My kids love a trip to a local rock climbing gym! These gyms offer 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 Gizmo’s Fun Factory, the Courts Plus climbing wall in Elmhurst and Sage YMCA climbing wall in Crystal Lake. New additions include ABC Climbing, Pirate’s Cove, 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 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
Bolingbrook Park District offers open climbing, private classes and manual belay certification classes for kids as young as 6. Open Climb Hours currently take place on Thursdays and Saturdays. Admission is $4/R and $6/NR
Upper Limits Bloomington
1304 West Washington Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 829-8255
Worth the drive in our opinion, Upper Limits Bloomington has auto belays, top roping, and bouldering options. Plenty of youth program options are also available.
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.
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 $8/resident, $10/non-resident for youth ages 5-17.
Pirate’s Cove
901 Leicester Rd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 439-2583
This children’s theme park has a 20 foot high climbing wall (for those under 45 lbs), in addition to water attractions, amusement style rides and even a train. Wear closed shoes and well fitting clothes for safety. Admission is $10/R and $15/NR while adults are free.
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. Drop-in pricing is $20-$40 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. There are strict weight and height requirements for the attractions.
The Club at Prairie Stone
5050 Sedge Boulevard
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
(847) 285-5400
Open wall and climbing classes as well as open gym offered. Open gym is currently Saturdays from 10am-12pm; see climbing wall page for additional info. Members climb free and non-member are $5. Ages 4 and up are welcome to climb at The Club.
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. All climbers will need an appointment to visit. Climb On offers a variety of lessons, including a family orientation option.
ABC Climbing Academy
2639 Aurora Ave #103
Naperville, IL 60540
(847) 977-1335
This climbing area inside Funtopia Naperville is designed for children as young as 2.5 years old. Admission is $25 and combo admission for both ABC and Funtopia is $35.
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 $18. You can find discounts on Groupon and they also offer a reduced rate on Friday and Saturday nights from 6-9pm and discounts for parents.
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.
Climbing Gyms with Multiple Locations
First Ascent
Arlington Heights
701 Rohlwing Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(224) 735-7150
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
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 Arlington Heights, Burbank, Glenview, Lincoln Park 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
16333 South La Grange Road
Orland Park, IL 60467
(708) 364-0300
1220 Lakeview Drive
Romeoville, IL 60446
(630) 759-9995
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.
Foglia YMCA
1025 N. Old McHenry Road
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
(847) 438-5300
Buehler YMCA
1400 W. Northwest Hwy.
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 359-2400
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. Located in the basement of Lakeshore Academy.
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 a newly added toddler time for 1-6 year olds (members only) and two-hour drop-off classes for kids aged 5-12 for $39/session; day passes are $29 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. Basic climbing packages start at $31.99; 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 host open gym (for students) Monday through Friday only from 3:00pm – 9:00pm; check the website for the most up to date 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 1.5 hour drop-off session that includes 1.5 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.
Aqua Rock Walls
Did you know that many local pools 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 and typically included with your daily admission rates .
The Oasis Water Park
170 S. Circle Avenue
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
(630) 339-3568
Access to the aqua wall in Cuda Cove is included with general daily admission. Children (3-15) and seniors (62+) are $3/R and $4/NR and adults (16+) are $6/resident and $8/non-resident. Prices are lower after 5:00 pm.
Coral Cove Water Park
849 W Lies Rd
Carol Stream, IL 60188
(630) 784-6130
Aqua wall access is included with daily admission. Daily admission is $9/R and $12/ NR per person. Twilight fee (after 5:30pm on weekdays and 4:30pm on Sundays) is $5/R and $7/NR. Kids 2 and under are free.
Sunset Pool
710 Western Ave
Geneva, IL 60134
(630) 232-4542
Aqua rock wall in the main pool included with general admission. Open May 24-September 1, 2025. Daily admission prices for Youth (3-17) are $10/R and $15/NR, seniors (60+) are $9/R and $13/NR, and adults (18+) are $10/R and $15/NR.
Barefoot Bay
1461 N Midlothian Rd
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847) 566-8661
Access to the aqua rock wall is included with daily admission. The pool is open on weekends until September 2, 2025. Daily admission is $15/R and $20/NR. Seniors (62+) are $13/$18, respectively.
Rehm Pool
515 Garfield Street
Oak Park, IL 60304
(708) 848-2929
Aqua rock wall is included in general admission to the pool. Open June 5-September 1, 2025 with a daily pass priced at $15 for ages 1 and up.
Our indoor activities page has even more great things to do with kids in Chicago’s suburbs!
