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A Look Inside America’s Largest Indoor Climbing Gym

Earth Treks debuted its new, 53,000-square-foot facility in Englewood last week.

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On Friday, Earth Treks opened the largest climbing gym in the United States, but they don’t want that to intimidate you.

The fitness company’s vast, 53,000-square-foot complex took over the old Sports Authority headquarters in Englewood, which has been empty since the retailer shuttered in 2016. The Englewood facility —Earth Trek’s second Colorado gym; the first location is in Golden—features 55-foot climbing walls with 10-foot ceiling overhang extensions, a yoga studio, a fully-equipped fitness area (think standard weight lifting and cardio machines) and even the company’s first child-care center.

The enormity of the space is meant to be accommodating, rather than daunting, says marketing director Tori Barnett. From casual yogis and extreme climbers to couch potatoes looking for some excitement, the new gym is designed to support visitors of all levels. “Our hope is that every single person who walks into this facility feels welcome and excited,” says Barnett, who insists climbing can be for everyone. “It’s approachable if you are three years old or 103 years old.”

Still, considering the company’s founder, Chris Warner, is a lifelong climber and professional mountaineer, whose conquests include Everest and K2, “approachable” may not be the first word that comes to mind when you look up at the looming climbing walls. Warner founded Earth Treks as an expedition guide company in the 1990s, but after a life-changing experience on Alaska’s Denali, transitioned it to the indoor climbing company that today includes 11 facilities in five states.

Last year, Earth Treks merged with Planet Granite, and plans to open gyms under both names in the coming years. As in Englewood, many of these gyms will be repurposed spaces. Already, the company has renovated an old tennis and racquetball facility, multiple historic buildings, and even an empty movie theater. Right now, it has its sights sets on Chicago.

Barnett says that when considering new areas for expansion, Earth Treks “looks at the communities there to see if they would support it or want it.” Earth Trek’s newest facility came after the company decided to deliver more gyms to the Mile High City. “The Denver metro area has always been great to us,” Barnett says. Englewood was an easy choice: “People in Englewood love adventure and fitness.” The ability to repurpose the massive space vacated by Sports Authority was just an added benefit.

A day-long event on September 22 will celebrate the gym’s opening and give thanks to the Englewood community for welcoming Earth Treks and bearing with the months of construction. Free open climbs and clinics will take place throughout the day, and a DJ will help transition the gathering into a full-fledge party in the evening. Barnett hopes the event will be an opportunity for first-timers to try climbing in a safe, welcoming environment.

“We just want to invite people in and show our passion for this,” she says.

If you go: 1050 W. Hampden Ave., Englewood

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America’s Largest Climbing Gym: What It’s Like

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Earth Treks in Englewood, Colo., just opened last week. It is the largest climbing gym in the United States. We visited and were impressed it invested equally in roped climbing and bouldering.

Hold after hold, I reach for big, white blocks that mark the direction of my route. I’m climbing a 5.10a that slightly overhangs on one of Earth Trek’s tallest walls. It towers 55 feet and is just one of the hundreds of routes climbers can choose from.

Earth Treks Englewood , located just south of Denver, opened last week. At 53,000 square feet, it’s North America’s largest climbing gym.

Initially, climbing in North America’s newly opened largest climbing gym went as expected. There are ropes, walls to climb, and staff to check you in. It felt like any other climbing gym.

But after my tour of the roped climbing area, the allure of Earth Trek dawned on me. The company invested nearly the same amount of space to both bouldering and roped climbing — a rarity in American climbing gyms.

Earth Treks Climb: America’s Largest Climbing Gym

I visited Earth Treks on a weekday afternoon for a climbing session and tour. Staff greeted me at the entrance, and I filled out a waiver.

Earth Trek’s marketing director, Tori Barnett, met me at the door for a tour.

The air was markedly calm, not exactly something you’d expect from a gym that opened one week ago. Climbers are going through the motions of picking routes, chalking up, and talking about weekend climbing plans.

Tori told me it picks up after working hours but never feels crowded, which is to be expected in a gym this big. There are plenty of routes for everyone.

We walked past places for belay lessons and exclusive climbing parties. Grigris hung from each of the top ropes, which is something new for Earth Treks. Climbers must use the gym’s belay devices if they want to top rope.

Earth Treks turned to professional climber Jason Kehl to design the walls. Each curve and overhang is proprietary to this gym, so climbing here is inherently unique.

But admittedly, there weren’t any jaw-dropping features on the walls. There are some cool, twisty cracks and a slab wall that stands out. And in the bouldering area, there are some challenging roofs and arches.

Otherwise, it’s pretty par for the course as far as climbing walls go.

Holds, Route Setting, Fitness: Earth Treks Englewood

Earth Treks flew in 25 route setters for the initial set at the gym. And after climbing a few top rope routes, the wall’s height is apparent.

The routes are long and enable setters to employ a multitude of fun problems for climbers to work through in each route.

And in the bouldering area, the routes are spread out — thanks in part to its massive space. You’ll find just about any style here, whether you prefer stemming, crimps, slabs, or slopers.

Earth Treks hired four dedicated setters for the Englewood location. Every eight weeks, climbers can expect a totally new set gym.

Gym-goers have access to a yoga studio, a fitness classroom, and a large free-weight and exercise equipment area. And you better believe there’s tons of climb-specific training equipment like Tension Boards , campus boards, and hang boards.

Earth Treks Englewood: Our Take

After climbing for two hours, I felt like I barely scratched the surface. In that time, I did some roped climbing, bouldering, and core. And I still felt like there was so much more to do.

