It seems that Rock Climbing has become more and a more popular spare time activity, not just at home, but also during your vacation. Seattle offers a lot of diverse options for you to discover or practice Rock Climbing in Seattle during your visit of the city.
Rock Climbing in Seattle on Climbing Walls
Though Rock Climbing is usually thought of as an outdoor sport, there are quite a few venues to practice your cliff hanger skills indoors as well. So if you think rain might stop you from enjoying Rock Climbing in Seattle, think twice, as you have a large choice of possibilities for indoor Rock Climbing in Seattle.
- Stone Gardens: Stone Gardens Rock Gym offers the best Rock Climbing experience in Seattle, at least for indoor climbing. It is great for all skill levels, but also offers challenges for the more advanced climbers. Diverse and challenging routes attract a lot of Rock climbing aficionados. You will be impressed by the size of the walls. The great advantage of that place is that you pay a one time fee for the whole day, so you climb for a couple hours take a break, go have a nice lunch and get to a more difficult climb later.
- REI: The REI ‘s Pinnacle is a popular venue for indoor Rock climbing in Seattle as well. You can climb 65 feet up and not even have to worry about bringing your equipment, it’s included in the entrance fee. Make sure to make reservation in advance, because otherwise the wait can be up to 4 hours! If you have never climbed before, classes are offered. It’s a great venue to get started and test, whether Rock Climbing is for you.
- The Schurman Rock: First man-made climbing rock created in the US, the Schurman Rock is a popular Rock Climbing place in Seattle. Not only used for sport activities and fun, it is also used for rescue training. It’s a shorter climb but still interesting and fun.
Outdoor Rock Climbing in Seattle
If you want to get the true outdoor rock climbing experience in Seattle, you need to find the best locations.
- Lake Wenatchee State Park.: Just 2 hours away from Seattle, you will find the Lake Wenatchee State Park, a great destination for outdoor adventures and camping. The South part of the park is a popular destination for rock climbing. The Icicle River Canyon is a gorgeous part of the park. Permits are required to access it, and practice rock climbing and hiking. You have quite a number of sites to choose from. In the East side of the park, rock climbers always enjoy the Mission Creek Area, especially the Peshastin Pinnacles. Kill two birds with one stone and stop by the town of Cashmere after your hike to relax and grab a snack while admiring the landscape.
- Exit 38: Exit 38 has become one of the most popular destinations for outdoor rock climbing in Seattle. You have a large choice of walls just steps away from the parking lot and more routes to climb than you can do in a day. These climbs are very popular for their easy access but also for the amazing views of the valley. The easiest climbs are the closest ones to the parking lot. Other climbs can take from 10 , 35 min to an hour hike. But the walk through the forest itself is worth it!
- Exit 32: First rock climbing area developed in Seattle, Exit 32 is mostly for intermediate and advanced climbers. The walls and routes are a lot more challenging than Exit 38 and it takes longer hikes to access them. Little Si is a popular rock to climb in the Exit 32 area.
- Index: If you are looking for some serious challenges Index is you number one destination for rock climbing in Seattle. The Lower Town Wall is referred to as one the best climbing experience in the US.
Rock Climbing in Seattle can be a nice alternative after taking advantage of the attractions Seattle has to offers or the diverse tours available to discover the city.
