This Touchstone gym is by far my favorite of the Touchstone Family. We've been to Berkeley, Sacramento and Concord (our home gym), and Mission Cliffs offers a good variety of climbs (top rope and lead climb) as well as a good bouldering area. The gym area is nice and spacious, and offers a good variety of different machines. The popularity of this gym was evident by how busy this place was, although despite that, it was quite easy to jump in and get on the walls. The tall routes provide a challenge, no matter how experienced you are, and make it quite fun (although a little intimidating on your first run). The only negative to this gym is the lack of parking, but you might get lucky (like we did) and find some a couple blocks away! read more

Mission Cliffs has some fun routes but I have to say there are better indoor rock climbing gyms overall (having hit quite a few in New York, Georgia, Texas and of course California). As for needing an indoor rock climbing gym in SF then it's my #2 of 2. Why I'm clipping in +'s: + Friendly staff at check-in. The welcome mat means something to me. + Great routes for those who climb 5.10+ + Membership allows you to access other locations around the Bay Area. + Inventive route names which makes me smile. + Bike racks abound are a key alternative because street parking is a b-tch. + Afterwards it's great to grab food or beer and a decent location. Why I'm not clipping in -'s: - Bouldering area is upstairs and limited. You will need to go to Dogpatch Boulders for some serious bouldering. - Place is popular and crowded on weekday evenings and weekends. Expect to wait for a route or get on something just because it's open. - Parking is insane! - Bring your own belay device. - Weight room is teeny. Tiny. Itsy. Bitty. read more

Tip 1: Parking is a B! After driving around for 25 minutes, we finally found parking. There's mostly 1 hour parking in the area so make sure you give yourself ample time to look for parking. Get dropped off, ride your bike, or cross your fingers and pray for a spot. Tip 2: Bring a bag to store your belongings. We used the cubbies which were open to the public. I didn't have a bag so I had to stuff my keys and wallet in my shoes. I left with my keys and shoes so it seems pretty safe! Another alternative is to use the lockers in their restroom- just bring your own lock. Tip 3: Wear comfortable clothing. I wore tights and a long sleeve shirt and although I was comfortable, all the reaching and grabbing caused me to perspire. Don't be shy, show off some skin! Tip 4: Bring a partner you trust. Remember, your life is in their hands. Whenever I reached the top, I would shout out "I'm ready are you ready?! I'm coming down, are you ready?! I'm ready, are you?!" No mater how many times and different ways I said this to my partner, the only person I really need to ask is myself. Tip 5: Push yourself. Encourage each other. Great workout, friendly staff, large facility. I highly recommend trying it at least once. Belay on my friends. read more

I'm always looking for a great excuse to get off my ass. My buddy (who was a member) invited me and I had a blast. I don't recall how much I a paid but it was somewhere between $15-$25. It was much more of a workout than I thought it would be. The few people we interacted with were very friendly. The only thing that kind of sucks is that you have to go with a partner in order to climb (which makes sense). If you're a first timer you have to pass a test to make sure that you can tie knows and know how to belay. A great spot. read more

Mission Cliffs - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Sweet way to spend an afternoon, even if it turned out to be the longest climbing session o' my life. Brother and I each grabbed day passes, which are $12 if you can pop into the place before 3 pm (o doing stuff working stiffs can't...). $2 or 3 bucks if you need shoes and harness. We very clearly put on the harnesses ass backwards since we weren't used to the kind they use, so thank god some climber did a "pssh, you look retarded PSA" for us (he was nicer than that). We got ourselves belay tested and then started hauling up the walls. Staff were really nice and patient! Loved the toproping here since the difficulty grades seem well-thought through, and it's awesome being able to do routes probably three times the length that I'm used to at the Stanford climbing wall. Bouldering seems awesome too upstairs, but my forearms were already calling in death threats by the time we ambled upstairs. All in all, we were there for a tad more than two hours of climbing time, so not so bad. Definitely getting a month-to-month membership in the summer! read more

I began living when I started coming here. I never used some of those muscles in my back, arms, shoulders, and legs! (haha ok so most of my body) I loved the way this place was good for learning teamwork AND being a hot place to take your date! There are a lot of different levels and climbs you can do with the routes that they lay out for you. For $15, you can stay for the whole day and use their gym facilities (weights, cardio machines, showers, etc) Good for all ages. read more

