It’s raining. Pretty much always. We’ve all talked about it, as climbers, we’ve all cried about it. The good news is, as Boulderites, there are always indoor options to satisfy our outdoor obsessions. For a city of just under 100,000 people, there are six climbing gyms all within about a mile radius of each other. Here are the details:

1. The Spot Bouldering Gym (www.thespotgym.com)

If you’re into bouldering, this is the place to go. The gym features two freestanding boulders, a cave, walls ranging from slab to about a 45-degree overhang, as well as a training area. The Spot has a friendly atmosphere (with a tap, for those of you over 21) and brand new floors that make it a safe place for new climbers and a great gym for those looking to push their limits. The Spot is full of quirky characters and is a great place to meet fellow boulderer’s and to pick up tips from excellent coaches, setters, and instructors.

Photo Credit: Katrin Bell

2. The Boulder Rock Club (www.Boulderrockclub.com)

Located in the heart of Boulder, the BRC is a premier rock climbing gym featuring two bouldering areas and tons of lead and top rope climbing. The gym tends to be a bit crowded in the afternoons but during the day, you’ll have no problem hopping on whatever route you wish. The BRC also has a great training area complete with a campus board, free weights, and machines.

Photo Credit: The BRC

3. Movement Boulder (www.movementboulder.com)

Movement Boulder is a topnotch climbing and fitness center. The bouldering section has quality problems, but the real draw for Movement is the height and quality of the lead and top rope climbing. Movement employs world-class setters and has climbing suitable for both new and expert climbers alike. Movement also has an excellent fitness center, offering yoga, climbing, and fitness classes.

Photo Credit: Movement Boulder (www.movementboulder.com)

Those are the top three, all world class gyms, with fantastic setters, and amazing facilities, which pretty much guarantees you’ll have a good time climbing at any of these gyms. Still, there are some more options in Boulder. ABC Kids Climbing is situated next door to The Spot and, as the name suggests, is a gym focused on bringing up the next generation of young climbers. For CU students, there is the newly renovated CU Rec Center, which, although a bit limited in size, offers fun bouldering and sport climbing, making a great option for a quick session between classes. Finally, there is CATS, which is a gym dedicated to inspiring individuals of all ages and abilities to improve fitness and body awareness through climbing and gymnastics. Now, rain or no rain, get out and go climb a rock!

Kelly Anderson