Climbing Wall

There are bouldering, lead climbing, and top-rope climbing routes. The wall has multiple cracks, a cave, overhung areas and less-than vertical climbing surfaces. The wall also has an inclined campus board with three sets of rungs and a crack wall.

Climbing wall, top-rope, and bouldering policies

Access to the Half Acre Climbing Wall is determined by access to the entire Half Acre facility.

The climbing wall is free to all paid facility users. Skills checks and introductory climbing wall clinics are also free.

The Outdoor Program offers a full spectrum of climbing clinics, classes, and trips. These include:

• Intro Climbing Wall Clinic

• Indoor Lead Climbing Clinic

• Outdoor Sport Climbing Clinic 

• Intro to Multi-Pitch

• Trad is Rad

• Climbing Movement Clinics

• Outdoor Climbing Foundations

• Crack Climbing Clinic

• Gym to Crag Clinic

• Bouldering Competitions

For full descriptions, dates, and to register, please visit our Events page.

Annual skill checks are required for top-rope climbing at the wall. Skills checks are for people who have prior climbing experience. You need to be able to demonstrate (without prompting) how to properly:

✓ Get into a harness

✓ Tie into a harness

✓ Perform a safety check of your climbing partners equipment

✓ Belay

✓ Break a fall and lower a climber

✓ Demonstrate basic commands between climber and belayer

If you feel you can demonstrate these skills proficiently, ask the wall staff member for a “skills check” during rope climbing hours. Participants who successfully complete the skills test must also complete the waiver and assumption of risk form. If you do not have your own equipment, we can provide it for you. If you cannot demonstrate these skills without prompting, then a climbing clinic is for you.

Annual skill checks are required for lead climbing at the wall. Skills checks are for people who have prior climbing experience. You need to be able to demonstrate (without prompting) how to properly:

✓ Get into a harness

✓ Tie into a harness

✓ Perform a safety check of your climbing partners equipment

✓ Demonstrate proper belaying and rope management

✓ Break a fall and lower a climber

✓ Have completed the top-rope skills check within the last year

✓ Lead climb 5.8 without falling/multiple attempts

✓ Demonstrate a safe fall

✓ Demonstrate proper clipping technique (no back-clipping or Z-clipping)

✓ Demonstrate basic commands between climber and belayer

If you feel you can demonstrate these skills proficiently, ask the wall staff member for a “skills check” during rope climbing hours. Participants who successfully complete the skills test must also complete the waiver and assumption of risk form. If you do not have your own equipment, we can provide it for you. If you cannot demonstrate these skills without prompting, then a climbing clinic is for you.

Harnesses, helmets, rock shoes and belay devices are free of charge for use at the climbing wall during top-rope climbing hours. Rock climbing shoes are available at the equipment checkout desk for use at the climbing wall only (for outdoor rock climbing shoe rentals, please see our outdoor rental equipment information).

UW and non-UW Affiliated groups may rent the climbing wall. All rentals must meet UW and Campus Recreation guidelines for insurance, eligibility, and must follow all climbing wall policies.

1. To reserve the wall, start by completing the facility request form.

2. Someone from our staff will get back to you in regard to availability and scheduling.

3. Please note the two primary rentals that can occur at the wall, below.

Rent the climbing wall for bouldering! Bouldering is a simple, fun activity. Basic instruction and an orientation to the climbing wall will be provided. Typical rentals are two hours in length, but can be longer or shorter (min. of one hour).

1. Group size is limited to 70.

2. One climbing wall staff is required ($15/hour)

3. Rock climbing harnesses are not provided with this rental.

4. No waivers are required.

5. Top-rope climbing is not included.

6. Facility rental fee of $50/hour is required.

Rent the wall and have your group learn to top-rope climb! These rentals are a minimum of two hours and can be divided into multiple days. Add on additional hours to allow participants the opportunity to practice their new-found skills. Participants must be 16 years old or older in order to belay other climbers. Participants 14 and under can top-rope climb while being belayed by our staff, while other climbers in the group can enjoy bouldering on the bouldering wall. All groups utilizing the ropes must have a parent or guardian complete the waiver and assumption of risk form prior being allowed to climb.

1. Group size is limited to 18.

2. A minimum of two hours is needed for an introductory climbing wall clinic ($50/hour for the rental of the facility)

3. Three instructors are required ($15/hour/instructor during regular hours; employee cost is doubled after hours)

4. Shoes, harnesses and belay devices are provided.