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Some people have called me a gym-rat. I disagree. Regardless, I'm at Mission Cliffs a lot. The routes are changed often enough to keep me interested, as are the problems in the bouldering area. And there are plenty of lead routes too. The place can get super crowded sometimes (particularly Tuesday and Thursday nights), and you might have to wait for a rope (ugh). But you can use that time to chat with the friendly folks who visit the gym regularly. The staff is also very nice, but strict when it comes to giving out belay cards. And once you already have one, it doesn't mean they won't pull it later if you're caught doing something dangerous. The yoga there is also pretty good. Some of the instructors are better than others (go to Kate's class if you can!), but they offer so many classes each week that you can pick and choose which ones you like best. And they have mats and props if you don't bring your own. The locker room has plenty of lockers to store your stuff, decent showers, and also a sauna (great for after a workout). I've been going here for about two years, and don't see myself stopping in the near future. read more

Mission Cliffs - Mission Cliffs - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

My first time rock climbing and it was such an experience!! I came here to celebrate my cousin's birthday. What better way to celebrate than belay and climb!??!!? Most of us were first timers and I really believe that we got an awesome instructor!! (I forgot his name! Eeks!) He really knew how to interact with the group, make things fun and most importantly, he knew how to teach. Key points: When you walk in, you can kinda smell the "funk", but once you start, the smell kinda goes away. Nice and clean women's locker room. Each of the walls are marked, so you'll know the difficulty level. Going with a big group, especially those you trust made my first experience wonderful. More so, having my hubby as my belayer. read more

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I was so confident I could do this when I came here one Saturday morning. Paid $18 to rent shoes and do the free-for-all rock climbing on the second floor for as long as we wanted. (No belaying lessons needed) I was a little disappointed because we missed the 10:30 training session for the steeper walls/belaying lessons but still wanted to make the most of the experience. We strapped our shoes on and headed for a wall. Multi-colored strips of tape lined each 'hold' on the rocks to help guide you to the top. After several attempts, I realized this was alot harder than I expected. After a fer more tries, my arms were trembling from trying to hold myself up! I didn't realize my arms were so weak. The less angled walls were alot easier to climb. Once I finally made it to the top, I hesitated coming back down as my semi-fear of heights kicked in. There are thick, cushion-y mats lined throughout the area but even then, I was scared to jump! AGH.. so fun. During my frequent rest breaks, I observed other climbers. One climber in particular that caught my attention was this little 5 yr old (?) boy getting ready to climb the steeper walls. Man, 1-upped by a baby... I'm saving the last star for when I come back for the belay lessons. I seriously can't wait. read more

This gym is very spacious for working out, top roping, lead climbing, spin, and yoga. It is not spacious for bouldering. Everyone stands around talking and you can't even fall because everyone stands underneath you. It's like they packed a bunch of sardines into one small little very little space. It does not have a nice atmosphere to climb comfortably. read more

Our team from the office took the afternoon off to go rock climbing here. Most of us had little to no experience, so we went to the belay class offered at 2:30. Henry did a great job teaching us everything we needed to know and was very thorough. The walls were massive, well designed and fun routes for all different skill levels. Very impressive. Also note, this place has no auto belays (that means you need a climbing partner.) Once 5:30 rolled around the place became very busy, so be prepared for that if you go immediately after work. read more

Mission Cliffs - Henry teaching the belay class to our group. - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a really cool place to go with a group of friends, your ride or die partner, or just going there by yourself. Not only is it a cool place to go workout and have fun but it is located in the Mission, so you can probably grab some delicious food right after which makes it feel like a hidden gem. I was also able to rekindle my fire for climbing after so many years of no action. So, if anything I must thank this place and it's amazing facility for helping me. I would say that the price was 'good' considering that I only go for the early bird special because those are the times that I am free and want a good deal. Overall, I really like this place a lot just because I know I can get a good deal if I do the early bird special. But I am not a professional rock climber so I can't say "This is the best place to go to!" because I don't quite have the criteria but nonetheless check this place out! read more

Mission Cliffs - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

After nearly two solid years with Berkeley Ironworks and what started out as a promising transition to Mission Cliffs when I moved to SF, I've finally decided to end my Touchtone membership for good. Ironworks was the gym we all needed but didn't deserve. MC - I've given you seven months but you've let me down with your overcrowded yoga classes, stinky bathrooms and lackluster routes and now I must bid you adieu. Let's hope PG delivers. read more

