Reading Rocks

Such a unique gym with “real rock” surfaces!

I've never climbed before in my life. My fiance and his friend have been for a while. After 2 years they're back with me in toe. After 1 week I got a pass and have been there every other day or so since. The staff is super nice and helpful! Easy to say I'm a little addicted and can't wait to keep coming back!!

This place is great. People are super nice too.

Usually, I have had a really good experience at this gym. I am not a climber, but I belay with my fiance. We visited the gym yesterday and had no issues signing in. We were interested in using the lead wall, and even though we are both experienced outdoor lead climbers/belayers, we were forbidden from using it due to not being certified in gym. We were interested in becoming lead certified but were told it was too busy (even though one of the clerks was belaying her friends while working). After we had started climbing, I was approached by a woman working the counter while belaying regarding how I was belaying. I felt a little attacked by how she approached me, and I could have handled the encounter better. However, my fiance and I both agreed it was extremely unsafe for her to approach me when he was halfway up the wall. Also, we were interested in using a more modern Mammut belay device but were told we could only use an ATC. We both felt it was little hypocritical to approach someone about using a ATC improperly and unsafely, considering it's by far the least safe belay device one can use while climbing. Needless to say, this encounter ruined our experience for the night and we left 30 min later. I don't know how my fiance feels because he likes to boulder there, but I will not be giving you all any more of my business. If you're going to have rules, they need to enforced consistently and posted. And for the woman specifically who approached me, if you're ever unsure of someone's belaying capability just ask them if you can watch them and make sure they're comfortable using the device. Also, be kind. :) Life's too short to be rude.

This is by far the best climbing gym I have ever seen. Climbing courses from beginner to advanced. The “fake” rock walls are amazing! My friends and I went climbing there every week when it was to cold or wet to climb at the quarry. Sadly, now that we moved to South Carolina this is one facility I haven’t been able to replace.

FROM A BOULDERING PERSPECTIVE: was a decent location, right off the exit basically which was nice. But once we actually hit the wall it definitely feels like bouldering is just something that's kind of set-and-forget. The problems were marked kind of poorly, some of the feet needing to be dug up from their flooring to see, other route markers were basically falling off the wall. The problems themselves we're decent but it definitely feels like an afterthought. Really sad too, lots of potential but as it stands, probably won't come back to this one.For rope climbers, looks like a ton to do there though.

Reading Rocks is a great place to learn how to rock climb or to continue your training. They have a number of sport climbing routes complete with an archway all the way across the gym.

My five yr old loved it! It's not the biggest gym in the world but good prices and it's worth the trip. Staff was very nice and helpful!