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    Pacific Pipe Climbing

    4.1 (83 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Pacific Pipe Climbing Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Pacific Pipe Climbing

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    Nicole D.

    This gym is massive. It's got something for every level of climbing. I'm new to climbing and I enjoyed it so much. The amenities were great too. They've got full shower / sauna locker rooms. We went on a Saturday and noticed the showers were used a lot bc a lot of the drains had hair all over them. Other than that everything was great. They even have toiletries, feminine products and a hair dryer in the women's locker room. They also have tons of lockers for your items to be safely stored. The work out equipment is in good shape and there are plenty of towels/ cleaning spray to keep everything nice and clean. Because it was so massive we never felt like one area was ever crowded at any given time.

    Izzie L.

    The largest climbing gym in the United States! I was so impressed with the quality of the facilities and the challenging allure of the walls. The amenities are plentiful and there's even a workout gym (weights, machines, treadmills) here as well. Would definitely make this a regular place if I lived closer.

    Jo W.

    I had a great time trying out rock climbing here! It's such a spacious rock climbing gym out in West Oakland. Recommend driving here vs taking public transportation since it's not in the best neighborhood. The people here are very nice, and the locker area was very clean and safe. The staff were able to teach you how to knot and belay. I'm a total newbie, and I had a super-fun experience here.

    Top rope girlies!
    Maya V.

    Took a top rope class with my cousins for the first time and had so much fun! Instructor was easy to understand and made sure we were learning proper technique. Staff at the front made check in process simple and clearly directed us on where to grab our gear. The inside of the climbing gym is beautiful with many problems to solve. Quite warm tho, so beware. When I have more time, I'll consider a membership!

    Mylinh V.

    Such a cool climbing facility! This is a touchstone facility so you can use your membership here. They have leading, top rope, and bouldering here as well as a gym! The location is in Oakland so it can be a bit sketchy in the area so just be cautious with your belongings. There is ample parking all around. I also thought it was cute that they had a community food fridge. It can be a bit crowded in here so be prepared for that. Overall a really great facility!

    Belaying
    Amica J.

    Enormous belaying + bouldering gym (largest touchstone to date). Has 2 floors for bouldering, with gym, treadmill and bikes. Parking lot available (although it can get packed). Plenty of families and groups climbing together. I've been to other touchstones and this one is less 'gym-broeey' than Mission cliffs and more families compared to Dogpatch. Staff at touchstone is friendly and welcoming as always. They always make a point to make you feel like family.

    Wheelchair accessible TR/lead access
    Ruth O.

    I have been a climber for 9 years now and have belonged to both a high school and collegiate competitive team, so this is one of about 60+ climbing gyms I've visited in my lifetime. I have pulled a significant amount of plastic! With that in mind, this review addresses how this gym measures up from that perspective. Ok let's go! Staff are friendly and the gym is large enough that even though it was busy it was easy to project. Something that struck me as strange is that though the gym is crowded, there isn't really a communal vibe. At my old gym, people wanted to hang out, introduce themselves, talk about beta on your shared projects. People here are nothing like that. They do not converse. They do not approach. They do not want to project together. If you come near them they do not acknowledge. It's sort of depressing! The setting is great, you can tell a lot of different setters did the boulders and they have a very broad variety of styles including some comp stuff which is cool, plus a moonboard and a kilter board. Their strength training area with the campus board and finger boards is well stocked despite being a very small area. Lots of boards to choose from. I do think it's odd that they allow people who are not belay certified to practice toprope climbing with their friends in the gym. This can be a hazard for others and for those people, especially if both are newbies. Interestingly, I also saw some unsafe practices during lowering from newly-certified TR climbers who were clearly very new to climbing. I did explain to them (nicely, not mansplaining) how what they were doing was unsafe and could result in injury. But how did they get certified? If I had not explained to them these unsafe practices, would anybody from the gym staff have noticed? Do they not know about certain unsafe practices? How did not knowing how to be lowered and how to lower slip through the cracks of their test? I think there must be some big gaps in their belay tests. Does Pacific Pipe not check for safe lowering practices on new belayers and climbers? One of the top ropes also was anchored in such a way that the rope was extremely tough to pull slack through from belayer's side. A rope nearby it was too short-- like both ends about 10 inches off the ground. Impossible for the climber to tie in at the same time as the belayer clipped in. Yeah, it's usable, but really? You're gonna let uncertified climbers be belaying their friends there? I know a lot of experienced climbers who don't know about tying stopper knots, so i cannot imagine that a newbie would even know to do so. A stopper knot should be tied on a rope that short, and then it's 12" off the ground instead of 10". I just have never seen this issue in a gym before and was surprised! Parking here was pretty abysmal. People parked in red zones. People double parked in the lot. Not a lot of street parking. The lower level of the gym is disability accessible, but the gym only has two disabled spots. Odd. I guess only two disabled people can climb here at a time. If not, where are they parking?? All the available street parking was several blocks away. There was a taco truck and eating area outside. That's fun for after workout.

