieves. I lost a pretty nice seat that was locked to the frame of my beater bike and two other friends have lost entire bicycles (also locked) in the last 3 months. I guess once your neighborhood bike grabber invests in bolt cutters they feel obligated to use them? So - maybe don't park you $$$ custom frame outside. read more

I love this place. I used to live a few blocks away and this place is one of the things I miss about my old neighborhood. That and the nachos a few blocks away. Everyone's really helpful and friendly, the setups are good, and there's a steamroom in the changing area. There's also a gym but I forget that every time I'm there because I get caught up in the climbing part. It's not cheap cheap but it's fairly affordable, so I feel I can justify going every chance I get. read more

Great for beginners and fairly forgiving for slow learners. If you can get a partner to come with you that's your size and wants to do all the things you want to do, so you have a spotter or if you both want to boulder you'll have a good time well worth the price of admission. I believe they have like a ladies night only every third Tuesday or something like that and me likes discounts. Personally I like trying the medium to difficult faces because they present good challenges while still giving you room for creativity though you still have that nice little rope safety. read more

I get reciprocal membership here through my Pipeworks membership, so I decided to check it out while in SF this weekend. I found the bouldering area to be more difficult than most, due to a large number of the walls being inverted. Difficult in a fun, challenging, way though. They don't have much cardio/weight equipment. While Pipeworks has plenty of that, I couldn't use Mission Cliffs as a primary gym. read more

The best in the bay. I love the friendly staff and the friendly members. quality of routs are so much better than other places I've climbed before. I wish boulder section was bigger, but then you get to know everyone who climbs there in a month. They are so helpful, too. Hands down. THE BEST. read more

Although Dogpatch Boulders will always be my first gym love, lately I've been coming to Mission Cliffs a lot. Things MC has that DB doesn't: 1) free wi-fi - you can sit upstairs on the top floor and get shit done 2) sauna! i don't know what it does but it feels good. you can turn on the light and read in there 3) yoga! - sam, maria and jordan are all good Ways in which DB is superior to MC: 1) DB has better music. i don't know what pandora station they're using at DB ("chillwave? chilled electro sounds?") but it's often a cool contemplative vibe. nice change from the typical boom boom boom. at MC I tend to not notice the music at best, and at worst it's some irritating classic rawk mix 2) DB has a couch... MC has no place to chill while still being in the mix. esp. when it's crowded, you always feel like you're in someone's way 3) bouldering at DB is obvs better. First time I ever bouldered was at MC and I *hated* it. If you're introducing someone to bouldering definitely take them to DB 4) DB is kid-friendly-- they have a slide, kids climbing area-- very easy and fun to bring your kids w/ you when you climb. MC has squat for kids In conclusion, I hang out at the gym too much read more

Great climbing facilities! Excellent for those starting to climb and for those who are experienced climbing with an ambition to climb outside. Hone your skills here!! read more

I'm not generally keen on gyms. They tend to encourage surliness, cocky machismo, and smell bad to boot. This place is great. Climbing routes and bouldering problems are always pretty darn fresh. Multiple daily yoga classes (and workshops!) are included in membership. The humans - staff and members - are pretty much unanimously friendly. Only thing I would change: Cleaner facilities. The floors are not the cleanest and the changing areas can often smell like pungent feet :P. read more

Love this place. Being a resident in the mission, this was my old afterschool playground (afterwork technically, but I felt like a kid here). Routes are nice, and I wouldn't knock on the rating system, but then again it's really whoever sets the route. I've done a 5.11A at Planet Granite Presidio, that totally felt like a 5.10C at MC, but it's always a grab bag. The updates are nice, more climbing area, I think they put in a lot of money on walls from Walltopia, kind of like what Dogpatch has (popular for bouldering competitions). Workers have always been friendly, I've really had a great time being a member here, yes, price is worth it. Updated gym is still a dash tiny, but I really come here to climb, use the locker, sauna, shower, and sometimes take a class. The only reason it is minus one star, is the cleanliness. I don't expect it to be super clean, but it does feel like it needs to be maintained more. Bathroom gets grody sometimes, glad they increased the lockers in the mens room for some more space. If they keep this place clean, get some new equipment in the gym area, create more lighting outside on all sides of the building (I know, broken car windows all the time, but that's SF for ya), and continuously worked at the bathrooms to be renovated, I think it would be close to 5 stars. read more

