Every person who ever scaled Mount Everest started off small. It takes time and practice to shimmy up a rock wall like a pro, but these places are excellent spots to learn. Whether you’re new or a seasoned pro, chalk your hands and climb on the wall.
For the most jaw-dropping experience, you’ll want to head here. Joe’s is a huge rock climbing oasis in Liberty Village, with super high walls that’ll challenge even the most agile climber. While the walls don’t contain a lot of routes, it also means you can plot your own path to the top, making it as easy or as hard as you’d like. And, if walls aren’t your thing, there are two boulder areas for climbs that are a little more gravity-friendly.
Rock climbing is almost always a two-person process, with one on the ground belaying and the other scaling the wall. But one of the neat things about The Rock Oasis is that they have an auto-belay system so you can climb solo whenever the urge strikes. Their prices are also among the most affordable in the city, with plenty of different membership options. Being located on Carlaw also makes it incredibly easy to access.
There are 11 different climbing areas that cover just about anything you’d encounter outside, from caves and cracks to overhangs and gentle slopes. It’s a fantastic place to start off if you’re a beginner or have never climbed before, as the instructors are patient and will help you reach all your goals. Once you’ve mastered the ropes, challenge yourself on the walls, which have constantly changing routes for variety and excitement.
There are two locations – one in the Junction and another in Etobicoke – where you can scramble up boulders until your arms feel ready to fall out of their sockets. This place specializes in boulder climbing but there are also walls if you prefer vertical challenges. They have a large handful of programs available if you want a social aspect to your climbing, with the programs encompassing all age and social groups, such as kids and families.
Variety and challenges are the two things you’ll notice first, as this climbing spot has 51 top ropes soaring up to 36 feet high, 15 lead-only routes, two slacklines and more than 150 different boulder problems. It’s safe to say that even if you climbed every day here, you’d never see the same thing twice. But, if you ever get bored, they also have classes and programs, where you can challenge yourself even more.