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Benchmark Climbing

4.8 ★★★★★ 79 Google reviews · Climbing gym in Berkeley, California

Kids classes & camps

Bouldering gym featuring a variety of climbing walls for all levels.

Plan your visit

  • Day pass around $30 — check current rates; most gyms price gear rental separately and discount off-peak
  • Gear rental available — the gym mentions rentals; shoes typically run ~$5–8 and a harness is often bundled with a ropes pass
  • Waiver always required at climbing gyms — sign it online before you go to skip the front-desk line
  • First timer? bouldering needs zero experience — rent shoes and walk in; staff will point you at the easiest problems
  • Kids programs classes, camps, or youth teams mentioned — check the current schedule
  • Memberships available — worth asking about if you'd climb more than a few times a month
  • Today see hours ·
  • Phone (510) 973-0335
  • Website benchmarkclimbing.com

Hours

Monday 7 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–10 PM
Thursday 7 AM–10 PM
Friday 7 AM–10 PM
Saturday 10 AM–7 PM
Sunday 10 AM–7 PM

Hours can shift for holidays, competitions, and youth-team practice — worth a quick check before a special trip.

What's inside

Walls and programs at Benchmark Climbing, confirmed by climbers' own reviews.

🪨 Bouldering Gyms 5 mentions

“Has everything a bouldering gym needs, the staff are friendly and helpful, and they change the problems regularly”

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🧘 Climbing + Yoga & Fitness 4 mentions

“The gym also has a weight room, exercise equipment, washroom, merchandise, and several drinks and snacks.”

All gyms with climbing + yoga & fitness →

What climbers say again and again

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 79 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🧼 spotless & clean 3 mentions

“Great setting, great hold selection, beautiful walls, the gym is very clean, the merch is amazing, and the vibe is overall great.”

🧘 yoga & fitness included 3 mentions

“The gym also has a weight room, exercise equipment, washroom, merchandise, and several drinks and snacks.”

🔰 beginner friendly 3 mentions

“Lena gave me an amazing first-time experience in her tutorial - how to fall safely, how to climb, and she had endless practical and professional advice with a wonderful attitude.”

🤝 welcoming community 5 mentions

“By the end of the first day I was seriously considering membership - what a great place for the community!”

From the reviews

A Benchmark location in the East Bay! So very excited for this, because it means my butt will be driving from Sacramento to climb these beautiful plastic problems. If you’ve been to the SF gym, then you’re in for a treat.

★★★★★ — Paulina, Oct 2022

Top tier setting, great community vibes, and awesome staff. I am amazed with how many routes they managed to fill in from it being a former Walgreens. Easily a 10/10 Definitely recommend if you are in the area - I only wished I still lived across the street.

★★★★★ — Christopher, Jul 2023

Modern. Clear. Refreshing. Pristine facilities. An onsite parking lot, a rarity in that part of Berkeley. Good gym. Tough and moderate bouldering routes. Great amenities.

★★★★★ — Samson, Nov 2022

Finally a bouldering gym in North Berkeley! Staff is extremely friendly and amenities are top-notch. One of my favorite parts is how flexible the hours are, especially how early they open in the morning!

★★★★★ — Jenny, Nov 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 79 reviews →

Kids classes & camps at Benchmark Climbing

Reviews and the gym's own info mention kids programs at Benchmark Climbing — climbing classes, school-break camps, or a youth team where kids learn technique from coaches instead of just scrambling around. Program schedules and age groups change each season, so check the current lineup before you plan around one.

Where to find Benchmark Climbing

1607 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA94709

Get directions Instagram

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The Oaks Climbing

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Kids classes & camps Yoga & fitness ~$15 day pass spotless & cleanyoga & fitness includedgreat route setting

1.1 miles away

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and climber reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.