48 Rock Climbing Gyms, Indoor Climbing Walls, Aqua Rock Walls Where Kids Can Reach New Heights

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Updated:

July 9, 2024

A trip to a local rock climbing gym offers so many great challenges for kids! Not only do they develop their strength and spatial awareness, they also practice problem-solving, mental focus, and get to enjoy the thrill of an active adventure.

We’ve scoped out all of the indoor rock climbing gyms near Chicagoland. These include dedicated facilities offering classes and camps, more general gyms that have their own climbing walls, and kid-focused entertainment centers that specialize in active play. If your child has never climbed before, be sure to look for spots that offer intro classes or tutorials.

Closures since last year include the Courts Plus climbing wall in Elmhurst and Sage YMCA climbing wall in Crystal Lake. New additions include Urban Air Crystal Lake and Lakeshore Sport & Fitness, Illinois Center. If we’ve missed a spot, please email annie@mykidlist.com or comment below to let us know!

Climbing Gyms in Chicago

Hidden Peak Climbing Gym

937 W. Chestnut Street
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 563-9400

For ages 5 and above, Hidden Peak focuses on training programs for kids. They specialize in bouldering, which is climbing without ropes at lower heights. Kids get to train with junior and competitive teams during group classes. Day passes are $15; punch cards, monthly passes, and annual passes are also available.

Brooklyn Boulders

100 South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 268-0002

This 28,000 square foot location in the West Loop offers youth programs that feature interactive learning. Youth programs include two-hour drop-off classes for kids aged 5-12 for $39/session; day passes are $25 and rental gear is available for purchase. Memberships and packages available.

ClimbZone Chicago

2500 W Bradley Place
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 455-0555

Created just for kids, ClimbZone’s 65 colorful climbing walls are hand-painted with all kinds of themed artwork to help each climb feel fresh. The center also has laser tag, high ropes, bumper cars, soft play, and a zip-line. A two-hour package with climbing and soft play access is $29.99; see pricing for more details.

UIC Climbing Wall

737 South Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 996-7730

University of Illinois Chicago’s climbing walls are officially open for the summer Monday through Friday only from 4:00pm – 8:00pm; check the website for the schedule. While UIC sometimes runs youth programs, regularly the wall is only accessible to students or via a community membership.

Movement Wrigleyville

1115 W Addison Street
Chicago, IL 60613
(872) 817-9815

Movement Wrigleyville focuses on climbing, yoga, and fitness, with 11,000 square feet of bouldering. Kids ages 6-12 can join Kids Climb Time, a 2-hour drop-off session that includes 2 hours of guided climbing plus shoe rental for $39. Additional classes, private coaching, summer memberships, and party options are available for booking.

Movement Lincoln Park

1460 N Dayton Street
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 579-4454

Like its sister location, Movement Lincoln Park focuses on climbing, yoga, and fitness. This spot has more than 200 rock climbing routes aimed at a variety of ages and abilities, with walls reaching up to 56 feet high. Kids Climb Time as well as classes, youth programs, parties, and more are also available at this location.

Lakeshore Sport & Fitness – Illinois Center

211 Stetson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 856-1111

North America’s tallest indoor rock climbing wall, this location offers classes and camps for kids of all ages. Member and non-member pricing available. Call for more details.

Climbing Gyms in the Suburbs

Astro Fun World

301 South Route 59
Aurora, IL 60504
(630) 206-0267

Interactive climbing walls including an 18-foot Rubik’s Cube that will test your balance. Other attractions at this location include indoor go-karts, ropes course, zip line, laser maze, glow mini golf, a kids play zone, paintless paintball, virtual reality games, and arcade games. Climbing walls are $10 when priced as a single attraction and kids must be 48″ tall.

Annerino Community Center

Bolingbrook Park District
201 Recreation Drive
Bolingbrook, IL
(630) 739-0272

Open climb happens every Thursday and Saturday; check the schedule for details. Open climb rates are $4/resident and $6/non-resident. Private lessons are also available.

Climb On

18120 Harwood Avenue
Homewood, IL 60430
(708) 798-9994

Dedicated rock climbing facility with day passes ($18/pass), as well as punch cards and memberships. Gear rental is available for an additional cost; see all pricing. Inexperienced climbers will need an appointment before visiting. Climb On offers a variety of lessons, including a family orientation option.

North Wall Rock Climbing Gym

824 S. Main Street, Suite #106
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
(815) 356-6855

Day passes, punch passes, prepaid, and full memberships available. From summer camps to youth memberships, there are many options for kids.

Upper Limits Bloomington

1304 West Washington Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 829-8255

Auto belays, top roping, and bouldering options. Plenty of youth program options are also available.

The Centre of Elgin

100 Symphony Way
Elgin, IL 60120
(847) 531-7000

Elgin’s recreation center has a climbing wall with five ropes and two auto belays, designed with routes for both kids and adults. See the website for the open climb schedule and pricing, which starts at $6/resident, $8/non-resident for youth ages 5-17.