Most days of the week, there are five yoga classes and two fitness classes. The fitness classes include core, high-intensity 30-minute workouts, and climb-specific training.

And child care is unique to this Earth Treks location. Parents can drop off their kiddos while they get their send on.

Rates are $22 for a day pass and $79 per month for an individual. You can learn more about pricing here .

I imagine Earth Treks to appeal to climbers with varied interests. With massive space dedicated to both fitness and climbing, you can work out in just about any way you can think of.

If you’re in the area, I definitely recommend checking it out. Climbing here is a novel experience and will definitely freshen up the gym climbing routine.

Nate Mitka performed hundreds of reviews for GearJunkie before he decided to make the product he was reviewing, instead of reviewing it. After a number of years on the product team for one of the largest outdoor brands, Nate is back doing what he loves: telling stories by means of splitboarding, climbing cracks, trail running, gardening, attempting to surf, and cooking around the campfire. You’ll find him scarfing down the best pizza in Denver (2x blind taste test champion) after his high- and low-octane pursuits in the mountains.

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Love sport climbing at the Olympics? Here’s where you can get started in the D.C. area.

For the first time, Olympic athletes are competing in sport climbing — scaling inverted walls with complicated routes that require physical and mental prowess.

Meanwhile, in Washington, enthusiasts say the region’s climbing community is tightknit, fun and welcoming of all, from kids to seniors and newbies to experts.

“Climbing is for everybody,” says Jeff Shor, who directs youth programs at Sportrock Climbing Centers, which has locations in Alexandria and Sterling. “If you can climb a stepladder, there’s something for you in the facility to climb. And even if you can’t, there’s a program that will help you get up the wall.”

Shor adds that part of climbing’s appeal is the many ways athletes are challenged to figure out the sequence of hand and foot movements needed to reach the top. Sometimes the answer is evident quickly; other times, it takes days or weeks to master. “Climbing is a kinetic puzzle that you solve with your body and your mind,” he says. “It isn’t just doing pull-ups up the wall. It’s figuring out how to best shape your body into this puzzle.”

If that piques your interest, here’s what to expect at four of the area’s climbing facilities. (The District is expected to open its first indoor gym, Brooklyn Boulders in Eckington, this year.)

Scale a 50-foot climbing wall in AR with Olympian Brooke Raboutou

Sportrock Climbing Centers

This rock-climbing gym wants to be Washingtonians’ “third place” — where they gravitate to find community and fulfillment outside work and home. “We want to be a place where people in various states of athletic health can push themselves physically and mentally, and be supported while doing so,” Shor says.

Some of the facility’s classes are geared toward climbing newbies: Shor recommends a basic skills class, which will teach you and a partner how to climb on rope walls, with an emphasis on safety. The next level up is an intro to climbing class, which is hands-on and focuses on, for example, getting used to different wall heights. (All classes require preregistration.)

More advanced climbers will have plenty to do, including one-on-one coaching and guided outdoor adventures. Sportrock recently introduced performance assessments, which “identify how a climber can progress,” Shor says. (This specialized training takes place at the Sportrock Performance Institute, which is attached to the main Alexandria facility.) Trainers analyze and make recommendations about climbers’ movements — for example, using special technology to measure finger strength.

The Sportrock team has created groups that tap into various communities, such as a Girl Beta program every second Sunday. It’s a 90-minute event coached by and designed for women. “We want to make sure that nobody feels hostility in any way and can get out of the male gaze,” Shor says. “It’s a place where women can support each other and develop their climbing.”

A Sportrock instructor also runs a program for patients with Parkinson’s disease, which is a degenerative condition that limits movement, and there are lots of youth programs, including multiple summer camps.

5308 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria. 45935 Maries Rd., Sterling. sportrock.com . Day pass: $22-$24 (adult), $20-$22 (children 13 and younger). Masks required for those who are unvaccinated and during group classes and youth programs. On Saturdays and Sundays from 9 to 11 a.m., and Mondays from noon to 11 p.m. (Alexandria) and noon to 10 p.m. (Sterling), everyone must wear a mask.

Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness

Ian Colton knows climbing can be an intimidating sport. “It’s not like soccer, where you can immediately understand it because it’s so mainstream,” he says. “There’s been a big barrier to entry, and we didn’t want people to feel too intimidated to come in — so we developed this community for people to learn and excel.”

Colton owns Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness, a Manassas facility that offers indoor and outdoor climbing classes, camps and more. On a recent Monday evening, the facility was preparing for its second blackout party, during which climbers don headlamps, wear neon and clutch glow sticks as they climb in the dark. “It’s very artsy, and some people actually like it more [than climbing in light] because it takes away the height factor,” Colton says — climbers don’t realize how high up they are, and therefore don’t feel scared.

Parties aside, Vertical Rock Climbing attracts a range of guests, including some members in their 70s. Advanced climbers often appreciate the facility’s emphasis on getting outside, to places like Carderock in Maryland. “We built the facility with the belief that the ultimate goal is to enjoy the outdoors,” Colton says.

The gym hosts an active Meetup group that brings together seasoned climbers and beginners. That speaks to one of the things Colton likes best about climbing: It levels the playing field. “You can be incredibly athletic and incredibly strong and still be at the same level of somebody who’s not as athletic or not as old or not as young,” he says. “You can have all the muscle in the world, but you have to have the head for it. If you have the will and want to do it, you can actually climb and you can progress.”

10225 Nokesville Rd., Manassas. climb-va.com . Open daily. Day pass: $24. Masks required.

Earth Treks

First-time climbers who visit one of Earth Treks’ locations in Washington typically start by taking an intro to rope climbing class. It overviews all the basics: how to tie knots and handle ropes (which is called belaying) and what it’s like to climb. “You can learn, hey, do I like this?” says Mike Downey, gym director at the chain’s Rockville location.

