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First Ascent Peoria

4.9 ★★★★★ 341 Google reviews · Climbing gym in Peoria, Illinois

Hosts birthday parties Kids classes & camps Yoga & fitness

Family-friendly facility featuring various climbing routes (some up to 50 ft. high) with boulders.

Plan your visit

  • Gear rental nearly every climbing gym rents shoes (~$5–8 typical) and chalk; harness rental 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
  • Yoga & fitness mentioned alongside the climbing — ask about the class schedule and what a pass includes
  • Ages families visit with kids 3–7, going by reviews
  • Memberships available — worth asking about if you'd climb more than a few times a month
  • Today see hours ·
  • Phone (309) 966-0831
  • Website faclimbing.com

Hours

Monday 12–9 PM
Tuesday 12–9 PM
Wednesday 12–9 PM
Thursday 12–9 PM
Friday 12–9 PM
Saturday 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday 10 AM–6 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 First Ascent Peoria, confirmed by climbers' own reviews.

🪨 Bouldering Gyms 5 mentions

“Although the bouldering area was on the smaller side, the routes were challenging enough to keep us entertained for about 2 hours.”

All gyms with bouldering gyms →

🪢 Lead Climbing

“We are avid rock, climbers, and really wanted to do a lead certification.”

All gyms with lead climbing →

⚙️ Auto-Belay Gyms

All gyms with auto-belay gyms →

What climbers say again and again

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 341 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🧼 spotless & clean 3 mentions

“Staff was friendly and helpful, facility was clean and well kept, other guests were very courteous even though it was a bit crowded when we went.”

🔰 beginner friendly 4 mentions

“Friendly staff, routes are changed every week so there’s variety even if you get bored, climbs for beginners all the way to advanced climbers.”

😊 friendly staff 6 mentions

“Staff was friendly and helpful, facility was clean and well kept, other guests were very courteous even though it was a bit crowded when we went.”

🤝 welcoming community 6 mentions

“From the moment we arrived, the staff demonstrated incredible patience and understanding, creating a welcoming atmosphere that immediately put both of us at ease.”

From the reviews

Just finished my son's first climbing class and am extremely pleased! Top notch climbing facility that also sports a variety of fitness equipment typical of a normal gym (cycling, free weights, rowing, etc.

★★★★★ — Eric, May 2022

I am 40 and overweight so as a new hobby, I chose bouldering because it is like solving a puzzle with your whole body. I recommend it to anyone looking for great indoor fun especially during the winter months. Use the Chalk! Great staff and will aid you in your journey.

★★★★★ — Jeff, Jan 2022

My boyfriend and I were in town for a couple days visiting his family and we both like to climb, so we looked up First Ascent and went for a chill morning sesh. The facility was near the river front area in a cool warehouse district.

★★★★★ — Rachel, Jun 2025

The staff was awesome and they do a great job of educating customers on safety. I had kiddos with me and they made the safety info fun and made sure the kids had a good time.

★★★★★ — Serena, Apr 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 341 reviews →

Birthday parties at First Ascent Peoria

First Ascent Peoria hosts birthday parties — confirmed on their own site. Climbing parties come with staff who handle the harnesses and belaying, so parents can mostly watch. One thing that's different here: every guest needs a signed waiver — send the gym's waiver link to the other parents when you send invites, or check-in day gets slow. Packages, party rooms, and pricing change often, so check the current options and book ahead — weekend slots go fast at popular gyms.

Check party packages

Kids classes & camps at First Ascent Peoria

Reviews and the gym's own info mention kids programs at First Ascent Peoria — 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 First Ascent Peoria

927 SW Washington St, Peoria, IL61602

Get directions

Climbing gyms near First Ascent Peoria

RiverPlex Recreation and Wellness Center

4.2 ★★★★☆ 665 reviews

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Kids classes & camps yoga & fitness included

Recreation space with a variety of fitness options, including climbing, basketball & cycling.

1.1 miles away

Elevate Trampoline Park

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Hosts birthday parties ~$20 day pass spotless & cleanbirthday party favoritefriendly staff

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Upper Limits Climbing Gym

4.8 ★★★★★ 200 reviews

1304 W Washington St, Bloomington, IL

Hosts birthday parties Kids classes & camps Auto-belays birthday party favoritefriendly staff

Large rock-climbing gym offering classes and birthday-party packages.

33.9 miles away

All climbing gyms in Peoria, IL →

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.