One downside is I parked my car along the street and in the building next door, there was a couple having really, really loud sex. It sounded like they were reciting lines from shakespeare as they were climaxing. The windows were wide open, so their intent on being heard was very clear. It only lasted a few minutes though. The bouldering here is pretty good. There is a good variety of routes and the crowd it attracts is very helpful and friendly. read more

This place is always, always super crowded, especially on week days. The climbs are long and varies often, but people are usually waiting for routes or climbing around each other. I dunno about you, but I get anxiety whenever someone starts climbing too close to me. The gym and weight area are also kinda small, but they have decent equipment. I come here since it's close, but definitely prefer PG. read more

Such an empowering experience. Sure, I work out all the time, and can hold my own in a weight room full of dudes just fine. But there is nothing like conquering a towering wall with your own strength, perserverance and maneuvering. The staff is super friendly and accessible. The rentals are reasonable and they have a beginners class that will certify you specifically for this facility if you just want to drop in (check when they have the class though). One of the best features are the patrons. I'm pretty much a novice, but everytime I've gone here, I've met some amazing people who are more than willing to share insight, a new technique or their own escapades. I tried bouldering for the first time during my most recent visit and one of the guys there stayed with me til I mastered the climb--took 3 tries but dammit I slapped that ceiling but good! read more

I used to be quite neat indoor climbing aficionado. My ex girlfriend was really into climbing and so that kinda meant that i was too. I went to Mission cliffs multiple times and I usually enjoyed myself. They have a series of climbing walls of different levels like all indoor climbing facilities. they start at about 5.2 which is pretty much like climbing a ladder and they go up to about 5.12 which is like climbing the Empire State building (or something very difficult). The key thing about climbing is that you're not supposed to use your hands that much. using too much arm strength will wear you out well before you get half way up. This is why women sometimes can be very good at indoor climbing. Because they instinctively don't try to pull themselves up with their arms whereas men try to continually do pull-ups and basically end up exhausting themselves immediately you get in a pretty good workout and it's interesting. not repetitive like riding a bike or swimming and there's a sense of accomplishment involved. it's not boring. there is some strategy, as well as you need to plan most of your ascents. technique is, of course, important if you don't want to wear yourself out. plus it's kinda social since you have to do it in pairs and you better trust that other person so they won't drop you! read more

One of the best rock-climbing places I've ever been. Went yesterday with some friends, had tons of rock climbing walls, and also bouldering walls. Staff was helpful and amiable. Walls had difficulty all the way from 5.4-5.13 and practice walls. Also, they're open until 10pm! So I have enough time to leave work and climb for a few hours. This place rocks. Forgive the bad pun. read more

Okay, I love climbing at this place but not really necessarily for the facility itself. I love the people that I meet while bouldering upstairs, but I don't love the fact that I've had to wait in lines to get on a warm-up, and I feel like my technique has gone to the crapper (as opposed to the first gym I climbed at and worked at (Rocknasium, in Davis)) because so many of the problems are strength oriented. I love the height of the rope climbing...its pretty amazing, and when I bring new people to the gym they are super impressed by that... complaint: the problems under 5.10 are ladders. There's little in developing technique for new climbers when thats all they do. Also, the ratings are ridiculously sandbagged. I've never climbed 5.12 outdoors (let alone 5.11b) and I can flash here. Same with boulder problems, although my complaint with the boulder setters is the consistency of ratings...some are fairly accurate, whereas others are way easier. I don't know if it's just me, but that's my gripe and I'm sticking to it. I will continue frequenting this gym, solely for the people I've met and climb with on a regular basis...This is my home away from home. Some of the problems/routes are really good (so don't think I hate all the setting! I'm just short and hate reachy/strengthy climbs...give me crimpy/balancy/technique-y climbs anyday!) And most of the staff is okay, not really stand-out service or anything but they do their job and are definitely corporate climbing staff, not your small-town dirty rock-climber-owned-type of place. So, in the end, come and hang out...So many regulars; you'll make tons of new climbing friends! read more

Hello! This is such a great fitness facility. Free yoga classes, fitness center, and UNREAL climbing walls. I had to put on my stunner stages to take in all of the different climbs. Great variety of moderate to difficult. The staff and members were extremely helpful and experienced. I'm just about ready to tie the knot and sign up for a membership. read more

