1 / 2Great Western Power Company
📍 Downtown Oakland, CA
Great Western Power Company occupies a former steam-generating plant in Uptown Oakland with a 48-foot lead wall, 1,500 sq ft of bouldering, 70+ routes, a full fitness gym, and weekly yoga and climbing clinics through the Touchstone network.
Great gym with classes and a good amount of powerlifting stations. The community there is very positive and the classes are a great deal! There's even a small area to sit and do some work. The lock rooms are small but have everything you need.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with older kids and teens — the 48-foot lead wall and training-focused environment suit climbers ready to develop real skills. Intro-to-climbing classes through the Touchstone program are a strong starting point for first-timers.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →140 Google reviews
Eli Eisen
“Great gym with classes and a good amount of powerlifting stations. The community there is very positive and the classes are a great deal! There's even a small area to sit and do some work. The lock rooms are small but have everything you need.”
Breanna Hamm
“Joined this gym for weightlifting and it’s been great. They have a great selection of weightlifting equipment and any accessories needed. Atmosphere is good and never had any issues with other gym members. It’s a very supportive environment and the staff are friendly and helpful. Recently started climbing and while I wish the bouldering section was larger, it’s a smaller building so it makes sense why it’s much more compact.”
Zhiyue Lin (Steven)
“Such a great spot. It’s relatively smaller but a lot quieter. The gym above is amazing. The manager Dan is the nicest person I ever met. Highly recommended! Best touchstone location❤️”
Lucas Chinchiolo
“This place is awesome. For sure one of the quaintest Touchstone gyms around. At 2:00pm on a Saturday I was basically the only one in there. Very friendly and welcoming staff, fun climbs, clean gym. Make sure to check out their top rope area, it is beautiful in the natural light!”
Reviews from Google
Overview
GWPC is one of Oakland's most architecturally distinctive climbing gyms, set inside a converted 1900s steam plant with soaring ceilings that accommodate a 48-foot lead wall. The 11,000 sq ft of terrain covers 70+ routes across lead climbing and bouldering, with natural light flooding the top-rope area. A comprehensive fitness floor, stacked class schedule, and yoga studio make it a full training hub.
