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Climbers get a full tutorial on safety and how to use the clipping system before they hit the climbing floor.

HAPIK: A Climbers Paradise

I was blown away by the variety of experiences laid out over the 15,000-square-foot climbing gym at HAPIK. It offers a variety of themed climbing walls that cater to comfort levels from beginners to seasoned pros. Each climbing challenge is accompanied by an image explaining the different levels of difficulties on the wall. You can climb each structure the easy, medium, or hard route. Some walls offer multi-climber challenges.

Before entering the climbing floor, each guest is fitted with a harness and provided with a tutorial on the innovative clipping system at HAPIK climbing gym, which ensures climbers are always correctly clipped in and unable to become unclipped. You can’t even begin climbing without being properly clipped in. The automatic belay devices take in the slack as you climb, then lower you gently to the ground.

I was never able to feel totally comfortable jumping off of the structures, but my 6 year old took to it like a duck to water. She delighted in climbing to the top of each wall or structure, then deftly jumping off to be lowered gently to the ground.

Once you're comfortable in the climbing gym, enter the upper level of the space to experience the ropes course, which features a swinging bridge, suspended platforms, nets, and zip lines.

If themed climbing walls and ropes courses weren’t enough, there are free-standing vertical structures to climb, and these are unlike anything we’ve seen before, though they draw inspiration from the popular Ninja Warrior series.

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Challenge your climbing skills with an interactive treasure hunt.

Adding to the fun, there's an interactive treasure hunt built into the climbing walls. Hunt down all of the hidden boxes along the climbing walls and scan them using your connected bracelet to collect points. The quest just might push you past your comfort zone: My little one made me take the bracelet up one of the colorful vertical structures called Kapla North. I did it, but I was shaking the whole way.

If that's all too much, HAPIK climbing gym also houses a soft-play area for those who are not yet ready for the climbing walls but want to get in on the fun. This structure looks much like what you’d find at other indoor play spaces with nets and slides. Access is limited to kids under 4-feet-tall.

Know Before You Go to HAPIK Climbing Gym

• Everyone from 35-286 pounds can climb at HAPIK.
• Sessions run 90 minutes. Arrive at least 15-20 minutes before your scheduled climb time. It takes time to sign in, complete waivers, and get everyone fitted with a harness.
• HAPIK climbing gym is located in Industry City building No. 6.
• There is on-site parking available.
• HAPIK climbing gym is open daily, with extended hours during school vacations.
• There are a variety of ticket options available at this climbing gym, starting at $35. If you can't get enough climbing, take advantage of its membership option, which includes a climbing session daily, plus one family pass per month.
• Birthday parties and group events are available.
• On the first Wednesday of every month, enjoy a special $9 climbing rate.
• On-site lockers are available to store belongings for FREE.
• There are bathrooms and a snack bar available within HAPIK.

Unless noted, all photos by the author