1 / 3First Ascent West Loop
📍 West Loop, IL
Indoor climbing gym with 60-foot walls, two-floor rope climbing, and full weightlifting facilities. Best suited to older kids, teens, and adults who want serious vertical challenge in a well-lit West Loop space.
It has tall walls about 60ft I think. Very cool setup. The walls are slick wood so no smearing. Its very cool how the upstairs goes through aswell as the downstairs so you can get through the building easily. Its different and its nice. There are two floors you can rope climb. Great to have another First ascent gym. Super happy to have another rope gym specifically. Its got all the vibes I dig forsure.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with older kids and teens who are ready for tall, technically demanding walls. The 60-foot height and wood-surface routes suit climbers who have moved past beginner bouldering. Not the right fit for young children or toddlers — there's no dedicated kids' area. Adults get strong value from the combined climbing and gym access.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →14 Google reviews
James Joyce
a month ago
“It has tall walls about 60ft I think. Very cool setup. The walls are slick wood so no smearing. Its very cool how the upstairs goes through aswell as the downstairs so you can get through the building easily. Its different and its nice. There are two floors you can rope climb. Great to have another First ascent gym. Super happy to have another rope gym specifically. Its got all the vibes I dig forsure.”
Mark Adams
3 months ago
“This is a great gym, especially for the price. I am intermittent with my rock climbing, but I use the gym all the time. It has everything you would need from a weightlifting perspective for 1/3 of the price of some brand name gyms in Chicago. Plus, the ability to rock climb whenever you want. Great gym, great staff, love this place.”
Yuhui Ma
a month ago
“New gym. I can’t wait to climb here more often. No need to go to Avondale to top rope anymore. I also appreciate the lounge and gym area, with a lot of natural light coming in!”
Robert Altier Sr.
a month ago
“We were surprised to find out that the facility has been bought out by another climbing company. They're doing renovations and will open soon. They bought the building, not the business, so if you have credits or memberships with Brooklyn Boulder, there wasn't any signage or information posted at the door, or on their site. We had enjoyed the facility for the past year and a half, hope they don't leave a lot of people hanging.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
First Ascent West Loop's walls reach approximately 60 feet with slick wood surfaces — smearing techniques don't apply here, pushing climbers toward clean footwork. The two-floor layout connects upstairs and downstairs rope climbing areas seamlessly. A lounge with natural light and a full weightlifting gym round out the facility. The gym was recently acquired from Brooklyn Boulder; existing memberships and credits from the prior operator do not transfer.
