Nope! Children ages 14 and under must be directly supervised by an adult, but we do not have an age minimum. We have rental harnesses and climbing shoes for all ages! (Children 14 and under may not belay, but they may climb and be belayed by belay-certified adults)

On your first visit, we go over the basics for indoor rock climbing with an introductory facility walkthrough. We will review safe falling technique on the bouldering wall, rules and facility etiquette, and correct usage for any rental equipment you might be using. If you need anything at all, our staff are on hand to answer any and all questions you might have!

We have staff on hand to assist guests during the check in process and to give a facility walkthrough and safety orientation. Beyond that, staff is present for safety monitoring and to answer any questions. Our orientation provides you with enough information to safely climb in our facility. For more in-depth climbing skills like climbing technique, we have periodic workshops and youth climbing club for kiddos. For more information on staffed youth programs, visit our Youth page.

Children ages 14 and under require direct supervision by an adult while in the facility.

Nope! You can swing by and pick up a day pass and climb for the day.

No reservations necessary. We have tons of first-time climbers here every day, just walk in and say hi! The front desk staff can walk you through purchasing a day pass and rentals on your first visit. From there, we will give you an introductory facility walkthrough to learn about safety, rules, and more. If you’d like to get a jump start before coming in, you can fill out a facility waiver (for climbers AND supervising/spectating adults/siblings) before your visit to speed up the check in process!

Of course! We handle decent sized groups all the time. Check out our information on Groups and Parties. If your group has certain needs, such as a dedicated staff member, group pricing, a party room, etc, then reach out to us at the contact page.

Nope! If you’re belaying, you will need to pass a belay test with an ELEV8 staff member and have a waiver on file. Only ELEV8 staff can provide climbing or rope skill instruction, so you can belay and tie in another climber as long as you aren’t teaching belaying without a staff member.

Our autobelays specify a climber weight range of 22lb to 330lb. Otherwise, all the climbing equipment is plenty strong enough to support a human!

Just like outdoor rock climbing, a climber uses their hands and feet (wearing specialized shoes, and a rope and harness) to scale a wall. Our walls are constructed from a steel frame with coated plywood surfaces and have climbing holds attached to them. There will be designated routes of differing levels of difficulty, or you can grab onto any hold you like to work your way up the wall.

Bouldering originated, unsurprisingly, from people climbing boulders. This style of climbing doesn’t require the use of ropes or harnesses because the climber never gets too far from the ground. And at our gym, the ground surrounding the bouldering area is well-padded to cushion the landing.

Yes, rock climbing is inherently dangerous. However, it is statistically less dangerous than driving your car, skiing, or playing basketball. We mitigate risk via our facility design, comprehensive documentation and safety standards, staff training and certification, and proper instruction. The remaining risk (residual risk) is quite low, and nearly all climbing incidents are due to operator error (i.e., the climber does not follow safety protocols or takes an unnecessary risk).

Falling is a very real part of our sport, but at our facility, falling has been made to be a very safe part of the experience. If you are bouldering, you will fall onto a cushioned mat. We will instruct you on best practices for falling while bouldering. If you are climbing, there are various scenarios. If you are using a rope and a partner, you will simply feel yourself sit into your harness and feel the slight stretch in the rope as it absorbs your weight. If you are on one of the auto-belays, when you pop off the wall, the device will slowly lower you back to the ground at which point you can start climbing again or move to a different part of the wall.

Of course! You can come boulder or use our autobelays. And while you are here, you might link up with someone you can climb with!

Belaying is the act of managing the rope while your partner is climbing. We have some auto-belays, but the majority of the rope climbing area requires knowledge of belay technique. We offer belay classes to teach you the skills necessary to safely perform this climbing function.

Cat-print lycra is strongly encouraged, but most any semi-athletic rags will do. Ideally wear clothing that doesn’t restrict movement, but also isn’t too loose and flow-y.

Nope - we have a full offering of rental gear. You are welcome to use your own gear if you have it provided it is in good, functioning condition.

Shoes specifically designed for rock climbing must be worn while climbing. If you have your own, you may use them. Otherwise, we have rental shoes available.

Plan to dedicate around 2 hours of your day to your visit. Some come and go in a shorter period, but most stay longer! Your access allows you to climb all day long.

Of course! We just ask that you keep it off the climbing mats…And share a bite with us if it’s particularly delicious ;)

Absolutely! The nearest vertical cliffs are down in Grand Ledge outside of Lansing, but the best rock our state has to offer is found in the UP from Marquette up to the tip of the Keweenaw. There are also ice climbing opportunities during the winter months, with an annual ice fest hosted in Munising.

Hit the button below!