    Entrance
    Stephanie F.

    We loved Pacific Pipe! This is one of their newer locations so everything felt new. Converted from an old pipe factory in Oakland, it was cool to see the architectural remnants and equipment from the factory days. This is by far the location with the most top roping walls we've seen in our short climbing career. There were so many to choose from! There were great bouldering walls and again, LOTS to choose from. We also loved that they had a cute coffee cart inside the gym. They served great coffee and it's convenient for pre and post climbing. I wish we could come here more often, but we look forward to making it an annual family event to visit all the Touchstone gyms in the Bay area. We love being able to visit all the other gyms with our membership!

    This is the bouldering section for kids at Pacific Pipe. Worth $20?
    Miriam L.

    Stunning climbing gym with a very community-oriented and mutual aid feel...except when it comes to climbing. If you know how to climb, this is a great spot. If you don't know to climb, then get out of the way, loser. There is no way for you to learn the basic rope skills here, because they are not allowed to show you. Even if you are trying to introduce this cool sport to 6 year olds that have been compared to mountain goats. Nope. If you never got the opportunity to learn rope skills for rock climbing, well, sucks to be you. But kudos to the only staff person who was willing to show us until he was told not to. Edited: it looks like they offer a class to learn BUT AT NO MOMENT were we told that was the case. We would have gladly paid for a class if we knew. Easy as... oh hey, in order for you to access top rope climbing, you have to take this pass, it costs this much, and that's it. If you're searching for, "Is Pacific Pipe a good place for kids?" would say, it depends. If you are privileged enough to know how to rock climbing (rope, equipment, etc) then yes and see below for more info. If you're 1st Gen, or anyone else who didn't get the privilege to know how to rock climb, the answer is, sadly, no. But if you have $20 dollars to spend on your kids going up and down a tiny wall (see photo), then go ahead. If you do make it in because your kids love climbing (like mine), I will tell you what they DIDN'T tell me: the kids section is upstairs. Let me repeat for SEO searching: The kids climbing section at Pacific Pipe is upstairs. From the entrance, go up the stairs and you'll see the bouldering wall straight ahead. The climbing area for those lucky enough to know how to climb with ropes is hidden, but just get to the kids bouldering are and you will see it. Lucky you!

    Such a huge climbing gym!!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Pacific Pipe Climbing

    Do they offer 1 day passes?

    Yes, a day pass is $30.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Pacific Pipe Climbing

    Great place to start climbing, bouldering, restroom facilities are well kept but a little on the smaller side.

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Bay Play

    Bay Play

    4.6(33 reviews)
    0.6 miWest Oakland

    Had my child's bday party here and it was great! Scheduling was a breeze. The ladies in the front…read morewere very attentive and knowledgeable. I like that they do not allow shoes once you get past the check-in area. They will provide you with shoe covers as well. This makes me feel so much better because we all know kids play spaces can be a cesspool lol. I also like that they have different play spaces for all different ages. From slides to rock climbing. If you have children of all different ages, I think everyone will find their place and have a great time.

    We needed somewhere for my kiddo and nephew to go on a rainy winter break day and luckily Bay Play…read morewas one of the few kid spots open on New Year's Day. Off the bat, I want to say this is one of the more affordable indoor playgrounds I've been to (some I've gone to will charge for adults?!) and there was no time limit (some places give you a time limit of how long you can play for) so that was a plus. They do require you to purchase their socks (can't be grippy socks from anywhere else) but even with the socks and day pass, I want to say it was only $35? The kids loved running around the swing ropes, the indoor playground with slide, and the big bouncy thingy under the bouldering wall. My only concern about the bouncy thingy by the bouldering wall is there aren't any safety rails or things around it and I can't tell if it's safer with or without it but I definitely needed to stay close by in case he bounced off the entire cushion thingy. If you have highly sensitive little ones or neurodivergent kiddos, this place may be a tad overstimulating with the arcade right smack dab in the middle. Like other reviewers had mentioned, it would be nice if the arcade was slightly away from the physical play so that kids aren't distracted/overstimulated by the arcade screens. We did eventually end our outing at the arcades (spent another $40 on the game card...sigh) but luckily we won a big jackpot from one of the games to make it all worth it! Of note, you can't really wear your shoes in the bathroom which is kinda gross so bear that in mind. All in all, definitely one of the better indoor playgrounds in the Bay Area!

