FunKidsActivities

Cliffs of Id

2537 S Fairfax Ave, Culver City, CA 90232, USA

Overview

Category:Climbing Gyms
Location:Los Angeles, CA

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Cliffs of Id offers a comprehensive climbing experience suitable for all skill levels, from complete beginners (including children) to advanced climbers, with options for both bouldering and rope climbing. It's highlighted for its friendly community, helpful staff, and the opportunity for families to climb together or for kids to learn.

Key Highlights

  • Offers both bouldering and rope climbing options, catering to different preferences and skill levels.
  • Staff is consistently described as very friendly, helpful, and nice.
  • Provides routes for every level of climbing, from very basic to advanced.
  • Welcoming community atmosphere, described as a top-notch place to meet friends and other active people.
  • Climbing shoes are available for rent on-site, which is convenient for beginners or those without their own gear.
  • On-site amenities include a sauna, gym, and bathrooms.

Standout Features

  • Availability of both bouldering and rope climbing, providing diverse options for climbers.
  • Friendly, helpful, and welcoming staff and community.
  • Wide range of climbing routes suitable for all skill levels, from very basic to advanced.
  • Convenient on-site climbing shoe rentals.
  • On-site amenities including a sauna (though lukewarm), a gym, and bathrooms.

Perfect For

Suitable for children of various ages, as it's a 'super fun place to take the kids'.
Excellent for beginner climbers (both children and adults) as it provides opportunities to level up and has routes for all skill levels.
Also caters to high-level climbers, allowing active parents to enjoy advanced routes while their children climb at their level.

Ideal For

Families looking to introduce children to climbing or engage in a shared active hobby.
Parents with children of varying climbing abilities, as it accommodates beginners to advanced.
An active family outing where both adults and kids can participate.
Individuals seeking a gym with a strong community feel, despite some negative reports about staff and crowds.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • Parents wishing to rope climb or belay children must pass a brief on-site exam to demonstrate belaying comprehension.
  • Be prepared to rent climbing shoes if you or your children do not own them (they are required for climbing).
  • If you are a member, utilize 'First Fridays' for free guest passes for friends or family.
  • Be aware that day passes are $20 even with a member discount.
  • Consider the potential for crowds, especially if sensitive to busy environments.

Things to Consider

  • Serious facility maintenance issues reported: roof leaks significantly when it rains, causing water to collect on mats and walls, leading to mold and dangerous slippery climbing surfaces.
  • Reported safety issue: one reviewer claims people fall off a specific wall and break ankles 'at least once a month'.
  • Sauna temperature has been reduced significantly (50 degrees cooler) from 'nice and hot' to 'lukewarm', making it 'useless' for sweating.
  • Front desk staff described as rude and not very knowledgeable by one reviewer.
  • Route setting reportedly favors taller climbers and features a 'big move big jug' style that may not reflect real rock climbing.
  • Gym can get very packed, described as 'packed with idiots' by one frustrated reviewer, which might impact the experience for parents with children.

Price & Value

Monthly membership is $125. Day passes are $20 with a member discount (non-member day pass price not stated, but likely higher). Reviewers generally consider the membership reasonable and 'affordable' for active gym-goers. Climbing shoe rentals are an additional cost.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • No specific accommodations for special needs or accessibility features mentioned in the reviews.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Not mentioned in reviews.

🚗Parking Info

  • Tandem parking is available on-site.
  • An additional parking lot is available nearby at the Red Cross.
  • The main parking lot is described as a good size but fills up quickly.

👥Crowd Levels

  • Can get very packed and crowded, with one reviewer explicitly stating the 'Gym is packed'.
  • Parking lot fills quickly, indicating high traffic at peak times.
  • Likely busier on 'First Fridays' due to free guest passes for members.

🛡️Safety Features

  • A brief belay certification exam is required for anyone wishing to rope climb or belay, ensuring a basic level of competence for safety.
  • Management reportedly lowered sauna temperature for safety reasons.
  • However, there are significant reported safety concerns, including frequent ankle injuries from falls and hazardous slippery/moldy climbing surfaces due to roof leaks.

