Mesa Rim: Indoor Rock Climbing Gym in Austin, TX
Walking into the doors, you smell new rope and fresh paint and raise your eyes to view climbing walls over 55 feet tall. Although the “new car smell” won’t last long – it’s a satisfying experience, to say the least. This is Mesa Rim Austin. The rock climbing gym in Austin, TX opened to the public in March 2023.
After climbing there several times, I wanted to highlight my favorite parts of the gym, what makes it stand apart from other local climbing centers, and what you should know before your visit.
What Makes It Stand Out as a Rock Climbing Gym in Austin, TX
As someone who has climbed at both Crux and Austin Bouldering Project (ABP) locations, Mesa Rim does have one huge, unique quality – the tallest top roping/lead climbing walls in the city.
Don’t get me wrong; both offer fantastic bouldering sections. ABP Westgate and Springdale I hold close to my heart because, through their meetups, I’ve met some awesome climbing friends! So if you are more into bouldering, ABP is a match made in heaven. On the other hand, if you love top rope climbing more than bouldering, Mesa Rim wins here 10x over. Every wall in the main climbing area is for both top roping and lead climbing, and if you make your way upstairs, you will find a very nice bouldering section with hang boards, pull-up bars, and a kilter board.
I recommend you check it out once, even if you are committed to Crux or Austin Bouldering Project. You won’t regret it!
What to Know Before You Go
Waiver: Fill out a waiver beforehand to save time! When you arrive, all you got to do is tell them your name, and they will pull it up in their system.
Fees and Memberships: There is a $25-day fee without a membership, or you can test out a one-week trial! More information on monthly/yearly memberships is below.
Top Rope Certification: Even if you’ve top roped at other gyms, you’ll need to complete a quick belaying test to get a certification to belay at this gym. If you need a refresher, take one of their belaying lessons. They are free for members and $9 for guests.
Lead Climbing Certification: You’ll need a lead belay partner, lead climb or belay certifications, and your equipment. To lead climb at Mesa Rim, check out their resource here!
Food + Beverages: Forgot to bring a drink or snack? You can purchase various items from their store right when you walk in near the yoga studio!
Equipment and Rentals: Rent equipment from the front desk or buy anything you need from the store, such as harnesses, chalk, crack climbing gloves, rope, shoes, etc. It’s almost all available for you to purchase or rent.
Assisted Braking Device: At this gym, you can only use assisted breaking devices such as a GriGri, not Air Traffic Controllers (ATC).
What’s There to Do at Mesa Rim Austin?
Top rope climbing
Bouldering
Lead climbing
Yoga
Fitness classes
Belay and lead climbing certifications
And you can use other cool features like the sauna and locker rooms.
Snag Your Membership
Mesa Rim Austin has a lot of perks that come along with the monthly/yearly membership. Those are:
Unlimited bouldering, top rope climbing, and lead climbing
Fitness area
Wifi workspaces
10% discount on classes and items in the pro shop
A free belay lesson
A monthly guest pass
Find out more about membership, punch card, and weekly details here.
Community Events
I love community events because it’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people and get more involved in the climbing community. View up-to-date events at Mesa Rim Austin, like classes, parties, youth events, etc., all right here.
Other Details
Mesa Rim Hours
Mon-Friday 6 am-11 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am-9 pm
Mesa Rim also has locations in the following cities:
Mira Mesa – North San Diego, California
Reno – Reno, Nevada
North City – San Marcos, California
Mission Valley – Central San Diego, California
Climbing Academy – North San Diego, California
That’s a Wrap
Welcome to the city Mesa Rim! If you are looking to visit soon, I hope this blog post offers you some insight into what you can expect during your first visit. Happy climbing.9
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