Rocknasium hosted the best birthday party for my son! Dustin was our coach and he was wonderful with the kids. The kids had an epic time, we highly recommend Rocknasium for training, parties and camps! read more

Rocknasium is simply amazing. I had been going for years but about two years ago life got in the way and I have not been there except to pick up from a birthday party. Today I took my extended family there who were visiting from out of town. Sheena helped us tremendously. Not only did Sheena get us signed in, but also assisted me with my belay-check and answering my MANY random questions. Sheena's assistance and the upgrades of the last couple of years reminded me today how much I miss climbing. Thanks Rocknasium, you made this millennial's day. read more

The girls had an amazing time! For several of them, it was their first experience with rock climbing, and they absolutely loved trying something new. I can't say enough about Dustin--he was incredibly patient, engaging, and genuinely funny with everyone. He created an atmosphere that was both fun and educational, making the whole experience truly special. I didn't catch the names of the other staff, but they were also extremely helpful and welcoming, which made everything run smoothly. Highly recommend. Age group was 9. read more

I took their intro to climbing class and had the best time. Couldn't have been better, learned a ton and had fun! The staff there are incredibly friendly and helpful. The fellow climbers are respectful and friendly as well. My experience was so positive that I signed up for a membership on the spot. Can't wait to begin my climbing journey. read more

Our kiddo started climbing at Rocknasium when she was 4 in the Kids Class on weekends. We absolutely love it! The staff and kids' coaches are super positive and engaging while also instilling safe climbing habits. We recently had an amazing experience with one of their weekend/youth program coaches. Thanks for being such a positive environment for youth in Davis and helping our kiddo love rock climbing. read more

Rocknasium - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

We had my daughters 8th birthday party here and WOW! It was so fun! 10/10 recommend! The staff are so kind and helpful and patient with the kiddos. It was really a blast! All of the kids told me afterwards that 'this was the best day ever!' read more

Fun place with an easy going owner. Very casual for my 11 year old son and myself to go although neither of us had done it before. Got a quick crash course and we were off to the races read more

great classes and atmosphere. homey feel that much less corporate than most gyms. staff are always willing to help and give tips!

I just did my first ever Rocknasium Reckoning, and I can confidently say it was one of the most amazing days of my life. The 12-hour endurance climbing competition pushed me to my limits! The staff was incredibly enthusiastic, the community was welcoming and passionate. The event was super well-organized with food, snacks, drinks, free massages and constant encouragement to take breaks and stay hydrated. I was still on the wall for the final countdown at the end. This competition was my biggest goal of the year, and I'm so glad we made it happen. It was challenging, rewarding, and unforgettable. We drove out from Santa Rosa and we're already planning to come back next year. If you love climbing and want an experience that will push you and inspire you, Rocknasium is the place to be. Can't recommend this gym and this competition enough! read more

I've been here a few times over the years (at both old and new locations), mostly for birthday parties. I think I would actually like to come here someday and maybe learn how to rock climb for real. In the meantime, my interactions with the staff and the place itself have been positive. I think this is a great outlet for releasing one's energy in a positive way. All in all, I am glad it is here. read more

Family fun!! This was my first time climbing. I must say it's fun and challenging. My children are 9 and 4years old so I used the auto ropes. We climbed for hour and 30 before my youngest tapped out and wanted to have lunch. We will be back because we had blast. Great service read more

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Was looking forward to an afternoon of climbing, and was talking through the belay process with my husband as a refresher since we don't often get time to climb these days. I am previously belay certified at Granite Arch. The worker came up and said a third party could not teach someone to belay, but that I would need to take a class. Doesn't make sense since my husband didn't learn from them, but was able to test and belay me fine. Disappointed I wasn't able to belay him as well. Sort of ruined the vibe for us, so we decided to leave after one climb. Waste of $40. read more

Great staff, good music, fun routes, and relatively cheap membership. Took away two stars due to the amount of young children that swarm the gym: 1) Want to use the gym during the summer time? Good luck, because they close half the gym for their kid summer camp. 2) Want to use the gym during the weekend mornings? Good luck, because they have birthday parties that usually end up with kids running around everywhere. 3) Avoid weekends and summer days? Good luck, parents bring children here and treat it like Chuck E. Cheese, letting them run free. Even though children are supposed to be supervised, they rarely are, leading to frustrating/dangerous situations. 4) Want to just hangboard or do some strength exercises? Good luck, you'll likely be surrounded by screaming kids who are being rappelled over the boulder overhang (which is closed for members, kids only!). I love this place, but it's frustrating having only half the gym available while being a monthly paid member. read more