When to Avoid

  • During heavy rain due to reported significant roof leaks, which make mats and climbing walls slippery and moldy.
  • If you have significant concerns about facility maintenance, cleanliness (due to reported mold), or safety (due to reported frequent ankle injuries).
  • If you prefer a quieter, less crowded climbing experience, as the gym can get 'packed'.
  • If you are a taller climber and are particular about route setting, as some routes may not be ideal.
  • If you specifically desire a very hot sauna experience.

Pricing/Package/Events

Pricing & Packages

Membership

Not specified

Duration: Not specified

Access to all Touchstone Climbing gyms across California.

Includes:
  • Access to 18 Touchstone Climbing gyms across California
  • Indoor climbing
  • Bouldering
  • Unlimited yoga classes
  • Unlimited fitness classes
  • Weights and cardio equipment
  • Community events
  • Meetup groups

Events & Schedule

🛡️Safety Policy

  • All participants must sign a liability waiver/release.
  • Climbing is inherently dangerous and requires active involvement and personal responsibility from both climber and belayer.
  • Rules and belay tests are in place to evaluate and minimize potential for climber or belayer error.

📅Booking Policy

  • Membership account changes cannot be processed over the phone.
Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Sep 29, 2025

What People Say

What's Great

  • Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 7 reviews)
  • Safe environment for children (mentioned in 2 reviews)
  • Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

  • Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
  • Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Nick Brunner

Nick Brunner

a week ago

been going here for years, mostly for the sauna and my friends but they turned the sauna lukewarm from being nice and hot from the last 5 years. literally it’s set 50 degrees cooler. useless you barely sweat. they said it was for safety, meanwhile they have a wall where people fall off and break their ankles at least once a month; they don’t take care of their roofs and the building leaks when it rains like a third world country, including on all the mats where water collects and molds and onto walls where people climb making it slippery and dangerous. meanwhile they are opening gyms in less populated areas while this their most popular gym falls apart, i really hope they step it up but it seems like management from the top doesn’t care and the employees are super demoralized and depressed. they even tried to start a union.

Kennadi Davis

Kennadi Davis

a year ago

I went here for the first time today, because on the first Fridays they have free guest passes available to members. It was so much fun! This is my first time climbing, and I definitely would go back. They have both bouldering and rope, climbing available! In order to rope climb/belay somebody you must pass a really brief exam which gauges your comprehension on the belaying methods. The test asks you to rope in and to simulate a belay. There are shoes available for rent in the gift shop with clothes to purchase. There’s also a sauna, gym, and bathrooms on site. There is tandem parking on site with an additional lot at Red Cross nearby.

Jonathan Tuil

Jonathan Tuil

2 years ago

One of my favorite gyms of all time. as a beginner climber i managed to level up after a year of time at this gym. the community is top notch and a place to meet friends and other active people. genuinely such an amazing space with so many activities. the sauna is top notch and is worth the money alone. the membership is reasonable if you have an active gym life. highly recommend to beginners and to high level climbers. i love bouldering but there is ropes as well.

Sam Weiller

Sam Weiller

a month ago

Corporately owned gym that clearly puts profits over member experience. Front desk staff are rude and not very knowledgeable. Routes are the big move big jug style that is becoming increasingly popular, but tends not to reflect what you would find on any type of real rock. Setting leans towards taller climbers. Don't even get a free guest pass with the $125 monthly membership, and day passes are still $20 with the member discount. Gym is packed with idiots. If you've never climbed on real rocks and don't intend to or are climbing just because it's trendy this is a great gym for you!

Alexis Rovira

Alexis Rovira

a year ago

Super fun place to take the kids or go as an adult. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Everyone is really nice. It has every level of climbing, very basic to advanced climbs. They have climbing shoes (required) if you don’t have them for rent. Very affordable for just the day or if your looking at doing a monthly membership. Parking lot is good size, but get full pretty quickly.

Contact Information

2537 S Fairfax Ave, Culver City, CA 90232, USA

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Monday: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.6
Total Reviews335
Recent Reviews5