Must be because of the new year that this place is so crowded even on a weekday. I also wish more people would use deodrant. Still the climbs are pretty cool and it's a good workout climbing up 3 stories after a hard day at work. The staff is friendly as are the other climbers. Too bad you can't bring your dogs in anymore though .... Dangerous. read more

Came here for the first time with my sister and my younger cousin. We came here on a Wednesday afternoon and there was no crowd at all. We got lucky with street parking with a short walk to the entrance. We paid $20 each (including $5 for rental). First impression was this place is definitely smaller than Planet Granite in the Marina. They have a wall worth of climbing routes mostly consisting of 5.10a and higher routes. I felt like they had more routes for professionals, which makes sense, but if you are coming here as a beginner/intermediate there are limited routes. I also felt like some of their rankings were a little off - I climbed a 5.9 that seemed more like a 5.7 or 5.8. I personally enjoyed their bouldering section more. The routes varied a lot and were really fun to climb. The only complaint I have is that it can get a little crowded and stuffy since it's on the second floor and with the curves of the wall - it leaves little room for multiple people to climb at once. Other amenities in their facility includes: - cycling room - free weights, machines, squat racks and benching - very clean bathroom with lockers and showers Overall, I see myself coming here maybe once or two more time to try the routes I didn't climb the first time. read more

Went Rock Climbing for the first time. Lots of walls to climb, depending on which one determines if you need a harness or not. There's exercise equipment too if you're tired of climbing walls. read more

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Well, this is my gym so I obviously think it's amazing. While it's definitely smaller than the planet Granite Sunnyvale but it's quite rad! It has recently expanded its facility with a larger top rope section and is currently under renovation. They have a great cardio and weightlifting area & locker rooms with showers & a sauna! The bouldering area is a little smaller than this boulder would love but adequate & they change the routes @ satisfactory intervals. A membership here gets you a membership at several other guns including Dogpatch boulders!!! Conversely, there are many good restaurants in the close surround area & a regular food truck. You can have good food & then go burn off your calories or vise versa :) read more

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I'm so grateful that my friend introduced me to climbing. I hadn't been top roping for at least 10 years, and this was the perfect place to get back into it. They have daily Intro to Climbing Classes with excellent and friendly instructors. That alone made me super excited to climb again! The bouldering area is fairly limited but still enough to get your fix. I would mostly come here for top roping. Their shop section is fun, because they have a wide variety of harnesses, chalk bags, and other climbing gear. As far as other amenities, their selection of gym equipment is plentiful. It can get pretty crowded, but everyone who comes here is super friendly. Great vibe. Wide variety of routes and difficulties that change every so often. Grab a friend and make a routine out of coming here to challenge yourself! read more

Mission cliffs is in a very convenient location, close to my home and work. The routes are all set really nicely which is a big plus. However, very consistently, every time I go to mission cliffs, the staff who work there are not very friendly and a little unpleasant to interact with. I really make the effort to interact as little as possible with them. I plan to keep going because the location is convenient and the routes are very nice. I just don't really enjoy the staff on hand. Otherwise it's a good gym. read more

I hesitated to rate this place because I hate to admit that I only made it 1/3 of the way up. Great place. They were doing a special during Carnaval Street Festival where I got to try 3 climbs with the instructor as my partner for $5 (no equipment rental fee). Of course there was no need for 3 climbs as my arms were going to fall off after 2 climbs. read more

Mission Cliffs - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It was my first time here, i was really excited, but somewhat ending to be disappointed b/c my instructor was not very patience with me... Yes Yes, as in all people, there are some who are not as brillant, yes, that is describing me... I'm a slow learner... (SO WHAT!!) It just takes more to practice... chellow!! So somewhat disapointed, just cuz your a pro, doesn't mean you can look down on ppl, and be impatient. But, I eventually got it, and ha, I climbed, and HA! I can beLAY! THank you, to my good friend who helped me out, NOT the instructor, don't deserve my $5, in which I can't hear you half the time! BOO Also, I don't think they regulate how many people come in, and there can be long lines at times... too crowded.. read more

