Climbing Gym

Climbing Gym

On this page:

About the Climbing Gym

The gym accommodates climbers of all levels from beginner to advanced. The gym has eight top rope sites and several routes per rope at all times. For those not interested in roping up, there is also a 14-foot bouldering wall.

Sign in at the Outdoor Resource Center, 037 Student Union

First-time climbers must bring a photo ID and Wright1 Card to sign in. You must review Climbing Gym Rules (PDF) before climbing.

Fall & Spring Semester Hours

  • Monday: 2 - 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 2 - 7 p.m.
  • Thursday: 2 - 8 p.m.
  • Friday: 12 - 7 p.m.

Closed during holidays, university breaks, and exam week

Photo Gallery

 

Available To

Students and fitness center members. Guest passes are also available. All guests must be accompanied by a student or current fitness center member.

Equipment

All equipment needed to climb at our gym is available onsite.

  • Harnesses and climbing shoe rentals are available at no cost in the Outdoor Resource Center. Users must wear socks with shoe rentals. 
  • Gri Gri’s are the only belay devices permitted, and you must use ours.
  • Liquid chalk is permitted. No loose chalk.

Classes and Events

Belay Classes

Belay Classes at 4 p.m. on Mondays. Sign up at rec.wright.edu

FREE for Wright State students.

Pricing

The indoor climbing facility is FREE for students and fitness center members. The daily guest fee is $5. All guests must be accompanied by a student or current fitness center member. Children 12 and under climb free with a student or fitness center member and must be accompanied by an adult.

Reservations

Groups may reserve the climbing wall during hours the wall is not open. Reservations should be made a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. 

Group Size Wright State Pricing Public Pricing
6-12 $30/hr $60/hr
12-18 $45/hr $105/hr
18-24 $60/hr $150/hr

Discounts may be available dependent on the number of current Wright State belay certified members in your group.

Send Indoor Climbing Gym Rental Request Form (PDF) to outdoor@wright.edu to request the climbing wall. Any questions call 937-775-5019.

First Time Climbers

The first time you climb in the Campus Recreation Climbing Gym, you are required to sign a risk waiver. You must be 18 years or older to sign the waiver or be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A picture identification card with your birth date listed is required to sign the waiver; your Wright1 Card is also required to be shown at your initial visit. The first time you climb with us, we will issue you a personal climbing card. Each time you come and climb you will check in at the Outdoor Resource Center to pick up your card. If you choose not to wear climbing shoes, you must wear close-toed athletic shoes. If you wear Wright State climbing shoes, you must wear/bring socks.

Climbing Gym Risk Waiver (PDF)

Belay Verification Process

If you would like to become belay verified in our climbing gym, you must take a belay class and then a belay test.

  • When you pass the belay test, you will receive a Yellow Card. 
  • With your Yellow Card, you will belay a patron properly three times while a staff member oversees.
  • After three proper belays, you receive a Green Card.
  • A Green Card means you can belay others in the Climbing Gym during open hours without staff overseeing. Yay!

Climbing Wall and Bouldering Wall Rules

All participants, observes, and staff must abide by the rules. The rules will be prominently displayed within the Climbing Wall area at all times. Individuals violating the Climbing Wall rules will be warned appropriately.
The Climbing Wall reserves the exclusive right to expel any individuals failing to abide by the rules. The rules for the Climbing and Bouldering rules are as follows:

  • No climbing or bouldering without completion of participant agreements and waivers.
  • Check in at Outdoor Resource Center prior to participating in climbing, bouldering, or belaying. 
  • Passes must be visible to staff at all times. When finished return your pass to the office.
  • Only commercially made climbing harnesses approved by WSU climbing staff bay be used.
  • Proper verbal commands are required.
  • Double check all harnesses, knots, buckles, belay devices before climbing.
  • Do not climb or boulder directly beneath or above another climber.
  • Climbers must not climb faster than the belayer can take in slack.
  • Do not climb off route when top roping. 
  • Gym shoes and climbing shoes only. No barefoot climbing or sandals.
  • Socks must be worn with Outdoor Resource Center climbing shoes.
  • No lead climbing without proper certification.
  • Remove all dangly jewelry before climbing and pull loose hair back. 
  • Empty pockets before climbing.
  • Do not step on ropes.
  • No belaying until successful completion of a belay workshop/test. Belayers must re-test at the start of each academic year.
  • While bouldering on the top rope wall, hands must not go above the first roof line.
  • All bouldering must be spotted using proper spotting techniques and a bouldering pad.
  • No climbing above top anchors.
  • No food in the climbing gym area. Water bottles are permitted (water only!).
  • Be courteous to other climbers waiting to climb.
  • Climbers who are not belay certified may only use staff belays for 15-minute intervals. 
  • Rest between climbs to avoid overuse injuries.
  • Shirts must be worn at all times.
  • No alcohol, dipping, smoking, or illegal drugs use will be permitted.
  • No harnessed climbing if pregnant or if you have received a kidney transplant.
  • No profanity.
  • Do not put fingers in or step on bolt hangers at any time.
  • Only use the holds and the wall itself. Do not attempt to climb ropes or bolts.
  • Staff reserves the right to refuse or revoke climbing privileges at their judgement.
  • You may only climb at the wall three times before having to register for a belay class to become independent of climbing wall staff. 
  • No bouldering between the climbing wall and bouldering wall.
  • All belayers must be at least 16 years of age.
  • Report any problems to the climbing wall staff or Outdoor Resource Staff.