Some newcomers prefer bouldering, which can be learned in an afternoon and involves shorter climbs that don’t use ropes. “You’re going to have a soft pad underneath you to help brace for falls,” Downey says. “It’s a little more dynamic. Some people never rope climb — they only boulder.”

Earth Treks also offers advanced classes, where climbers “can practice very high-end techniques, like what happens if a climber makes a mistake and you have to rescue them.” Other classes focus on perfecting technical footwork and complex moves, and private coaching is available.

Lots of kids frequent Earth Treks, too: There are options for young climbers ages 6 and up, including after-school programs, summer day camp and climbing teams. While the kids are occupied, some parents work out in Earth Treks’ fitness studio, taking a Core Fit or yoga class. “They’re a really good complement to anyone’s skills,” Downey says. “The fitness classes translate well into strength for high-end climbing.”

Locations in Crystal City, Rockville and Columbia. el-cap.com . Open daily. Day pass: $22-$26 (adult) $18-$22 (student). Masks required at Crystal City; they are optional at Rockville and Columbia for those who are fully vaccinated.

How Brittany Leavitt of Brown Girls Climb would spend a perfect day in D.C.

On any given day, you can scale the Eiffel Tower, Mt. Rushmore or Statue of Liberty — in Laurel.

At ClimbZone, guests have access to 75 themed walls, and they’re not all just reproductions of exciting destinations. There are walls that resemble a suit of armor, map of the United States, tornado, volcano and bookshelf, just for starters.

The indoor facility is certainly family oriented — but not all the clientele are kids, says general manager Kevin Killen. “Probably 25 percent or 30 percent of our business is actually adults,” he notes.

All guests start with an orientation, even if they’ve been at the facility before. Unlike most other climbing gyms, ClimbZone utilizes a hydraulic automatic belay system, which means there’s no need for a human belayer (who would typically stand on the floor and manage the climber’s rope). Instructors are constantly roaming about, in case someone needs help, Killen says, and to assist those afraid of falling. In those cases, “we get them to go up maybe 34 feet — not far off the ground — and then just let them come down, and they can see that coming down is the best part.”

Climbing is a full-body workout, which parents often appreciate. “It’s your upper body, it’s your lower body, it’s your cardiovascular system,” Killen says. “Kids get to work out, and they’re generally very tired when they’re done.” Plus, he adds, the satisfaction of problem solving — and figuring out how to make it to the top of a wall — is rewarding. “It’s a sense of accomplishment, and they learn perseverance,” he says.

It’s also great entertainment. “We get moms and dads in here who are watching their kids, and then the kids convince them to come join them,” he says. “And all of a sudden, you have a family of four climbing up Mount Rushmore.”

13200 Mid Atlantic Blvd., Laurel. climbzone.us/laurel . Open daily. Two-hour session for ages 6 and older: $25. Masks required.

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Earth Treks Brings Bouldering To Baltimore

The gym operator is taking over a former Sears distribution center and will share the massive building with eight other businesses including UNION Craft Brewing. Earth Treks will occupy 20,000 square feet of floor space which they will fill with 10,000 square feet of bouldering terrain as well as a yoga studio, functional fitness and cardio zones, training areas, and retail pro-shop.

“Earth Treks has been serving Baltimore area climbers since 1990 and we are thrilled that at long last we’ll be opening our first gym in the city. We’re excited that we’ll be calling Hampden home and look forward to being part of its vibrant community,” said Chris Warner, Earth Treks founder and CEO.

Earth Treks currently operates three other gyms in the DC-Baltimore metro area including their Rockville facility which is rumored to be the busiest gym in the country.

This bouldering facility in the hip neighborhood of Hampden comes on the heels of ET’s recent announcement that they will be opening the US’s largest climbing gym in Englewood, Colorado. Both locations are due to open in 2018.

Climbing Business Journal is an independent news outlet dedicated to covering the indoor climbing industry. Here you will find the latest coverage of climbing industry news, gym developments, industry best practices, risk management, climbing competitions, youth coaching and routesetting. Have an article idea? CBJ loves to hear from readers like you!

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Earth Treks Opens North America’s Largest Climbing Gym

August 31, 2018, 53,000 square foot facility in englewood, co takes over previous sports authority hq.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (August 31, 2018) – Earth Treks Climbing and Fitness announced today the official opening of North America’s largest indoor climbing gym. The 53,000 square foot facility in Englewood, Colorado will feature world-class climbing and bouldering, along with amenities such as a yoga studio, fitness and cardio zones, climbing classes, a fully-stocked retail gear shop, high-end locker rooms and onsite childcare.

“We’re thrilled to open this new facility in Englewood and become a part of the thriving neighborhood,” stated Earth Treks CEO, Robert Cohen. “The Denver community has always been great to us and is already extremely involved in climbing, adventure and fitness. With the nearby University of Denver and Denver Tech Center and convenient access to light rail and bike trails, we expect many locals to capitalize on the location to try something new, take their fitness to the next level, and join an amazing new social network.”

The Englewood facility is taking over the previous corporate headquarters of Sports Authority, which closed its doors in 2016 after filing for bankruptcy. Earth Treks employed JR Bernlohr Architects to design the new facility, which involved constructing a new 50’ high roof to accommodate high-roped climbing. Bernlohr Architects has designed multiple Earth Treks facilities, including its Maryland locations in Columbia and Baltimore and its Crystal City location near Arlington.