Rocknasium - Great gym, but too many kids. - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

Even after many, many years of being in business, Rocknasium continues to stay true to its roots: awesome climbing routes, friendly staff and a super fun environment for all ages. It's a must-stop destination in Davis! read more

Rocknasium - David Chao at Rocknasium in Davis - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

Rocknasium is awesome! The staff are friendly, helpful and kind and the studio classes they offer just keep getting better and better! Yoga with Madison is the highlight of my week. Function Range Mobility with Ryan has helped me so much with joint paint and stiff muscles. Pole classes with Imani, Charlie, and Augustin are such much fun and a full body workout. I cannot recommend this place enough. It is warm friendly place that is inclusive to all people and body types. read more

Not fat friendly. I get it being larger makes it difficult to belay, but Jesus I did not feel welcomed at all. Instructor taught the course just fine, but he was not welcoming at all. I'll just go somewhere else. read more

Amazing environment! I recently took a learn to lead class with instructor Fionna and it was so fun and educational. I was very nervous to lead - hence taking a class - but Fionna and the other students made me very comfortable and now i get to practice expanding my climbing career! read more

Rocknasium's slogan should be "Where else are you going to go?" If you live in Davis, unless you're okay driving to Pipeworks in Sac, Rocknasium is the only option. And it shows in this neglected gym. I was a member for about a year and I think there was a new set of boulders maybe four times? It would take AT LEAST two months for them to set any new problems, which would lead to mass cancelation in any gym with competition. If every two months doesn't seem bad to you, keep in mind that the bouldering area is tiny and about half is slab. Who really wants that much slab? Also the autobelay for some incomprehensible reason was put right above the area you sit in while resting between boulders. Subjectively, I found the routes mediocre and unimaginative, and less importantly, the grading was wildly inconsistent. The inadequacy of the workout space and equipment makes the lack of new routes even worse. I'd rather just do bodyweight work at home. Not to mention, on my first visit I was hangboarding and the hangboard straight up fell off the wall causing me to jam my lower back and return to physical therapy. The gym is dirty and doesn't look like it's been updated in decades. A few staff are friendly, but some barely make eye contact with you. Also, they close the gym twice a week right after work during the summer for kid's camp. Two stars because at least it's a place you can climb and thank you for providing that space. For anyone looking to join after being a member at any respectable gym, keep your expectations low. Seems like a fun place if you're a new climber or kid. read more

Went to a beginning class here yesterday (the classes are ad hoc, just call them and they'll make one for you). Instructor was the kind of teacher that wanted to make sure you had a good time as opposed to giving you lectures. There's pros and cons with that method (I was concerned that I was going to miss something important). He made sure that our group was okay and took the time to explain things. As far as the climbing goes, it was awesome. My first time up the wall was pretty scary and you have to "trust" your partner not to drop you (which is also pretty scary). After I got used to it, I went exploring. There are a lot of walls and a lot of ways to go up the wall. I think many people with different skill levels can find something here. If you haven't tried indoor rock climbing, why not? Just go! Famous for: College oriented, sporty vibe, indoor rock climbing read more

My boyfriend purchased a Living Social deal for us a long time ago but never got around to using it. He saw that the expiration date is Dec 31st and was like, oh man we better use it now! The voucher consisted of a belay lesson, rental shoes and day pass. Great offer! (I saw that yelp offers a similar deal for $15) We came on a Friday afternoon and it wasn't that busy. There were only a few other climbers there but they were on different parts of the gym so it didn't effect our experience much. I can see this place getting really crowded and how that can pose as a 'problem'. Climbing is harder than it looks. Rita was the one that gave us our belay lesson and she was very thorough. I was able to belay my boyfriend as he was climbing and vice versa. I climbed the wall about 4-5 times and I was tired afterwards. A great workout! We are actually really digging this and regretted not using the vouchers earlier. He was talking about signing up for membership but we shall see ;) read more

Rocknasium - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

I absolutely love this place!!! Was feeling a little scared to try out rock climbing but I was finally persuaded to do it and I'm so glad I did! Staff members are really welcoming. There are plenty of walls but I do think this gym is on the smaller end for rock climbing gyms. Depending on level their routes are challenging and really work you physically and mentally. You will definitely have routes to boulder! There are a few auto belays which are extremely fun and convenient if you don't go with a partner! I recommend going with a group and getting trained to belay other climbers! It makes it more fun and engaging to practice team work! Highly recommend! read more

Rocknasium - Just a small fraction of the gym! - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