    Photos
    Bay Play - Race your friends on the plexiglass climbing walls

    Race your friends on the plexiglass climbing walls

    Bay Play
    Bay Play - Rest

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    Rest

    Benchmark Climbing

    Benchmark Climbing

    3.6(7 reviews)
    4.4 miGourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley

    This review is primarily for my experience with their competition and the atmosphere around when…read morethere were competitors from Cal & Stanford. I highly enjoyed my experience here as well as many of my friends who normally climb at Touchstone gyms. I've had the opportunity to try out their SF location early when they first soft launched during the pandemic and it was great albeit smaller than other gyms I've been to in the Bay. I will note that this isn't quite as corporate as Touchstone or Movement so they may not have the same level of funding which I see as reasons their sets are a bit more adventurous comparatively and membership can seem pricey Overall, the aspect I like the most about the gym was the sets for the comp. It really had a huge variety of non-traditional climbs with toe catch starts, partner climbs, lache, and run up dynos. All in all, I very much enjoyed the variety that is less typical comparative to the sets you'd see at Movement or Touchstone gyms. The fact that they have these unique sets despite the small space is what makes me enjoy it more I would recommend people who want to expand their skills check out this place. I didn't feel like they had any sets that were more inherently dangerous which I sometimes feel with some run up dynos at other gyms. Furthermore, not all the climbs were jugs which really helped to find fun ways to improve. It's also close to Indian Rock if you wanted something more natural and being so close to Berkeley campus it's a quick walk to good eats I find the diversity of climbs here the best of all the climbing gyms seem so far, including gyms in NYC/Texas. The interior space also seems to welcome students or people who treat it as a third space with a large table, small but adequately sized parking lot, and essential gym equipment. The one con I may say is the price may not be as cost-effective as some other corporate gyms in the Bay but having smaller gyms that have an inviting space and good diversity of climbs will be reasons I'd continue to come back

    I visited Benchmark twice while in Berkeley for a holiday stay. I was glad to find a decent place…read moreto climb close to the house I was staying at. I was able to take advantage of a special 2-week pass that was the same price as a day pass, which was a great find. The staff is helpful. The toilets and lockers are small, but clean. The climbing space itself is also small, but adequate for two visits. There is a good range of difficulties represented. My two beefs with this gym: 1) the mats are thin and HARD. I felt nervous trying anything slightly outside my comfort zone as I was afraid of falling. That really detracts from the experience. 2) there is no rhyme or reason to the colors of the problems. You have to get close to the all and squint to see what V rating it is. Yellow here might be V2 and the Yellow over there is V0. Why?! I much prefer my regular gym where Yellow is always the same level. That way you can easily scan the whole room to see which routes will suite.

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    Benchmark Climbing

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    The Peak of Fremont

    The Peak of Fremont

    4.3(109 reviews)
    28.0 mi

    This is the only climbing gym in the east South Bay and the closest to Pleasanton…read more Pros: -Friendly staff -Not too expensive for a membership Cons: -Way too many kids at 5-6pm, feels like a daycare. -Routing setting is okay, but routes are not changed very often. -The gym is very lacking (no treadmills)

    Reach another level of personal growth with a visit to The Peak of Fremont, the biggest indoor…read moreclimbing facility in the area. Remember those days in the playground and their climbing structures? Well, as an adult, The Peak is the place to reignite that hobby and enjoy the sport with a rich community of professionals and enthusiasts. This huge facility is shared among The Peak's climbing structures, an indoor volleyball court, a casual restaurant, and a small arcade. There aren't many parking spots up front but around the back of the building, you'll see plentiful spots. Once you enter the building, head to the left through the glass doors where you'll see the many climbing walls speckled with multiple colored protrusions. The pricing is transparent and it's all available upfront. They do have day passes, multi-visit passes as well as memberships that will waive your entrance fee. In addition to the entrance fee, you may also be required to pay for the harness and shoe rentals (members get a discounted price). They also have chalk for the more advanced climbers. If it's your first time, consider completing the waiver online ahead of time. You may be asked to go through a quick orientation regarding the use of their auto-belay system, however if you already know how to belay traditionally, they may ask you to go through additional training just to be sure. Each wall seemed to feature a variety of colors to distinguish the different difficulty levels for more advanced climbers. Aside from the walls, they also have a huge structure designed for bouldering with a thick padded floor underneath. The boulder and auto-belay walls seemed the most popular but it didn't seem there was much waiting given the ample space in the facility. There was certainly enough climbing space for everyone. As a novice, the activity was fun and tiring; there's definitely a balance between technique and strength! Despite having entry for the whole day, we definitely were tired out within an hour of constant climbing and by hour two, it was just about time to leave and refuel. Fortunately, the location of this space is quite convenient due to having a restaurant right on site as well as its proximity to the highway and other eateries just a few minutes away. The staff were friendly and informative. Besides the initial onboarding, there wasn't much interaction with them. They seem to keep things organized, cleaned and well-maintained. Overall, The Peak does a fantastic job introducing the sport of climbing to the local community and providing a clean and safe environment for newbies and experts alike. The price is reasonable for an all day activity and even more so if you become a member. For kids, they also have camps to build a new passion and train them up as climbers. For the more serious climbers, you may want to consider investing in the equipment to further save on the rentals. If this is a new challenge for you, take the opportunity to get in on this sport! The Peak makes it relatively easy to pick this up and continue leveling up with each visit!

