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Whether you’re a recent D.C. convert or have been living in the district your entire life, you might find great outdoor rock climbing spots difficult to come by. Fear not, Washingtonians: five fantastic indoor spots are coming at you. These indoor rock climbing gyms provide the perfect space to practice your skills for outdoor climbing. Come in to any of the following five rock climbing spots near D.C.!
Stop by either the Alexandria or Sterling, Virginia, Sportrock Climbing Center location for intense, indoor rock climbing. Since 1994, Sportrock has provided roped and bouldering walls for climbing advocates. Sign up for beginner, advanced, outdoor, and group classes and enjoy the over 18,000-square-foot center.
Earth Treks Climbing and Fitness Centers style themselves as “the premier indoor climbing gym in Maryland and Rockville.” They have locations in Columbia, Timonium, and Rockville, Maryland, as well as in Crystal City, Virginia. Stop by for instruction, open climbing, or youth climbing.
Vertical Rock is designed for climbers of all experience levels. They offer classes and programs including “Intro to Learning the Ropes,” “Open Climb,” “Intro to Sport Lead,” “Advanced Sport Lead,” and “Rock Ready.” Additionally, they provide yoga, kickboxing, krav maga, and other classes. Don’t skip over their youth programs, group events, and parties!
Take a ride out to Climb Zone in Laurel, Maryland, for a family-friendly climbing experience. Just over 40 minutes outside of D.C., Climb Zone aims to provide “unique family focused entertainment.” Many of the walls are recreations of American landmarks, including Mount Rushmore, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, and others. Have your kids climb a memorial to get them interested before a visit to see the real thing in D.C.!
Don’t want to leave the District to rock climb? You don’t have to. With a membership at the local YMCA, you can enjoy as much rock climbing as you want. Check their website to sign up for an upcoming class or enjoy open climbing from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 2-4 p.m. on Saturdays.
