North Wall Rock Climbing Gym — Attraction in Crystal Lake

My best friend has been coming here with his kids for years and I just went with the kids this past weekend. First of all I have lived in Crystal Lake for 8 years now and I had no idea this place existed. I'm always looking for activities to do with the kids and a rock climbing gym should be no exception.

My buddy had two guest passes for my kids to try out the gym for the day and I had to rent shoes and a climbing harness for my kids, and this was absolutely fair as they didn't have the necessary gear to climb.

The employee gave us the gears and gave us a brief safety run down of what to do and where to go, simple enough. The rest of the time was just them climbing and playing. We started off on the Auto-belay/Tope-rope Room side as the kids wanted to get comfortable with climbing first. I have a 10 year old and a 5 year old and the 10 year old had no issues attaching herself to the auto-belay but the 5 year old had issues and I had to help him out every time to connect and disconnect himself. Then they wanted to go on the "expert" side where there are no safety belays. This room is surprisingly large and kids climbing section was cool as heck along with hidden a room for climbing. The kids really enjoyed this side of the room.

Overall, I'm glad my buddy invited us over to North Wall Rock Climbing Gym as it gave us an activity to do inside and quite frankly it was just fun. It's an easy going gym and kids can just climb and have fun and hang out. I'll be taking my kids here more often now that I know that this...

Discover North Wall: Climbing Fun for Every Age and Skill Level.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting North Wall, and I'm so glad I did—what a hidden gem! This facility is incredibly welcoming and offers a fantastic climbing experience for everyone. Even as a 60+ year old beginner, I found it easy and enjoyable to get started.

You can rent climbing shoes and chalk on-site, or bring your own. The staff, including Adam, Liz, and Elijah, are fantastic and will literally "show you the ropes." For those new to climbing, I highly recommend the auto-belay room. It's a secure and comfortable way to learn the basics and build your confidence.

The main climbing area features a vast array of routes, graded from easy to expert, allowing climbers to challenge themselves or even design their own ascents. The walls are regularly reconfigured, ensuring there's always something new to try. North Wall is also great for families, with climbing options and camps available for kids.

Beyond just climbing, the back area provides additional amenities like another climbing wall, a compact weightlifting space, grip strength training, and even aerial silks and yoga classes. North Wall genuinely caters to all skill levels and interests. Don't miss out on this fun and...

Deserving of praise beyond the five-star rating. Staff is great, the place is super clean, and pricing is cheaper than average. Excellent spot for both beginners and experienced climbers.

North Wall has incredible hold variety and top-notch setting. Grades are hard, but seem more honest in comparison to outdoor grades than most gyms. There's a huge number of problems set across multiple wall types (slab, vertical, numerous overhangs, arete, two cave rooms, a kilter board, a symmetrical spray wall, like 5 autobelays with some sweet routes, plus whatever I'm forgetting), new problems are set often, and there's a solid workout room in the back. My only complaint is that they've set my expectations too high - I have yet to be genuinely impressed by another gym after starting here.

There's also a huge, super friendly golden retriever there sometimes, so...