Went here for my first rock climbing experience ever! Coming from the Bay Area where we have places like Planet Granite, this place is very small in comparison. However, I felt it was a great place for my friend and I's first time. We got the $15 all day pass deal on Yelp which includes gear and a belay lesson. $15 for the whole day is totally worth! I personally don't know if I would really come back without some kind of discount deal tbh. They also have camps for kids where a bunch of 3 ft tall munchkins show you up on the wall. Brady(?) was the guide that helped us and she taught us how to belay each other and how to do it safely. At first it was pretty nerve wracking being so high up and trusting your partner to not drop your 100+lb body to the floor. But after a few runs up and down the wall, I was definitely more at ease. Brady also checked up on us as well throughout the day to make sure all was well. There's a good amount of wall space for you to explore on. I will say I feel their bouldering height limit on the wall seems a bit short, but then their floors didn't seem super cushioned to safely catch you if you went up any higher. I will say my friend had a problem with the height of the walls. He's over 6ft, so he literally got up the wall in about 5 strokes. A great first time experience, and Brady made us feel super comfortable and not super noob. read more

Rocknasium - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

Went here the other day, good alternative to the ARC. They charge a $10 fee for a belaying lesson, which in my opinion is not worth it. It took all of 5 minutes, and they didn't even tell us to check our partner's knots/equipment before we started climbing! But maybe it was our instructor, it was her first time teaching it - but I would still say 10 dollars is a little too much for the amount of information offered. I've taken the rock climbing class at the ARC and these walls are more challenging mainly because there are more walls. They have a room specifically for bouldering and it looked like a tiny cave, which was pretty awesome. There are slanted walls for beginners ( I bouldered across these walls simply by walking across, it was funny). And of course they have more advanced routes, there was one that looked like an archway covered with climbing points, it looked tough to climb. $12 all day entrance $3 for shoes, $3 for harness $1 for chalk bag -The people behind the counter were very nice and friendly -Plenty of different walls for a lot of people, and for people of varying skill level -Fun & good exercise! Overall 4 stars (only because of the 10$ belaying lesson, and the fact that the ARC offers rock climbing) read more

Really weird experience here. I've been a climber for 25 years, mostly in Sacramento and the Bay Area (Touchstone gyms). Came here with a friend and we were seriously profiled and harassed. My friend and are both women in our mid 30's and with good climbing experience, so not kids goofing off or anything. Staff shadowed us all around the gym, picking apart everything from our technique to the age/quality of our equipment. I ended up leaving far before I was done climbing because we felt so harassed. I have never felt so unwelcomed in a climbing gym before. I've climbed here a few times years ago and generally found them lax on safety. This last visit was so unpleasant I will not go back or recommend to any other climbers. read more

My bf took me here after work on Monday around 5pm. The place was pretty busy and it got harder to climb with more people. It was my first time at a rock climbing facility so I don't really have any to compare it. But this place seems well-kept and the employees are friendly. Since my bf is a member, I was able to get in with his guest pass which waived the day pass fee of $14. We did end up paying $6 for my rental shoes (they are smaller than your street shoes in size number). There's a Yelp deal for $15 that includes a training and entrance fee (good idea if you want to try it out and isn't going with someone that knows how to rock climb). There are 3 automatic belays. One wall dedicated for bouldering. And different levels of difficulties for belay. Overall, I would come again with his guest pass. My arms were sore the following day. :p I think it's a cute date place too. Definitely family friendly since that was what I saw most the time there. read more

Rocknasium - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

Earlier this year, Rocknasium closed the doors on their twenty-year old gym. Not to worry though, they re-opened a brand new climbing environment just a few doors down! The team at Rocknasium outdid themselves, taking great care at crafting the perfect new gym. Just look at these progress updates on their blog: http://blog.rocknasium.com/category/new-gym-construction And since the grand re-opening, they not only upped their routes & facilities, they've gone above and beyond by hosting weekly seminars on advanced training topics, and continuing their always enjoyable Tuesday night themed potlucks. In addition, they've been having great (and FREE) sponsor demos out the wazoo, including Scarpa, Evolv, Black Diamond, and everyone else! The new gym still has the great "old gym" feel of a climbing community built around friends & family. This probably sounds cheesy, but it's so true, and definitely matches the small town vibe of Davis at large. Rock on, guys! read more