The Englewood facility will be the second Earth Treks facility in Colorado, with another located west of Denver in Golden. Along with climbing, bouldering, yoga, and fitness amenities, the Englewood gym has multiple features which will help foster a sense of community within the facility. A gathering area, which sits between the high-roped climbing and bouldering zones, will serve as the central space for the facility, providing a place for guests to congregate when they are not climbing and doubling as a stage or space for events. The space will additionally feature other communal areas which people can use as work spaces or lounges.

“Our gyms are more than just climbing, yoga and fitness facilities – they are places for people to come together, make new friends and challenge themselves,” stated Cohen. “We look forward to becoming a part of the bustling Englewood community.”

Visit the gym in September to receive 50% off your member initiation fee or try climbing for the first time by registering for limited-time $5 Belay Lessons – visit EarthTreksClimbing.com/Englewood and use promo code BELAY5.

About Earth Treks Climbing and Fitness

Earth Treks was founded in 1990 by acclaimed mountaineer, Chris Warner, guiding customers on mountaineering expeditions around the world, opening their first climbing gm in 1997. The Earth Treks brand now has expanded to seven climbing centers in three states. Earth Treks aims to create a space for people to congregate and pursue their passions; to inspire each other to push harder, to sweat more, and to laugh more.

Recently, Earth Treks announced a merger with Planet Granite Climbing, Yoga and Fitness. Together, Planet Granite and Earth Treks operate 11 gyms in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Portland, Denver, Baltimore and Washington DC. They additionally recently announced the construction of two new gyms in Chicago and one in Santa Clara, California. To learn more, visit www.PlanetGranite.com and www.EarthTreksClimbing.com .

Company Info

Earth Treks Climbing and Fitness

View all Releases by Backbone Media

CONTACT INFO

Calvin Bond 970-963-4873 x 262 [email protected] www.earthtreksclimbing.com/englewood

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A climber’s paradise

North America’s largest climbing gym opened in Englewood, Colorado. What does this mean for the climbing community?

I ’m swinging from the top of the tallest route at the brand-new Earth Treks Englewood facility, my camera in tow. Looking down at the emergence of Colorado’s newest climbing community, I snap pictures as folks pull down on brightly colored plastic holds and smear their feet against the textured walls, smiling while fighting against the pull of gravity. Both green rock enthusiasts and seasoned vets alike are exchanging grunts and encouraging exclamations as they pass tough moves or cling for dear life, trying to figure out the next place to go on the gym’s 65-foot-high artificial climbing walls — which are now the tallest you can find anywhere in Colorado.

The 53,000-square-foot Earth Treks climbing facility in Englewood, Colorado, opened in early September, and it’s the largest of its kind in North America. With more than 250 roped-climbing routes, 200 feet of crack climbing and 230 bouldering routes, this is a monumental amount of climbing under one roof. Even dangling from above, I feel the excitement buzzing down below.

Have you seen those flashy photos flood your Instagram feed lately — you know, the ones with climbers hanging effortlessly from a precarious piece of rock, ready to make a move that looks impossible to nail? Well, that’s never been me. Climbing doesn’t come easily to me; I’m gifted with a strong sense of self-preservation and a healthy fear of heights.

So, I never considered myself a climber until a few years ago, when my significant other, John, wanted to stop a 15-year smoking habit and get back into shape. He figured rock climbing could do the trick, and when some climbing friends recommended Earth Treks’ original Colorado gym in Golden, I showed up week after week with John to support his goals.

What I didn’t expect was how the bright, chunky plastic holds would beckon my grip. Even indoors, I sensed an air of adventure watching lead climbers swing from single strands of rope, dozens of feet off the ground. But what really made me want to try on this whole climber thing was the sense of camaraderie, the high-fives from friends who were all jumping outside their comfort zones, too.

It took a while, but the supportive environment at Earth Treks Golden slowly turned this exposure-shy gal into a full-blown climber. Over the years I learned climbing techniques, lead climbing safety, outdoor anchors, rappelling and more through their course offerings — a favorite was called Whip Therapy, where you learn to properly fall on lead and your belayer learns safe catching techniques. Slowly I developed into the high-alpine, multi-pitch climber I am today.

Earth Trek’s new climbing gym responds to the demand for more indoor climbing opportunities here in Colorado. Since the second half of the 20th century, professional climbers and amateurs alike have used gyms to train for their outdoor pursuits. But with the twin influences of a booming fitness industry, population increases in Colorado and the announcement that climbing will join the Olympic Games in 2020, gym climbing has skyrocketed in the U.S. In 2017, 43 new gyms opened (that’s almost one per state) and climbing for fitness skyrocketed a whopping 10 percent last year. It’s no longer unusual for people to climb only indoors.

There’s one route in particular that stands out in the Englewood facility: the brand-new, full-sized, regulation speed wall. Speed climbing — an indoor climbing discipline where competitors race up a standardized 10- or 15-meter route on top rope — has long been considered a distant practice among U.S. climbing communities. But now that it’s been bundled with lead climbing and bouldering in the Olympic games, elite climbers who want to wear the U.S. colors must also train for indoor speed. Before Englewood’s facility opened, speed climbers living on the Front Range would have to travel hundreds of miles just to find a 15-meter standardized wall on which to practice.

I caught up with Carlo Kopf, a long-time climber at Earth Treks and dad of world-class youth climber Sienna Kopf. Sienna Kopf, 16, placed third in the Speed Climbing National competition in her age group and 10th this year in the World Speed Competition for Youths.

