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First Ascent Uptown
4.9 ★★★★★ 395 Google reviews · Climbing gym in Chicago, Illinois
Bouldering and rope-free climbing gym with fitness equipment, routes for all skill levels and classes.
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
- Memberships available — worth asking about if you'd climb more than a few times a month
- Today see hours ·
- Phone (773) 275-1213
- Website faclimbing.com
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–8 PM |
What's inside
“This is the bouldering gym to come to (all the other FA gyms are great too) and there are some really unique routes with how the gym is laid out.”
“I've really enjoyed my time here, I take lots of yoga classes and have met lots of people from coming to the gym.”
“Boulders are fun for any level, the fitness area is complete, the hangboard area has several boards.”
What climbers say again and again
“I've really enjoyed my time here, I take lots of yoga classes and have met lots of people from coming to the gym.”
“The routesetting is very creative and challenging.”
“I took the intro class with Victoria and loved every second, she was great at teaching the basics of climbing, safety, and how to stretch before and after.”
“The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful too!”
“Totally reasonable prices for both day passes and memberships.”
From the reviews
This is a very unique gym. There are tons of windows. The walls are not super tall. There is tons of overhang. The routesetting is very creative and challenging. The grades are accurate. The front desk staff are very nice. The routesetting is very good, however, many of the holds are polished.
This First Ascent bouldering-centric location is great. The main area is a wide, cavernous space on the second floor with plenty of problems to go around, even during crowded times. Free temporary lockers with digital locks are on the ground floor. Staff is super nice.
Great bouldering gym with an abundance of routes, classes, and equipment. Totally reasonable prices for both day passes and memberships. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful too!
**** EDIT I have been coming here for over a year as a member now and my review stands. I can’t express how amazing the FA community is and how hard the team works to make a welcoming environment and host tons of cool events for meeting people.
Birthday parties at First Ascent Uptown
First Ascent Uptown 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.
Kids classes & camps at First Ascent Uptown
Reviews and the gym's own info mention kids programs at First Ascent Uptown — 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.
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