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Super friendly staff and the belay class was short and easy. We had 2 free day passes, so the total price including belay class was a great price. This rockclimbing gym is smaller than another one I've been to, but it has way more beginner routes which was perfect for my partner and I. We went on the weekend and although there were a good amount of people and a kids birthday party, there was lots of room to climb and wasn't noisy at all. Looks like the kids there had a blast too and they really enjoyed the automatic belay. They have a secluded tabling area and climbing paths for the kids birthday party so they weren't getting in the way or being noisy. There is also a small gym and workout area. I'll definitely come again! read more

This is a solid 2.5 to 3 star gym. Pros: -Parking is easy and plentiful -Friendly employees -Relaxed vibe Cons: -TINY bouldering area compared to the other gyms in Sacramento -Some bouldering under toprope and lead - confusing and unsafe -Uses the tape method, which makes it hard to visualize your climb from the ground, much less figure out which holds are "on" mid-climb -Bouldering setting is very old school without any comp-style climbs This is definitely an old school gym. A little grimy, a little cramped, but cheaper than the bigger gyms and it gets the job done. If you're primarily a boulderer, head on over to Pipeworks or The Boulder Field. read more

Try to find a coupon online, I found one that let me check out gear for free if I paid for a day pass! This gym is very nice, on the edge of Davis along highway 80, kind of tucked away by itself. Because of that, the crowds never got really big, the biggest group I saw was maybe 6 people together for a class. There is plenty of wall space for you and your friends to climb along, and all the paths are marked very clearly. I was stuck on a path for awhile with my girlfriend, and one of the staff was friendly enough to come over and offer us some advice. Of course, his advice included some maneuver that I was incapable of, but thanks! Nice try! read more

I'm not sure if anyone's mentioned this in the reviews yet but y'all can't be sleeping on the pole and belly dancing classes. If you get the membership, you can take unlimited classes in pole dancing and bellydancing that are available, and for the price they offer I think it's a steal. A membership also allows you to use the gym equipment that is available on the sidelines, so you can condition yourself independently outside of classes. The pole classes themselves are a WORKOUT and the bellydance class really solidifies your mind body awareness. Plus, the instructors for pole and belly dance are extremely welcoming, the other students are very polite and encourage you more often than not, and you don't need a huge amount of prior experience. There are beginner classes to help you prepare for the harder ones, and soon there will be workshops offered to help streamline you into those more advanced classes. As of right now, there aren't as many poles so class sizes are limited and can fill up quickly. However, the gym does plan on expanding, so if the class size is an issue now, I do recommend checking in later. read more

I've been to Rocknasium a few times and I find their prices reasonable and their climbing routes extensive and challenging. I think I usually pay $12 for a day pass + $7 for gear rental, which isn't too bad! I think it's just a little too disorganized though, sometimes you have to wait awhile to get help and when you are assisted the employees can be a little rude. And the amount of chalk on the walls just seems to have accumulated for a LONG while, I was coughing up a storm after an hour of climbing. I think it's a good option if you're in Davis, I came here a couple times during school, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here since there are other options in Sacramento. read more

thx rocknasium for popping my rock climbing cherry!! got a guest pass for bouldering and rlly felt that forearm pump. went on a long weekend and there was plenty of room to boulder. climbers were friendly and staff were helpful. after coming to rocknasium i wanted to boulder again. such a healthy bay area hobby to have. read more

Rocknasium - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

Been climbing at Rocknasium since I was a teenage. They have been around for an extremely long time and have are one of the first climbing gyms around. From their yearly climbing competitions, to their nice and passionate staff. They have Top rope, lead climbing and bouldering. Wonderful place all around. read more

After climbing here for almost a year now, the place is consistent with my previous review. However, I dropped a star because of the kids. I do not mind that Rocknasium offers birthday parties and etc but they need to work on their supervision. I have witnessed many times where kids were under people who are bouldering, where they can get trampled on or crushed. Also, when kids randomly climb the wall while someone is in the middle of their route. I'm not blaming the kids because they do not know any better but the staff needs to be able to watch and supervise. Rocknasium needs improvement on staff and designated duties. read more

I'll be honest, during my tenure at UCD there were very very few places in Davis that I enjoyed. The Rocknasium was my salvation. Sure it's small and it doesn't *look* like much, but the employees are nice (unlike the frigid non-climbers behind the counters at most Touchstone gyms), the routes are fun and well thought out, and the cheap monthly membership made the place a second home. Also there's (or at least there was last time I was there in February) a strong sense of community there, which you can't force or simulate. A resounding five stars for my favorite climbing gym of all time! read more