The Kopfs used to drive seven and a half hours to Utah in order to train on a full-sized speed wall. Earth Treks included the 15-meter course, complete with auto-belay and timer. “We are pretty excited to have a full-sized speed wall in our backyard,” Kopf says. Sienna doesn’t have to worry about fatigue from travel and envisions her climbing career blossoming even further with the new accessibility.

During Earth Treks opening week, I chatted with several climbers who came from the original Golden facility to check out the new digs. In the busy bouldering area, climbers of varying skill levels were monkeying about in the caves, chatting about the excitement of “sick new holds” and the creative terrain.

One climber I talked to couldn’t wait to bring his wife to the new facility. She’d been hesitant to join him bouldering, since the drops from the tops of the rope-less walls were often daunting in height. Earth Treks Englewood installed a ladder on one of the bouldering walls to help climbers safely reach the ground again.

As though anticipating new climbers flocking to the walls, eager to learn the sport, there’s a dedicated area to education, with the ability to create two classrooms on shorter walls for climbers to hone their skills.

The lead wall offers more seasoned climbers an opportunity to get their pump on with its completely overhung terrain from start to finish. The climbing wall design firm Walltopia worked directly with Earth Treks to respond to the needs and wants of their climbers: varied features, overhangs, creative problem solving. Looking at the heartbreak wall, you see a large crack running through the middle of a three-dimensional heart shape.

“We are excited to introduce new people to the amazing sport of climbing and get more people included in the best community around,” says Tori Barnett, marketing manager at Earth Treks.

I’ve felt the powerful uplift that climbing communities provide. Newer climbers often learn techniques from more seasoned vets, developing mentor/mentee relationships. Since outdoor climbing gear is expensive, climbing partnerships develop in order to share gear and at the crag (outdoor climbing area) and it isn’t uncommon for fellow climbers to shout words of encouragement as someone attempts to pull a difficult move. Earth Treks wants to serve as the go-to gym for facilitating mentorship and positive-minded climbing, so with its opening, the gym rolled out a new program to make climbing more accessible. You can take a one-hour belay class where a newbie climber can learn the ropes (literally) and safely learn how to top rope. The best part? If you’re a member of the gym, you can gift these courses for free to friends and loved ones. The belay course enables climbers to learn the basic safety of climbing in a controlled environment. The course includes a full-day of access to the gym, all classes and workout facilities so you can practice what you learn. “We want to further foster that climbing community. We integrated hangout spaces and lounge areas because people come spend the day here,” Barnett explains.

Englewood’s expansion and inclusion of new climbing styles and approaches to climbing education symbolizes a new age in the sport. And as I get lowered down from the top of the 65-foot route, camera in hand, I let the buzz in the gym settle in. The excitement makes me smile — it’s a great time to be a climber. All around me there are people from every walk of life getting excited to push their own boundaries and jump into the sport.

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Earth Treks Rockville Climbing Center

Earth Treks' Climbing Center in Rockville, MD is the LARGEST indoor climbing wall in the nation with more than 38,500 square feet of climbing.  Shorter, less steep walls allow new climbers and kids to be successful while ample steep and technical terrain challenges even the most advanced climbers.

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Earth Treks

• 7125 Columbia Gateway Drive #110
• Columbia, MD 21046
• T: (410) 872-0060
• View website

Earth Treks Climbing and Fitness offers are state-of-the-art indoor climbing gyms located Maryland, Virginia and Colorado. Opening its doors in 1997, Earth Treks Columbia was the first facility in operation. Since then four other locations across the United States have opened. Each gym is among the largest in the country, with plenty of climbing for every ability. Earth Treks offers indoor climbing instruction, private instruction and parties, youth programs and teams, outdoor climbing and guiding, group fitness, personal training, and yoga. Additionally, each facility has a retail and gear shop.

General Information

• Hours of Operation: Mon & Fri 12p-10p, Tu-Th 12p-11p, Sat & Sun 9a-6p
• Competition/Tournament Venue: Tournament Ready
• Additional Information: Check website for seasonal hours
• Rock Climbing
• Field/Venue Specifics: 44 ft walls; 20,000 sq ft of climbing surface; bouldering area

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Earth Treks Golden – Indoor Climbing Gym Review near Denver

Earth treks golden review.

My family and I visited cousins in Arrowhead, Colorado the beginning of January 2020. Our primary focus was skiing in Beaver Creek or Vail. However, rock climbing was always in the back of my brain. We flew into Denver and drove to Arrowhead. On our way to Arrowhead and it was still early, we decided to detour to Boulder to check out the University of Boulder for our kids.

It was neat to look at the architecture and the layout of the campus. We noticed that many students ride their bikes. After checking out the university, we decided to look up the nearest climbing gym. Well, it was a wild goose chase because the closest place I found through my android GPS was the Climbing Wall Association (CWA) . It was not a climbing gym. Alas! However, later we found out that it was a non-profit organization that supports the growth, health, independence, and professionalism of the climbing wall industry. I thought CWA was interesting. They have an annual event that promotes and support building indoor rock climbing gyms. Sorry, I digress a little here. Shall save it for another article.

We gave up finding a gym nearby and headed off to Arrowhead. What ya know! We drove past a climbing gym after we gave up. It was and you may have guessed it “Earth Treks Golden”.

Name: Earth Treks Golden

Website: https://www.earthtreksclimbing.com/

Price: $22/day pass

Owners: Chris Warner, CEO, and founder

Overall Rank: 4.7 out of 5 stars from Google Review

Earth Treks Golden, An Overview

Earth Treks Golden is located at 700 Golden Ridge Rd, Golden, CO 80401. Their local phone number is 303-222-9564. Earth Treks Golden features 28,500 plus square feet of climbing and 45 feet high walls with 400+ roped routes, boulders, and a cool arch to lead climb under.

