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University Recreation and Wellness Center

4.5 ★★★★★ 287 Google reviews · Climbing gym in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hosts birthday parties Kids classes & camps

Sprawling rec center featuring a climbing wall and multiple swimming pools, plus a gym and an indoor track.

Plan your visit

  • 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 (612) 626-9222
  • Website recwell.umn.edu

Hours

Monday 5:45 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 5:45 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 5:45 AM–9 PM
Thursday 5:45 AM–9 PM
Friday 5:45 AM–9 PM
Saturday 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday 12–5 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 University Recreation and Wellness Center, confirmed by climbers' own reviews.

🧘 Climbing + Yoga & Fitness 6 mentions

“Most of the necessary lifting equipment, a variety of clubs and classes, lots of cardio options, good locker room and sauna facilities.”

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🛠️ Training Boards

“Definitely recommended not going at peak times if you want to use the kilter board.”

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What climbers say again and again

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 287 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🧘 yoga & fitness included 4 mentions

“Most of the necessary lifting equipment, a variety of clubs and classes, lots of cardio options, good locker room and sauna facilities.”

From the reviews

great gym, I miss it a lot. for me its better than any suburban lifetime in the twin cities area. demographic is younger except for the occasional faculty grandpa on the bike during lunch. it was kept clean and people were better about re racking and wiping the machines than your average pleb public gym.

★★★★★ — Sheldon, Jun 2017

Awesome gym - it's gotten better over the years with the renovations. Lots of great equipment for strength training, all the cardio machines you could want, and an incredible pool.

★★★★★ — Dylan, Feb 2018

Very nic experience always in this gym. It's been my regular go to spot every evening for more than a year when I was at University of Minnesota. Gym is quite big, wide and ventilation is very nice which makes it breathable place given that there is always heavy crowd. Staff is very professional and we'll behaved.

★★★★☆ — Harvijay, Nov 2021

Staff is young but great, can be difficult to get machine at peak hours. Swimming lanes and sauna make it worth not paying more money for less. P.s. holiday hours always different,, close @8p M-F

★★★★★ — Zachariah, Dec 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 287 reviews →

Birthday parties at University Recreation and Wellness Center

University Recreation and Wellness Center 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 info on their site

Kids classes & camps at University Recreation and Wellness Center

Reviews and the gym's own info mention kids programs at University Recreation and Wellness Center — 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 University Recreation and Wellness Center

123 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN55455

Get directions Instagram · Facebook

Climbing gyms near University Recreation and Wellness Center

Recreation & Wellness Center Climbing Gym

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under a mile away

The A Climbing Gym

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welcoming community

1.2 miles away

Vertical Endeavors–Twin Cities Bouldering - TCB

4.5 ★★★★★ 165 reviews

2550 Wabash Ave, St Paul, MN

Hosts birthday parties Kids classes & camps Auto-belays Yoga & fitness Adaptive climbing yoga & fitness includedgreat route settingbeginner friendly

Sprawling bouldering gym with a fitness area and yoga studio (classes available).

1.6 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.