I'm so happy that I was introduce to rock climbing! This rock climbing/gym is huge! They offer variety of classes and intro to climbing. I never attended an intro class and I really should and learn proper ways and techniques of rock climbing. The staff are very friendly and helpful. When I first came here I had to do a belay test in order to climb and belay. My fiancé's cousin showed me the proper way to belaying and climbing. When I tested and forgot a few things, the staff were very helpful and knowledgeable. They made sure you know all your safety checks before giving you a belay card. There's a small area with basic gym equipment and can get your workout done. They also have a cycle room and a yoga room. The climbing route are changed frequently so there's always something new to climb. The bouldering area renovated and up. It gets pretty crowded after work hours but if you come on weekends or early during week days you pretty much have the entire climbing gym to your self. The bathrooms are renovated and pretty clean. They have lockers for day use. Just bring your own lock. We pay $140/month as family. We can bring in a guest (1 each) for free any time of them to and free guess on the last Friday of each month, so I think we get our money's worth. I'm leaving mission cliff though to try another climbing gym, but I will always come back if I don't like my new gym (Planet Granite) I highly recommend this place to anybody!! read more

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Great gym for working out and climbing for all levels. Shout out to Monica Aranda who is generous, thorough, and responsive. Had a great time. Thank you! :) read more

Great gym for climbing, whether you are just getting started or want to work on getting to the next level. Lots of routes, mostly in the 5.10 to 5.11 range. I especially love the tall walls and the corner routes. Staff is friendly and helpful. Locker rooms are clean and spacious. The whole space is big and airy -- especially important these dys! read more

MC...has to be my favorite gym, then again I've been climbing there since 04. Through the years the routes (rope & bouldering) have steadily been fun, technical and awesome! I do miss hawk and tol's routes though. A definite 5 stars for indoor climbing. The staff are awesome too! Very knowledgable and puts safety first in everyway. read more

Mission Cliffs - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

Prices went up without any added amenities. Not only that, the bouldering wall actually got smaller. There were so many parts of it left empty today. Not sure what's going on, but I'm not liking the trend here. read more

1 dude behind the desk was rude who gave an ultimatum over a 20 dollar guest day pass or a belay device from a short time of 15 min in the bouldering area before closing time. What a deuce , but that was aweful after paying for membership every month to climb. Still Feeling somber over that. Now thinking either to take my membership off and just wait till the "mandate rule is over and pay 20+ for a day pass instead of $87+ a month ‍ otherwise the gym is sick would definitely come over here anytime I desire. Just one rude guy ruined my introduction of the gym to my guest and to have a good time. Check your mate. read more

Came here for my first time and overall I'd say it was alright. I was used to going to Planet Granite in Sunnyvale but this location is now near my new place so I wanted to give it a try. Not the best customer service. Decent rental shoes - they didn't stink. And personally think it's a small facility. I also didn't like the layout of the rocks. It was also pretty packed. But on the flip side there were some awesome folks that were bouldering. It's always nice to make new friends doing something you love. read more

While I cannot comment on "routes" of the climbing and what-not as I am complete novice and am going to take roping classes--being a very, very OUT trans-woman, I can comment on this gym being a safe & legitimate spot for genderqueer and nonbinary individuals to do their fitness thing without feeling judged or uncomfortable. Yes, the hardbodies that meander this popular gym can be intimidating and even overwhelming, but for the most part those chiseled abs and sculpted biceps are attached to educated & open-minded people that are more focused on their routine than who is sharing the space in their locker-room. I especially like the professionalism and patience of the staff. They work extremely well with scared newbies like me and heck--you really can't beat the monthly price. For such a great rate you can really monopolize a full-body workout while taking advantage of classes offered by highly trained teachers in climbing, yoga, cycling and so much more. I am very, very into it.. :) read more

Signed up for a beginner's class which comes with shoes/harness and learned so much. Great for first timers who want to learn how to climb safely and correctly. The staff and facilities are so nice and I would highly recommend. It fills up fast on the weekends though so start your day early if you want to have your pick of walls. read more

Mission Cliffs - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is scary if one comes here for the first time without people with experience. The first time I came here it was with a couple friends and it was pretty fun. My arms were burning from the climb and I even had trouble picking up a cup or anything heavy afterward. The second time I came was more of a rush since I was only here for maybe a couple hours. This time I was smart enough to use my legs to push myself towards the next peg. Overall experience is fun. Just need to go here with friends that are willing to take a challenge. read more

Mission Cliffs - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

Touchstone Climbing made it very easy for me to fulfill a long-time ambition of learning rock climbing. It's massive size, in an old warehouse in the Mission, permits a dazzling array of route complexity. The bouldering area is somewhat smaller than other Touchstone locations, but offers a good range of problem complexity and overhang challenges. The weight training area is geared toward free-weights. The locker rooms are clean with excellent saunas. read more

The staff is so unfriendly and lazy. No customer service. Went to mission cliffs to have fun but was very disappointed by provided service.