Vertical Endeavors

246 Windy Point Drive
Glendale Heights, IL 60139
(630) 784-9000

Day passes and memberships available, as well as climbing teams, clubs, and camps. Day passes are $22 and rental equipment is extra.

Funtopia Glenview

2050 Tower Drive
Glenview, IL 60026
(224) 432-5435

Online registration is highly recommended at this spot with climbing walls, ropes courses, caving replicas, a toddler area, and more. They host birthday parties, camps, and programs in addition to Fun Zone sessions. There are strict weight and height requirements for the attractions, so be sure to check those out. Drop-in pricing is $20-$34 for 1-2 hour passes; membership for one-hour passes is also available. Discounts for parents who want to join in on the fun, or one non-participating parent may accompany each paying child.

Funtopia Naperville

2639 Aurora Avenue #103
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 718-4327

Climbing walls, ropes courses, ninja courses, toddler area and more. Online pre-registration is recommended, but drop-ins are welcome. Unlike the Glenview location, Funtopia Naperville uses all-access daily passes, which are $25. For an extra $5, you can add on two slices of pizza, a bottle of water, and a snack. Passes are discounted to $20 on Friday and Saturday nights from 6pm – 9pm, and one-hour pass memberships are available, too. Discounts for participating parents and non-participating parents are free. Funtopia also hosts birthday parties, camps, and programs. There are strict weight and height requirements for the attractions, which you can view here.

The Club at Prairie Stone

5050 Sedge Boulevard
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
(847) 285-5400

Ages 4 and up are welcome to climb at The Club. Open wall and climbing classes; see climbing wall page for info. Member and non-member rates.

Gizmos Fun Factory

66 Orland Square Drive
Orland Park, IL 60462
(708) 949-8948

Must be at least 44″ tall for the climbing walls at this arcade and attraction center. Daily rates start at $29.99 and include climbing walls and other attractions. Birthday parties, too.

Sportsplex Rock Climbing Wall

11351 West 159th Street
Orland Park, IL 60467
(708) 645-7529

Drop-in rock climbing, as well as classes and camps. Drop-in climbing wall fee is $4/resident and $7/non-resident; check the schedule for times and membership options. Ages 5 years and older.

Chrouser Sports Complex at Wheaton College Climbing Wall

601 Centennial Drive
Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 752-5146

This college recreation center, which offers community memberships, has a climbing wall. Kids 14 and under must be belayed by parents. The wall was designed with college students in mind, so it may be better suited for older kids and teens. See the website for more details and the open climb schedule.

First Ascent

Avondale
3516 N Spaulding Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 564-9815

Block 37
108 N State Street, 4th Floor
Chicago IL, 60602
(312) 285-2337

Humboldt Park
2950 W Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 697-9743

Uptown
4718 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 275-1212

Arlington Heights
701 Rohlwing Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(224) 735-7150

These rock climbing facilities offer recreation classes, private lessons, and parties as well as day passes, punch cards, and memberships. Check the Chicago and Arlington Heights websites for youth offerings at each location.

Urban Air Adventure Park

140 East Lake Street
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
(331) 251-8335

220 Exchange Drive
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
(779) 216-5612

19800 South La Grange Road
Mokena, IL 60448
(312) 528-9405

1955 Glacier Park Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
(331) 472-8799

7401 West 25th Street
North Riverside, IL 60546
(708) 505-2980

2732 East Main Street
St. Charles, IL 60174
(630) 524-2166

Urban Air has active play attractions for all levels including dodge ball areas, ropes courses, trampoline parks, climbing walls, and more. Attractions and pricing vary by location and kids must be at least 41″ tall to climb. Additional locations are set to open soon in Burbank, Glenview, and Vernon Hills.

Fitness Formula Club

1114 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 383-1114

826 West Touhy Avenue
Park Ridge, IL 60068
(847) 802-9826

While Fitness Formula Club has ten Chicagoland locations, only Oak Park and Park Ridge have climbing walls. Staffed and unstaffed climbing wall hours for members and non-members. Classes, camps, teams and birthday parties. Call location for more details.

Life Time Fitness

455 Scott Drive
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
630-582-4100

601 Burr Ridge Parkway
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
(630) 230-0011

1220 Lakeview Drive
Romeoville, IL 60446
(630) 759-9995

16333 South La Grange Road
Orland Park, IL 60467
(708) 364-0300

900 E Higgins Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
(847) 517-7171

28141 Diehl Road
Warrenville, IL 60555
(630) 393-2600

Open climb, climb club, events, and birthday parties for members. Rockwall climbing is for kids ages 5+ with an adult, and ages 12+ without. Call location for more details.

YMCA Rock Climbing

Not all YMCA locations have a rock climbing wall, but these spots offer climbing for their members. Call the location for more information.

Buehler YMCA
1400 W. Northwest Hwy.
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 359-2400

Foglia YMCA
1025 N. Old McHenry Road
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
(847) 438-5300

Aqua Rock Walls

Did you know that many local pools with daily admission rates have opportunities to climb in the pool? These aqua rock walls are on the side of the pool so you can climb up and drop down into the water.