I start this review with one disclaimer: 1. This is my first review...so be gentle I have memberships at both PG and Touchstone and I have to say in terms of climbing Touchstone (Mission Cliffs) is far superior than PG. The main reason? The routes. Going to M/C will make you a better, stronger climber. The routes not only require you to work on your technique but the routes will improve your overall strength and endurance. Most of the Mission Cliffs' Community are climbers, serious about the sport. I find that PG attracts more the of causal "hey climbing is the new hip in thing to do " crowd. Don't get me wrong PG a great place to learn how to climb but if you are serious about the sport and want to be around the climbing community then M/C is the place to be. The Good: Membership rates: $67.00 (this includes access to the other Touchstone gyms in Concord, Berkeley, Oakland and Sacto), climbing: routes are challenging, great lead climbs and I wouldn't know about bouldering. The Bad: Gets packed at nights, I recommend the weekends or early mornings. The ugly: The Lead climbing and belay certification test is significantly harder than PG. At PG you can test on any route that allows for lead. At M/C they test you on a 10b or higher. read more

My brother and I came here today, his first time climbing and me, out of shape. We took the climbing class to learn the ropes (ahhaaaa get it?), the lesson was well-taught and within 40 minutes we were ravaging and conquering 5.8's and up. We went during the daytime so it wasn't crowded, but word around the street is that it gets stupid crowded after 6pm on weekdays. Pros: Kinda cheap, $15/day, $30 including the tutorial. This includes harness, ATC, shoes (optional and I don't recommend unless your shoes are weighty), and carabiner. Cons: IT SMELLS LIKE FEET and GENITALS. And you get a big whiff of it right when you walk through the door. It wafts around and does not go away. {shrug} read more

What can I say? I love Mission Cliffs gym. Very fun, healthy, and a great crowd! anyone who wants to try rock-climbing, or yoga, or get in shape doing something other than walking the treadmill, give it a try. read more

The staff rolled their eyes at my friends and I multiple times, because they thought right off the bat that since we are teens, we are immature and we are going to disrupt all the snooty, more expierienced climbers. The staff didn't respect us at all and the other climbers gave us the dirtiest looks because it was our first time. I'll probably never come back. (the climbing was fun, tho) read more

This gym has a lot of ropes but a nice sized bouldering area. It's spread out so seems spacious, even in a busy day.

I really like MishCliffs. It was the first climbing gym I ever visited, and it holds a special place in my heart. The intro to toproping class is great, and the instructors are friendly and patient. Additionally, the locker rooms here are the nicest of the three Touchstone gyms I've been to. The staff here are all pretty friendly, and most of the clientele also seem pretty chill and laid back. That said, this place gets craaazy packed after work on weekdays. It's almost unbearable. On weekends, expect smaller crowds. (I'm sure the same can be said for weekdays during the day, but I've never tested this out.) They seem to change up the routes pretty frequently here, but not too frequently so you can still conquer your projects. There's something for every difficulty level here, but the lead climbing seems to be a bit packed into tight quarters, which makes for some scary incidents every now and then. Parking is very very very rarely an issue here. Usually street parking is pretty easy to find on weekday evenings or on weekends, plus it's free! :) NB: One of the things I really like about the Touchstone gyms in general is that they double the rope at the top anchor, so there is additional friction that prevents the belayer from being lifted up from the floor. It makes for a nice gym experience, even if it isn't super reminiscent of an outdoor experience. read more

Ok, so I maybe developing a new addiciton. I went climbing for the second time on Sunday. This time it was extra cool 'cause it was for my good friend's 30th birthday partay! Anywho, I'm really new to climbing so I've only got first impressions to work with...so bear with me ;-) Mission Cliffs is not as clean as Planet Granite in Belmont, however, they seem to have more variety as far as climbs go. They also have spin bikes, a weight room and yoga classes. All good stuff that I need to stay shape during winter time, especially as riding my bike in the rain all the time gets old quickly! Yea to finding a new sport! So new experiences, I learned to belay and I did a couple 5.9 and one 5.10a climbs! Oh yea, being a cyclist means I have no upper body strength...so I'll have to do as 50 cent says, "do all them push ups to pump up your chest I got a 12 gauge mossbert to pump up your chest have you gasping for breath after that shell hit your vest fear me like you fear god cause I bring death "...word! I'll be back, probably to take a basic class to up my skill level! read more

What's not to like?!?! Tips: - If you drive, there's usually parking in the street right behind the building - They have lockers, but you have to bring your own lock, or buy one there for $5 - For beginners that need to learn how to tie in as a climber and how to belay, plan to attend one of their intro to climbing classes (http://www.touchstoneclimbing.com/mission-cliffs/classes) - They usually waive their member registration fee in January - so go sign up now! - There's also yoga classes and other stuff like cardio boxing offered in the studio space read more