"The gym that took me in..." I haven't been climbing for very long (about 4.5 months) and had started at another gym in the area, however I needed a place that was more affordable and had a more laid back atmosphere - enter Rocknasium. I came in right as the new gym opened, but it wasn't the brand new, clean facility that impressed me; it was the staff. Honestly, I walked in told the person at the counter that I was looking for a new gym and if it would be okay for me to wander around and talk to other climbers. She did one better and said if I had my climbing shoes I could jump on the wall...WOW! Super friendly...and it's not just the staff, the climbers there are also very friendly and laid back. I resolved to start climbing here at the beginning of December (2011) and haven't regreted it at all. The bouldering area is a great mix of easy to very challenging (gotta love overhangs). The circuits are great too! As for TR and lead climbing, "yes" the rating system is different (but climbing is climbing and as another yelper pointed out; the YDS can be subjective), and "yes" the routes aren't as tall as another gym, but it's still challenging and you can always do laps. Another great feature is that the staff is willing to belay you if you don't have a partner, so you're not just relegated to the bouldering area. Oh! Can't believe I almost forgot about the Tuesday night potluck! Every Tuesday is like a party with food, lots of climbers, and fun! If you're looking for a good night to get introduced to the awesome-ness that is Rocknasium, I highly recommend Tuesday. LOVELOVELOVE ROCKNASIUM!! read more

There are horrible dates where you just feel like you're "talking to a brick wall". And then there's Rocknasium. This wall keeps you wanting more--a second, third, fourth date. It's got a bunch of nice routes for bouldering too. For a day pass, it can be pretty expensive, especially with shoe rentals. This place is definitely much more worth it to become a member, especially if you're gonna come even just once a week. What's great about this place is that if you become a member here, you get hella nice perks: extra member-only hours, potluck dinners and free lessons, like aerial yoga. It is a bit hidden though. You have to drive past Dutch Bros. in South Davis and to the very end of the street where there's a parking lot for the building. 5 for walls that make you fall for 'em. read more

This place is fantastic! My sister booked a reservation here for my niece's 10th birthday party, and we (kids AND adults) had a great time! We had a table area reserved for the eating and gift opening, which provided great space for storage of all party supplies and personal belongings. Plus, it was nice for the kids and adults to sit and chill for a bit while taking breaks from climbing/billeting. BTW, they allow you to bring your own food or have food delivered. If you want pizza, they actually have a discount deal with Woodstocks Pizza! Unfortunately we didn't know this beforehand, but it's good to spread the word! I think the guy's name was Kevin, who provided instructions for billeting and climbing for the adults and kids in our party. He was GREAT. We received detailed instructions, and he was very patient with everyone. I now know how to billet! (You'll learn, that's the term used for providing support and rope slack for a person climbing). The kids were all over the place, climbing this wall and that wall. They couldn't get enough of it. The price of booking the party allowed the kids to roam freely, and also were given special shoe and harness rentals. This was a great alternative birthday celebration to making a mess at your own home or going to the park. Can't wait to have my own kids' b-day party like this someday! read more

Great place - Great Walls - Great customer service! I'm a huge fan of indoor rock climbing. Although the place is not that big, the routes are challenging and can provide hours of entertainment. The prices are cheap and parking seems adequate. Thanks to I believe her name is Dianne? Diana? I'm sorry if we forgot your name. You were really nice and patient with us in going over the techniques of climbing and belaying. Awesome customer service! The place is really clean too! We'll be back! We had a lot of fun. read more

Returned again with a Livingsocial deal, $14 for an intro to rock-climbing package (a $32 value which included an adult day pass, rental harness, shoes, belay device, and the safety lesson), this time with the bf. Nice that Yelp also has the similar offer for $15. Came in midday on a Thursday so it was pretty quiet and not busy at all. Waiver was easy to fill out on the iPads, clean bathrooms, lockers for member and cubbies to stash your personals as well by the weights and system wall. Props to staff member Chris who gave us the belay lesson (auto/self belay and with partners). Remember, P-BUS! This time I even tried more than just toprope -- actual bouldering and even really made it to the top (was it really 20 feet high?) of three different routes, ranging from class 5-6. Attempted a 7, but didn't make it all the way up, even rainbowing. Much improved once I put faith in the rope and got the idea out of my head that I had to climb back all the way down. Also had to remember to use my legs more than my arms. I also learned that I am not the best belay partner for the bf -- even with a 50-lb sandbag attached to my harness, I still got lifted off the ground when lowering him back down to the ground, haha. Maybe I needed a second 50-lb sandbag! Overall it was a very fun several hours that afternoon with only about 5 or 6 other climbers using the gym. I definitely was sore for a few days afterward but would love to try climbing again soon! read more

Rocknasium - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California