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Rock Climbing Walls for Kids in Manhattan

1. Central Rock Gym – Midtown West

Central Rock Gym offers a number of youth programs for kids ages 4 and up. The NYC Titans is for kids ages 8-12 who want to learn basic climbing skills and techniques through games, creative challenges, and skill-building activities. This program meets twice a week. Competitive teams are offered for children ages 8-18. There are also adaptive climbing programs for kids with disabilities who want to explore rock climbing. Drop-in climbing is also available as well as vacation camps.

2. The Field House at Chelsea Piers – Chelsea

Many of us have escorted little ones to birthday parties at this mega-sports spot and seen the 23-foot-high climbing wall designed with kids in mind. Children ages 5-16 can try a Rock-N-Rolls session. In these 90-minute classes, kids receive 45 minutes of rock climbing instruction and 45 minutes of gymnastics instruction. Reservations are required. There are great birthday party options that include the rock wall, too.

3. Manhattan Plaza Health Club – Midtown West

This health club offers 5,000 square feet of climbing space for your little one's enjoyment. Children ages 5 and older are welcome to climb. The club suggests mom or dad take an introductory class to learn the essentials of the sport, including belaying (holding the rope to which your child is attached). This allows your child access to the wall whenever the club is open. Birthday party packages are also available.

4. Movement Harlem – Harlem

Formerly The Cliffs, this climbing gym offers a variety of programs for kids, including classes, camps, and teams. Keep in mind, Movement Harlem is strictly a bouldering gym, so there are no ropes or harnesses.

5. VITAL Climbing Gyms – West Harlem and Upper East Side

Like Movement Harlem, this uptown duo is dedicated to the art of bouldering. Climbers must be 8 and older to scale the walls. Both sites offer after-school, weekend classes, and competitive team options. Birthday party packages are available. Every Sunday at the Upper East location, kids 5-8 can be dropped off at the Monkey Club for an hour and a half of non-stop fun, games, climbing, and more.

Rock Climbing Walls in Brooklyn for Kids

6. Brooklyn Bouldering Project – Gowanus

The Brooklyn Bouldering Project is a bouldering-only gym that offers a friendly atmosphere for anyone who wants to try out the sport. The Youth Program is robust with many different classes, summer and school holiday camps, competitive teams, birthday party packages, and even parents' night out events. Kids should be at least 5 to climb.

7. GP81 – Bushwick, Brooklyn

This community-built, training-focused bouldering gym is currently limited to ages 13 and up, but it may be a good option for local teens who are serious about climbing.

8. MetroRock Brooklyn – Bushwick, Brooklyn

MetroRock Climbing offers both bouldering plus other types of climbing, including auto-belays, top-roping, and lead climbing. Kids can participate in after-school programs, holiday camps, birthday parties, and climbing teams. Kids need to be at least 5 years old.

9. VITAL Climbing Gym – Williamsburg

This bouldering gym offers youth classes, camps, teams, and birthday party packages. Kids must be at least 6 for the classes and camps and at least 8 for the teams. The gym also offers private aerial silk lessons for kids.

10. Movement Gowanus – Gowanus

Formerly The Cliffs Gowanus, this gym features three floors of climbing and bouldering walls—some reach up to 45 feet—rock climbers of every skill level will be able to have fun. Movement Gowanus offers a wide range of youth programs for kids of all skill levels and ages, including camps, teams, and birthday parties. Kids should be least 5 years of age to climb.

11. HAPIK – Industry City

This new climbing gym offers a variety of themed climbing walls for kids of all ages and skill levels. All climbers are fitted with a harness and provided with a tutorial. There's also a ropes course and free-standing vertical structures for kids to climb. Young kids can play in the soft-play area if they're not up to climbing. Sessions are 90 minutes long.

Rock Climbing Walls in Queens

12. Movement LIC – Long Island City

This LIC facility offers both rope climbing and bouldering. Kids can take advantage of after-school classes, holiday camps, and competitive teams.

13. Brooklyn Boulders – Queensbridge

A climbing mecca, Brooklyn Boulders allows children as young as 5 to scale its regular walls. It has a comprehensive youth program offering a Kids and Teens Academy. In the summer, Brooklyn Boulders combines climbing with STEAM activities for Summer Adventures for kids ages 5-12.

More Nearby Options

There are also child-sized rock climbing walls at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City and the New York Hall of Science in Queens that are included with museum admission. Brooklyn play space Fairytale Island has a small wall, as does Bounce 'N Play in Astoria, Queens.

For outdoor options, visit the Pier 25 playground or Battery Playscape.

A version of this article was published in February 2018; it is updated annually.