We gave ourselves a quick tour and it was an amazing place. They have two levels nicely layout with a yoga or fitness classroom, kids climbing area, and system boards for additional training on the second level. The first floor has the strength and workout facility and of course the climbing area including top rope, lead, and bouldering.

As I inquired further, I found out that there are additional climbing facilities such as Movement in Colorado and other regions of the United States such as Planet Granite affiliate with Earth Treks Golden. When you buy a membership at Earth Treks Golden, you can climb at other affiliate facilities for the same price.

Here are their different Regions and locations:

• Earth Treks Columbia
• Earth Treks Crystal City
• Earth Treks Hampden
• Earth Treks Rockville
• Earth Treks Timonium
• Earth Treks Outdoor
• Movement in Baker
• Movement in Boulder
• Movement in Rino
• Earth Treks in Englewood
• Earth Treks in Golden
• Planet Granite in Sunnyvale
• Planet Granite in Belmont
• Planet Granite in San Francisco
• Planet Granite in Portland

The Good & the Bad

PRO #1 It is a large climbing gym that provides almost everything you need to become a strong climber such as bouldering, top rope, lead, a workout facility, different types of classes, and strength training boards.

PRO #2 Purchase one membership and have access to any Earth Trek gyms, Planet Granite, or Movement in the different regions such as Maryland/Virginia, Colorado, California, or Oregon.

PRO #3 Friendly staff with great customer service.

PRO #4 The extra little perks such as child care service at Movement, private lockers with key codes, foot-washing station, complimentary mouthwash, lotion, hairdryer, etc.

CON #1 Expensive day pass and crowded evenings on weekdays and weekends .

CON #2 A complaint regarding baby strollers as being obstacles on the mats, especially when crowded.

CON #3 Since the merger, it has a corporate feel and losing the homey experience. The management team is not local so the staff cannot make final judgment calls without consulting management on the east coast.

CON #4 Complaints with no auto belays. “The bouldering walls are very high and the pads are quite firm which could lead to strains or sprains.” pointed out by a customer.

Who is Earth Treks Golden For?

Anyone who is a rock climber enthusiast, adventure seeker, and/or explorer of an alternative way to working out. Earth Treks have climbing challenges available for all levels from beginner to advance with top-roping, leading, or bouldering. It is a playground for everyone.

There was an interesting route that I have never seen before. It was called “The Buddy Climb”. This is where two people on top rope climb next to each other with two belayers below. In addition to the holds, the two climbers find ways to help each other climb up to the top. Too bad, I didn’t take any pictures to share because I was too busy belaying. It looked fun.

Earth Treks Golden Tools & Training

For Earth Treks Golden training facility, they have hydraulic campus boards, a tension board, and system boards for strengthening your grips with different variety of holds. In addition, they have a strength and cardio fitness area, group fitness classes, yoga, and private instructional areas.

Below is a picture of the main floor strength and fitness area:

Earth Treks Golden Support

When we visited, the staff was friendly and supportive. They checked all of us out for belay abilities. After we passed the belay test, we were free to climb. Similar to other gyms that we visited out of states, Earth Treks provides the lead rope for free. This is nice. However, we had to rent our harness, shoes, belay devices, and chalk bags because we left them at home. =( Prices do add up.

I usually look for a special device or something to assist a belayer who is lighter than the climber. Some gyms have a 50-pound bag of weight and others have anchor rope. Earth Treks Golden has an anchor rope. Also, all top ropes are tied into a Grigri as a belay device. For lead belaying, you have the option to choose your belay device .

Here is a rope anchored to the ground. When you are belaying someone heavier than you, you would loop this rope to your carabiner attached to your harness. This prevents you from being pulled up too high when the climber falls.

Earth Treks Golden main intention is to provide excellent customer service to members and guests. I noticed that they strive to reply to the past year’s more recent reviews on Google whether the reviews are excellent or not. I think it is nice to read that they are interested to hear their customers’ feedback. Whether they follow through or not, only the local climbers can attest to the changes.

Earth Treks Golden Price

The general day pass visit is $22, the 7-visit pass is $139, and military 10% discount for a day pass. The rental gear has a separate price:

• Climbing Shoes – $6
• Harness – $5
• Belay Device w/ locking carabiner – $2
• Chalk Bag – $2
• Package (all the above) – $11

There are also membership rates for monthly or yearly. You can visit their website for further details on their pricing.

My Final Opinion of Earth Treks Golden

Earth Treks Golden is not as tall as 60 ft high Stone Summit Climbing & Fitness Center in Atlanta, Georgia but it does hold its uniqueness. During my one day visit, I had a fun time climbing there. I enjoyed the feel and the challenges of new routes. Each gym has its unique routes set up by its route setters.

The day pass and rental gear prices are higher than the gyms I have visited in other states. It is more worthwhile to purchase a membership if I live in the area.

Even though some complaints hold such as the corporate feel or the homey feel of a gym, there usually two sides of a coin. This means you lose the homey feel and the price is higher when it is larger but you also gain more amenities and varieties with it being large. I guess it boils down to your preference or perspective.

For me, I love the opportunity to climb and explore new places. Ever since our local gym in Orlando closed in October 2019, I found prices have become less of a priority. I would travel at least an hour and a half just to climb. Of course, if the gym is reasonably priced that would be even better. I am also even open to bouldering which is not my favorite. If a gym like Earth Treks opens in Orlando, I would be there!

I love to hear your thoughts about Earth Treks Golden. Have you heard of it? Have you climbed there before? Please leave me your thoughts, complaints, praises, or questions below.