I have mixed feelings about this place and our overall team experience. I called to see if they had availability to host our team event with pretty short notice (about a week in advance). It did take a while for them to get back to me via email. Jordan ended up giving me a call and he was so nice. They were able to accommodate us and let us use a small room in the back to have a little surprise party for a few people's birthdays. When I arrived, the front desk lady (blonde hair but did not get her name) and a gentleman greeted me and checked me right in. They too were very nice. So far so good. The team arrived and began checking in and we had our quick celebration. We were assigned Emma as the instructor and off the top, her energy was just bad. She didn't really smile and the team members had to crack jokes with her here and there just to get some personality out of her. As she was giving us instructions, she was just getting very frustrated with those that weren't able to pick up quickly. Some needed more help with creating the knot, others with the rope, etc. Granted, most of us NEVER rock climbed before. I too was an unfortunate one that caught her wrath of rudeness and frustration. She was yelling at me, yanking the equipment, just horrible. She was not a good instructor in my opinion. One of the guys in our group was a professional rock climber and his instructions compared to hers were a million times better. She totally killed the vibe of happiness and team excitement. I honestly couldn't wait for it to be over and get the heck out of there. I think if we had a different instructor our experience would have been 5 stars. I don't know I would pick this as a teambuilding event again but if I change my mind, I will request a different instructor. Feedback: Perhaps provide two instructors for groups more than 5. read more

Worst place in SF for a First Date...however, as noted by others - famous and fun and an acquired taste. Yikes!

Great gym!! But so crowded weekday evenings. I've bouldered and top roped here a couple of times, and I will say that they have more top roping options than bouldering imo. When I came over the weekend there was actually slightly less people, but on a Wednesday evening, I was waiting in line for routes and only got 2-3 top rope routes in within the 2 hours I was there. Given all of this, routes are fun and people are nice. It's also a pretty convenient location and walkable by Bart in the city. Would go again! read more

Great climbing gym! Lots of top roping/lead climbing. A decent bouldering section upstairs. Most every weight/machine you'd need too. At busier hours (after 5:30) it gets kind of crowded for sure - especially the weight section (only 2.5 squat racks and 1 bench press). I'm new to climbing so it's fine for me but some complain about route ratings. The only complaint I have is that the routes are seemingly inconsistently rated for easier climbs (V0-V3 has a lot of overlap) Day pass is 20 bucks + (5-7$ for shoes/harness) but with the membership you get in free to all the classes so if you live around and can afford it I recommend shelling out the $75 per month. It pays for itself in no time. Plus you get access to all other touchstone gyms like dogpatch bouldering. read more

Mission Cliffs - Staff setting some new routes on one section of the gym (10/13/15) - Gyms Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this gym! They have a selection of classes from yoga to boxing and obviously climbing. Definitely recommend becoming a member. They even have a sauna read more

I love this gym BUT it's overcrowded & it hasn't grown in the ways that matter most in order to compensate for the crowding. Pro: free access to other touchstone gyms. Con: nothing near my house/the west side of San Francisco (I live in haight-Ashbury & it's a stretch to get myself to this part of the mission). What is needed/would make it more worth it: a more efficient layout utilizing the cubic ft of space in this large facility for a larger weight area, more accessible/less crowded bouldering area, & better space to hangout & not feel as if we're crawling on top of one another. Seems like there's a ton of space for relatively few folks who lead climb. Can we use some of the space near there for the checkin stand, & build out the weight lifting area? Please! And we need cleaner, larger saunas. I don't think those have improved since the gym was expanded. Honestly, I went to Brooklyn boulders in Somerville, MA (near Cambridge/Boston) & loved the atmosphere so much that it got me addicted to the scene. Do what they're doing and you'll have a gym I'd never feel pressure to leave! read more

I'm here so much this is practically my second home. Now if only they would adopt the 24 hr fitness schedule, then I can finally stop paying the exorbitant amount for SF rent. read more