6 Indoor Rock Climbing Places For Kids in New York City

Indoor rock climbing is a great way for kids to get some much needed activity in the dead of winter (and maybe bounce off someone else’s walls for a change?)  Kids love it and it isn't too pricey. You can try it once at a drop in session and see if the kids like it, and if they do most of these places offer after school and weekend programs, not to mention birthday parties.

Let the kids climb the walls this winter at one of these 6 rock climbing venues in New York City.  

The Field House at Chelsea Piers
23rd St and the Hudson River, NYC
Most of us have probably escorted a little one to birthday party here and have seen the 30 foot high climbing wall designed with kids in mind.   Kids aged 5 through 16 can do a Rock–n-Roll session.  These are 90 minute classes where the kids rock climb as well as play with the other equipment, like, the giant foam pit for $30 a pop.  The sessions run on weekends and holidays during the school year and then during weekdays during the summer.  You have to pre-register (the class schedule comes out on Thursdays: here) and it fills up quickly.  I have yet to be able to register my son for a session and I have tried to …. a lot. They also offer regularly scheduled rock climbing classes for parent and child (winter / spring session currently full) and solo classes for kids aged 7 to 9 and 10 years +. Great birthdays party options that include the rock wall, too.

Aviator Sports & Events Center
Floyd Bennett Field
3159 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn
This massive airplane hanger turned sports center boasts a 35 foot high wall in the Main Street area of the complex.  Kids aged 5 and up can drop in for a climb or register for a private ($75 / hr) or semi private lesson ($90/ hr for 2 people). Drop in climbing options are 2 climbs for $10 during open climb or a day pass for $18, both on a first come first served basis and require shoe rentals of $5. Open climb hours vary so make a quick call before you head out to avoid disappointment.  They also offer rock climbing birthday parties.

Manhattan Plaza Health Club
482 West 43rd St, NYC
This west side health club offers 5,000 square feet of climbing space for your little one's enjoyment.  There are no classes or groups for kids but kids aged four and up are welcome to come and climb.  What the club suggests is that mom or dad take the basic introductory class for $60 learning everything you need to know about the sport, including belaying (holding the rope your child is attached to.)  This will allow your child access to the wall whenever the club is open for just $15 a trip.  They offer a variety of pricing options but no birthday parties.

Brooklyn Boulders
575 Degraw St, Brooklyn
Considered to be NYC’s climbing mecca, they have a wall for kids and allow kids as young as three to climb the regular walls.  Kids can drop in for a climb whenever they want for a day pass price of $16-$18, but the after school climbing league is really best for kids and teens.  Every weekday between 4:00 and 5:30 kids aged 5 to 10 can drop in and climb with supervision from the staff. The league is priced as an 8 session pack for $280 or you can try out one session for $45.  A similar teen league for kids aged 10 to 16 is in the works and should start this month. Shoes and gear can be rented at the club for $10.  They offer birthday party packages too.

PowerPlay
432 3rd Ave, Brooklyn
There are two separate climbing walls for scrambling depending on age in this mega play gym in Park Slope.  Open climbing for kids aged 7 years and older takes place on the 30 foot high wall in the lower level, Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, for $20.  (The website is a little out of date on this.) They advise that you call before you head out to climb to ensure the session is not cancelled.  Additionally, they have regularly scheduled rock climbing classes on a smaller wall for little kids (under age 7) during the after school hours.  They also offer birthday parties.

Klub 4 Kidz
159 North 4th St, Brooklyn
This new Brooklyn play space has the perfect size wall for kids, 18 feet high, large enough that they need ropes and harnesses and still small enough for them to manage to get to the top. While they don’t offer any rock climbing classes (it is a play space with lots of other things to do – read our review of it here) they do have open climbing sessions for kids over 3 years everyday for $12 per kid, or a combo pass that lets the kids play in the massive climbing structure as well for $20.  Monthly memberships and birthday parties are also available.

There are also child sized rock climbing walls at The Liberty Science Center and the NY Hall of Science, both are just part of the museums exhibits and are free with admission. And there is a teeny tiny one at Chelsea Playground on Staten Island with pay-to-play sessions.
 

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And more cold weather fun can be found in our Indoor Activity Guide, or check out our new Winter Guide.