    Photos
    The Peak of Fremont
    The Peak of Fremont
    The Peak of Fremont - View from Check in Desk

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    View from Check in Desk

    Oaktown Boulders - Cool light up holds using Kilter's custom Kilter Board holds.

    Oaktown Boulders

    4.8(22 reviews)
    4.5 miFruitvale, East Oakland

    I have two issues with Oaktown Boulders: communication and organization. It was impossible to get a…read morehold of them by email or phone to sign my daughter up, so we drove there and showed up to talk to someone. I signed my daughter up for a class, and after she attended one session (and after getting her excited about climbing), they emailed me to say they messed up, and the class was full. So they cancelled her enrollment and gave me a partial refund. Totally unacceptable! My daughter was so disappointed. After that experience, we joined another climbing gym and asked Oaktown Boulders to take us off their email list. They have literally emailed me half a dozen times, promoting new classes and letting me know about openings. EVERY SINGLE TIME, I ask them to remove me from their email list! No response. Also, unacceptable! Get your sh*t together, Oaktown Boulders!

    Part of loving Oaktown Boulders is loving that they are aiming to make climbing something that ALL…read morekids have access to. And doing so by providing quality and fun instruction - there's no compromising in what they offer. It is exciting to see the growth that they have achieved over the past couple of years and moving locations, hiring/training new staff is never easy. If I wanted big box climbing lessons for my kid I'd go elsewhere. Yet, in addition to wanting this confidence boosting and camaraderie building experience for my kid it matters to me to give my money to a place also working to do good in our community. Have you read the Mission?

    Photos
    Oaktown Boulders - Hangboards, dumbbells up to 50lbs, plyo boxes, bench press, squat rack- basically everything you need to build strength and get stronger.

    Hangboards, dumbbells up to 50lbs, plyo boxes, bench press, squat rack- basically everything you need to build strength and get stronger.

    Oaktown Boulders - Naturally lit room set a good ambiance and mood for working out. Clean space makes you feel comfortable and right at home.

    Naturally lit room set a good ambiance and mood for working out. Clean space makes you feel comfortable and right at home.

    Oaktown Boulders - Private space so that you can workout uninterrupted and not worry about waiting in line for equipment.

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    Private space so that you can workout uninterrupted and not worry about waiting in line for equipment.

    Diablo Rock Gym - Bouldering

    Diablo Rock Gym

    4.0(186 reviews)
    16.5 mi
    Walk-ins welcome
    LGBTQ friendly

    Sent my boyfriend to buy a chalk bag as a gift for a family member of mine who climbs all the time…read more Upon his arrival, he was rudely welcomed by a petite dark haired girl (possibly Asian or latina). Considering it was his first time there, you'd think he'd be greeted properly. He felt veryyy uncomfortable and unwanted upon entering. She answered his questions very sarcastically, rude, and monotone. He also mentioned that other people who entered (possibly regulars who come to the gym all the time), were greeted with fist bumps and big smiles by this girl. Definitely not a good look for the gym. Especially for newcomers.

    I bought a day pass for a visit here for some bouldering. The day pass is 25 before 3pm and rental…read moreis included for the first time. The process was easy and we filled out our forms rapidly. The shoes are self serve and i noticed that they also provide rental chalk. The bouldering area is quite minimal, but they had a number of interesting problems and the boulders are all on Kaya, my preferred app for logging my climbs. They also provided 0 training or onboarding for us so if you are new to the sport, I would recommend coming here with a friend who knows the ropes haha. The grades made sense, I wish there was a bit more slab type climbing though, and the overhang area is also fairly minimal. This is obviously a much more top rope oriented gym. There is little AC but they do have fans, and there's a small strength training area and some treadmills. The bathrooms are quite well appointed with hair dryer, tampons, and nail clippers. Enjoyed the trip for sure!

    Photos
    Diablo Rock Gym
    Diablo Rock Gym - Top rope

    Top rope

    Diablo Rock Gym - Come rope climb at DRG!

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    Come rope climb at DRG!

    Pacific Pipe Climbing - climbing - Updated May 2026

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