I've been looking for a good gym in the Mission for a while. Even though I've never been especially drawn to climbing, I had heard it's fun and a good workout. When I learned this place also has basic weight and aerobic equipment, I thought it'd be worth checking out. Ultimately I did decide to go with them for these reasons: 1) NO CONTRACT. 2) Friendly staff who gave very direct answers to my questions and didn't try to deliver a sleazy sales pitch or force me into giving a bunch of contact information. 3) No sign-up fee throughout January (normally $100). Also, bonus points for not getting uncomfortable, overly-lustful, "I'm gonna make you squeal boy" looks when checking out the locker room. read more

Mission Cliffs is a COMPLETELY different vibe than Touchstone in Concord, my first climbing-gym-love. Don't get me wrong, though. Different doesn't mean bad. I mean that it's a different gym with a much different clientele. When I moved to the city, I had already canceled my membership at the Concord gym, so I had to re-sign up at MC. Everything about the gym was fine except that I never really got to know many of the people there. I felt like everyone just kind of went along doing their own thing and didn't get to know their fellow climbers. So I went alone to the gym, made a few friends, but mostly hit up the bouldering pit or the elliptical machine. My biggest gripe about Mission Cliffs? THERE IS NO SLACKLINE. Gasp! My true love is not a part of this gym, unfortunately. And it's understandable, considering the small space and the set up. They even expanded around that far corner and added a room for fitness classes, but alas, no slackline (mind you, it's been some time since I've been to MC, so if there is a slackline there now, PLEASE let me know!!). All this yelping about the climbing gyms had me really nostalgic and now miss climbing a lot! If anyone needs a temporary (day-use-only) climbing partner, let me know, I still have all my gear!!! read more

JACKPOT if you can climb before 3pm, it's 12 dollars to climb for as long as you want. the top roping routes ratings are kinda inflated, so I FELT LIKE KING OF THE WORLD climbing some real hard routes. the bouldering routes are very challenging, so i wouldn't recommend a novice trying out the bouldering second level. they do have a pretty good number of 5.5 and 5.6 routes, for people who are just getting started i rented a harness and brought my own shoes here. the harnesses are kind of gross. i never thought i'd say this, but i missed my dainty primrose harness. everyone here is VERY nice and helpful. this was my first time here, and people were very helpful helping me choose lots of routes and help me get less sweaty on the way up. aside from the rock climbing stuff, they have weight and cardio equipment! that's so great! i really wish this was in chicago, because i'd be super beefy and stronger than hulk hogan (probably tanner than him, too). THEY ALSO SELL JERKY HERE. JUST SAYIN'. if anything makes a me reach near nirvana levels of peace and happiness, it's a triple whammy of climbing, cardio and caca food. THEY EVEN SELL SNICKER BARS. if you aren't into fructose/glucose/gluten/everything i like, they have cliff bars and other protein bars that you can eat! don't forget to bring a lock, if you want to lock your stuff up, but there are plenty of cubbies within eye shod of the wall that you can just leave your stuff laying around. seems like a pretty safe environment. read more

I began my climbing life at Planet Granite in Belmont. Then I changed jobs and when I began to work in SF dirving down to Belmont every day to dangle from a rope became impossible. Sooooooo I made the switch to Mission Cliffs and I knew right away, this here ain't no PG scoob. Mission cliffs has become too big for its britches, the routes are more than crowded, the bouldering cave has become a "scene" and a place to show off ink as much as it is a space to boulder. The cave is small in comparison to say Planet Granite's expansive bouldering ramp and other varied walls. Oh you like cleanliness ???? Well forget about it... I find the whole thing to be filthy... seriously... broken lockers in the men's changing room, not sure how the ladies is, not enough lockers to go around, a space that is small cramped and smells of warm pabst, stale cigs and that general hipster funk that permeates every corner of psuedo intellectual fashion cliques... man I sound old, but really I'm not, I just really don't like mission cliffs. But its not all bad... in addition to the first come first serve yoga they have spin classes, something PG is missing, but to me isn't the main draw of a gym... there's the El tonayense taco truck perma parked across the street to reward a day of being hit with hipster shvitz and waiting forever for a route, but other than that I think its on par with my favorite climbing chain... so yeah... there you have it... enjoy... read more