LA Boulders
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
LA Boulders is a spacious, friendly bouldering gym located in the LA Art District, ideal for both first-time climbers and experienced individuals. It offers a wide range of challenging and fun routes for all skill levels, a supportive community vibe, and additional gym facilities. Parents can expect a clean, welcoming environment that encourages physical activity and problem-solving through climbing, with options for 'topping out' on many routes.
Key Highlights
- ✓Spacious facility, even on a Saturday morning it was 'not packed at all'.
- ✓Offers a wide variety of fun and challenging routes, suitable for beginners to advanced climbers (V-system rating, but grades can vary).
- ✓Approximately half of the bouldering climbs allow you to 'top out'.
- ✓Features a 'cave' area that supports long routes using a lead/top rope rating system (without ropes), including halfway points for bouldering completion.
- ✓Has a separate gym area with free weights, campus board, pull-up bar, and cardio machines on the second floor.
- ✓Consistently praised for its friendly community and staff, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
- ✓Locker rooms and restrooms are clean.
- ✓Modern walls with new holds, combined with an 'old school community vibe'.
- ✓Music playlists are consistently rated as '🔥'.
Standout Features
- ⭐Spacious bouldering area with diverse routes for all skill levels.
- ⭐Option to 'top out' on many climbs, adding a unique challenge.
- ⭐Comprehensive gym facilities (weights, cardio, training boards) available.
- ⭐Strong, friendly community and welcoming staff culture.
- ⭐Clean locker rooms and restrooms.
- ⭐Website provides useful safety and etiquette information.
- ⭐Located in the LA Art District, potentially allowing for other activities in the area.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Check their website for the best parking areas and useful safety/etiquette information before visiting.
- →Consider a membership if you plan on frequent visits to save money, as the day pass is $30 and can feel 'overpriced' for casual use.
- →Arrive on a Saturday morning for potentially lighter crowds, though weekday mornings might be even quieter.
- →Be aware that route grades (v-system) can vary; don't be discouraged if a certain grade feels harder or softer than expected.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Day pass is $30, which some reviewers found a 'little over priced' for a single visit, although it's comparable to other large climbing gyms in Southern California.
- ⚠Parking is a significant challenge; street parking is difficult and often requires walking a considerable distance or paying for a nearby parking structure.
- ⚠Grades for routes can be inconsistent ('soft' or 'about right') depending on the route setter.
Price & Value
A day pass costs $30, which is noted as comparable to other large climbing gyms in Southern California. While one reviewer found it 'a little over priced' for a single day pass, a membership is suggested as the best way to save money for regular visitors, implying good value for committed climbers. No hidden costs were mentioned.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations for special needs were mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking is described as challenging, a hassle, and difficult street parking, often requiring a considerable walk. There is a paid parking structure close by. The gym's website reportedly provides useful information on parking areas.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Generally seems manageable. 'Not packed at all' on a Saturday morning. One visit was 'more busy than usual' but still enjoyable, while another visit was 'not busy'. Suggests weekends can vary but aren't always overwhelmingly crowded.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The website provides useful safety and etiquette information.
- •Mats are present for bouldering, and the 'cave' area is not 'extremely high off the mats', implying a focus on bouldering safety.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you prioritize very easy, free, or abundant parking directly at the venue.
- • If you are looking for a venue specifically designed for toddlers or very young children (e.g., soft play areas, specific kids' zones).
- • If strict, consistent route grading is critical to your climbing experience, as grades can vary by setter.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Climbing is inherently dangerous and requires personal responsibility.
- • All participants must sign a liability release.
- • Rules and belay tests are in place to minimize error.
📅Booking Policy
- • Membership changes (freeze/termination) must be made by the last day of the month for the current month's processing.
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 7 reviews)
- Safe environment for children (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 8 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 6 reviews)
Recent Reviews
David Nguyen
11 months agoWent to LA Boulder on the recommendation of a friend, and it's located in the art district of LA. The day pass is 30 dollars, which is about the same as other large climbing gyms in southern California. After checking in, you'll notice that the place is pretty spacious. I went on a Saturday morning, and it was not packed at all. They do the v-system rating here, but depending on who set the route, it can be a fairly soft grade or about right. The facility has a gym as well as the bouldering side. They have a few free weights, campus board, and pull up bar as well as cardio machines on their second floor. About half of the climbs you're able to top out on, so if you're looking for a place to be able to top out, this one has you covered. The cave that they have support long routes with a lead/top rope rating system without the ropes since it's not extremely high off the mats. However, they do have halfway points that are considered finished routes for the bouldering side. The community is friendly here as with most climbing gyms I go to, and if you're in the area, check it out. I plan to visit the other touchstone gyms and will compare it to this one.
Stephen Bates
2 weeks agoAs a new member, I'm absolutely in love with this place. The routes are fun and challenging, with plenty of options for beginners to advanced climbers. The locker rooms are clean. And the music playlists are always 🔥 I've never felt comfortable in a normal gym just focusing on vanity and maximizing strength for reasons unknown. Even if that's your thing, the medium sized gym here has all you need for training across the spectrum. Parking can be challenging, so you may have to walk a considerable distance. Check their website for the best parking areas, it's quite informative.
Cocos
7 months agoI came here with my friends as first time climbers, the first time the gym was more busy than usual but we were still able to have a good time. The second time we came in the gym was not busy and we had a good time trying different climbs. The staff are friendly and the restrooms are clean. They also have an area for free weights. Parking can be a hassle causing you to park somewhere else and needing to pay. Very good gym overall and fun hobby!
Natalia Pavlova
a year agoReally great place, even if you have never done climbing before. Since I have no idea what I’m doing, I love to just take long breaks and watch professionals do crazy crazy stuff! Everyone is friendly and chill. Whenever you are coming with a big group or by yourself you’ll have fun. Note: LA Boulders website provides some useful safety and etiquette information 😊. Street parking is quite challenging, but there’s a paid parking structure close by.
Climbing Reviewer
6 months agoThis gym is AMAZING. I truly love it here. Old school community vibes with modern walls and new holds, it's the best of both worlds! The staff are incredibly friendly, and it's clear that permeates into the culture here. I think the day pass, for what the gym offers, is a little over priced, but that seems to be the going rate at gyms out here. Kinda challenging to pay that often when you're just passing through. Get a membership if you like it here, best way to save money. Overall though, fantastic gym! -Anonymous Climbing Gym Reviewer