Earth Treks Golden at a Glance…

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Movement - Rockville

Updated 2 months ago

Review Highlights

“ Earth Treks is really good with changing out climbing routes, so every few weeks there are new routes to try out. ” in 36 reviews

“ This is quite the workout whether you do a class, a roped rock-climbing wall, bouldering , or the gym. ” in 27 reviews

“ The only negative thing I can say is about the price; $22 is pretty steep for a day pass without gear. ” in 15 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

725 Rockville Pike

Rockville, MD 20852

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About the Business

Business owner information

There’s no other way to put it, this place is huge and the perfect place to learn and grow as a climber. We have more than 38,000 square feet of varied climbing terrain – just for some perspective, that’s the surface area of three Olympic-sized pools! And we certainly like to have fun here, from artisan fairs to coat drives, we have a thriving community that is always excited to meet new friends. Come for the climbing, stay for the helpful advice from gym staff and motivation from other members cheering each other up the wall. …

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Ask a question

Can I bring my 6 year old daughter, she loves climbing?! Will someone be there to belay? and can we come anytime you are open? DO we have to belong to earth treks? Thank you, URsula Poetzschke

Hi Ursula! You can definitely bring your daughter. Earth Treks Rockville has open climb session every Saturday and Sunday for 30 dollars per person for 3 climbs from 9-5, with harness included. I've seen staff belaying for people during open climb… more

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Overall rating

170 reviews

I purchased a Livingsocial deal for the Intro class at Earth Treks. I went with three of my friends because we wanted to try something new. I had a lot of fun during the class, my instructors were Peter and Emily. They were both super friendly, attentive and their humor really helped make the thought of climbing those walls less intimidating :) If you have zero experience like me, I would highly recommend the beginner's class. You learn the basics of climbing and even if you never plan to climb again, you learn to tie some fancy knots :P

My first love and no doubt a world class gym. I must lament though that the boulder problems have declined in quality the last year or two. This place used to make the average bouldering gym seem like a waste of time. They still always have a few great problems, but it's lost that magic of having tons of clever tricks to discover. I do not mean to criticize, I'm just trying to give honest feedback. They still have the best lead routes of any gym I have encountered. I'm so glad to see how the gym has grown (literally) and physically. Your average climber at this gym is pretty strong so that naturally creates an encouraging atmosphere. It's awesome to be around so many people who can crush V7s and casually send upper 12s for leading. My personal goals for climbing have been bumped up in recent years because the the standard at the gym seems to be so high. In theory I am supposed to be focused on martial arts and only climbing casually, but it's hard to not get inspired to climb better when spending time at a place like ET. That is not to say it is not a good place for casual climbing. Always plenty of people just getting into it or folks who are not there to train crazy hard. They welcome climbers of all types and skill levels. Another strong note compared to other gyms I know: staff tends to be very humble and personable. I've seen some pretty awkward situations over the years when it comes to belay tests or questioning techniques. Without boring you with stories: bottom line ET staff is exceptionally good at calling people out (myself included) without it being taken offensively or getting uncomfortable. One last downside to note: this gym is a bit too popular for its' own good now. Gets nasty crowded sometimes. disclaimer: ive been climbing here for several years (since maybe 05?) but im far far from any sort of expert. Pulled off a V6 or two on good days when I was younger and in better shape and have sloppily managed a few 12As here and there over the years. So consider that if deciding how much credence to give or not give my assessment of the setting quality.

This gym, located behind Marlo Furniture store, is a beautiful rock climbing facility. There are plenty of climbing surfaces to suit all levels and types of climbers. Additionally, this facility sports a gym with cardio machines and weights. My Introduction to Rock Climbing class had only nine students and two instructors, so my classmates and I got lots of individual attention. I needed a knot tying refresher and the instructors made sure that we got plenty of practice tying the ropes correctly. During the class, there were a couple of instances where the instructors were obviously trying to kill time. The first came about halfway through the class when the instructors gave the class a fifteen minute break that we didn't need. Up until that point, we had only been tying knots and listening to instructions from the instructors, so it appeared the teachers needed the break more than the students did. The second time waster was when the instructors took us on a ten minute tour of the gym that we could have taken on our own time if we were interested in signing up for a membership to the gym. Overall, it seemed that the class was low on content and heavy on downtime. Admittedly, most of the people in the class had some climbing experience so perhaps we picked things up quicker than expected. Still, the class seemed to drag a bit. The instructors were cool, but they goofed off way too much, which I thought was very unprofessional of them! As a parting gift, each person in the class was given a booklet that covered all the climbing basics we learned in the class. This guide will come in handy whenever I need a climbing refresher.

I LOVE this place! How many other places can you have fun while working out? It does get pretty busy during the evenings especially during the summer, but you can still find space on the walls to climb, whether top roping, lead climbing, or bouldering. They change routes quite often so you won't get bored that easily. The difficulty level is pretty spread out and there are enough climbs for every skill level. They have a small gym if you want to do some normal workouts. They also offer yoga, abs class, and climbing classes free for members. They have a changing room with lockers and showers. I find this location to be a lot better than the Columbia one. That one is small, dark, and gives you a cramped feeling. This one is the biggest rockclimbing gym around and everyone at this location is super friendly and helpful. If you are by yourself, write your name down for the trade-a-belay to help you find someone to climb with. Definitely worth the price!

Excellent rockclimbing facility, and a great place to get a full body workout. The Rockville location has dozens of courses for all skill levels, so it is unlikely that you will ever get bored here! After you pass a belay test, all the walls/courses are available for you to explore. There is also a pretty extensive section for bouldering. They keep their equipment up very well, including mats, ropes, etc. There is also a gym, they offer fitness classes, and a little shop out front to get all your climbing gear. You can either join as a member, or get a day or week pass. Overall, great location and facility!

Wow. Post-expansion, and still absolutely terrified of heights, this facility is clean and amazing, and makes me want to battle my fear more. I had been here before and after, and on both occassions the staff has been very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is always great here--friendly, healthy people. I was intimidated at first because it was always packed and I couldn't find a private space to climb, but now with the expansion there are plenty of areas you can climb for some privacy and improvement. Great plus is that there is a nice small gym in there--nothing spectacular, but for having this inside a climbing gym that is pretty convenient. Everything they offer seems like a steal; Ive also heard that there are free classes like yoga offered with membership. They have an intro membership 2 for the price of 1, with courses included. Huge fan of their guest passes to members, which I'll be sure to continue leeching off of my friends :) PS: Bring your own shoes or a change of socks, otherwise your feet will be suffering some major odor damage. Come in the morning if you want to avoid the mad rush of people on weekends.

My first visit to Earth Treks was my first time rock-climbing so I have basis for comparison. However, I absolutely have no complaints about the facilities and the staff here. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The locker rooms/bathrooms are clean and comfortable (I LOVE the footbaths!). I recommend Earth Treks for both beginners and advance climbers of all ages.

Friendly staff and climbers, great yoga classes, clean facilities, fun climbs, and plenty of events! The only downfall is that their success continues to draw more and more people and some nights get crowded. The membership is 100% worth every dollar you spend and you can get $20 off a month for referring people!

Movement Gym R.

Business Manager

Apr 15, 2019

Thank you for your kind words! We are psyched on how many people this awesome community brings to our gym - and do our best to mitigate crowds by being very intentional about timing and overlapping of programs. We hope to see you (and friends!) in the gym soon!

I've been climbing for about three years now and have gone to over 20 gyms in the US. With that in mind, Earthtrek's Rockville location is an amazing place to climb whether you're a first timer or a seasoned climber. Not only is it one of the largest gyms I've been to but also one of the friendliest. The staff are amazingly helpful and friendly and the members of this gym are as equally motivating, respectful, and kind. I'm proud to call this my home gym. Now for the lines. The bouldering section is quite large but don't be surprised to see it packed with people even on a Monday night (Climbers are a bit addicted and crazy). I would say our grades have become a bit harder over the last three years so don't be discouraged if you get stuck on a problem! The top rope/lead areas are well set due to our creative setters. It's quite hard to get bored with these routes as there are many routes to climb! I've only started leading about a year ago and I have to say it has become a new motivation for me to become a better climber. So if you were once a boulderer like me, I would recommend walking over to the top rope/lead area and giving it a go! The only reason why this gym received a 4/5 is due to the price and benefits. The Rockville gym is quite pricey (a day pass and rentals go for 25+). The members of this gym also receive guest passes, however, they only receive 6 passes a year and may only use 1 pass per month (which is ridiculous as the new membership price is now $95). Even Sport Rock, which is another climbing gym in VA, allows 2 guest passes a month! But because of these two things I had to knock a star off of my gym sadly. Regardless, if you've never been to this gym, come! And you'll probably see me there =]

This place is in the Marlo Building. But you won't find it unless you go to the back and then drive behind the building till the end, and you'll see a little hidden back entrance. Inside they have a small workout room for people who have a montly membership I guess. It smells a bit like sweat, even though they have lots of fans and ventilation. I guess that it so be expected. I went for the class which came with a 2 week free climb membership. I really enjoyed myself and I got my certification for climbing on my own. But the problem is, no one else I know does this, so I haven't been able to go back... I suppose I could have done the bouldering- which they have as well- but it's also kind of pricey without a membership. Someday when my kiddo is older, I hope to have this be a hobby we do together-- hopefully this place will still be around!

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Rare-Earth, Noble, and Rare Metals in the Ores of the Algama Zirconium Occurrence, Khabarovsk Krai

• Published: 21 February 2022
• Volume 15 , pages S1–S11, ( 2021 )

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• A. A. Cherepanov 1  

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Samples of ore and gravity concentrate from the Algama zirconium occurrence were studied. Concentrations of rare-earth elements (REE), and rare and noble metals were determined. The REE content is 200–300 g/t in the ore and reaches 400 g/t in the gravity concentrate. REE distribution patterns show a clear negative Ce anomaly and MREE and Y predominance. The ore and the concentrate have elevated Hf, W, U, Ta, Au, and Pt contents. Their source is the ancient weathering crust developed after ultra-alkaline rocks of the Ingili massif. The presence of a buried weathering crust enriched in valuable components is inferred in the studied area.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to N.V. Berdnikov for help in the computer processing of data. V.E. Kuznetsov, the head of the geological department of the JSC Dal’geofizika, and V.V. Oskarev, the former main geologist of the Algama team, are thanked for consultations and samples they gave for the studies.

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Kosygin Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 680000, Khabarovsk, Russia

A. A. Cherepanov

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Recommended for publishing by V.G. Khomich

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Cherepanov, A.A. Rare-Earth, Noble, and Rare Metals in the Ores of the Algama Zirconium Occurrence, Khabarovsk Krai. Russ. J. of Pac. Geol. 15 (Suppl 1), S1–S11 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819714022010031

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Received : 30 July 2020

Revised : 01 July 2021

Accepted : 26 September 2021

Published : 21 February 2022

Issue Date : December 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819714022010031

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• baddeleyite
• rare-earth elements
• rare metals
• weathering crust
• Algama deposit
• Ingili massif
• Khabarovsk krai
• Far East Russia
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