The Cliffs At Long Island City

The walls are taller than Brooklyn Boulders’s. Fun for top roping. Plentiful auto belays.

Very spacious, clean, friendly community. My go to gym!

I used to rock climb semi-​regularly as a kid because my best friend growing up was really into it, but I stopped for a long time and only recently started again. Over winter break, I climbed a few times at gyms on the West Coast, but needed to find one after coming home to NYC. There were two obvious choices that I knew about just through hearsay — Cliffs at LIC and Brooklyn Boulders — and I went with the former simply because 1) it’s more convenient to get to, both from home and work and 2) it’s slightly higher-​rated on Unilocal (I’m trying to rid myself of the appearance that I depend on Unilocal for all of my life decisions, but…)
I came in on a Wednesday night after work, arriving at about 6pm, and the place was pretty busy already — most topropes occupied, lots of people bouldering. This has been my experience at pretty much every climbing gym I’ve ever been to, so I only expected worse here because it’s New York. Don’t be put off by the crowdedness though… I never had to wait for more than 1 – 2 people to boulder any particular problem, and ditto for the auto-​belays (can’t speak to the other toprope routes as I didn’t have a partner to belay me this time around.) A lot of people are sitting around watching/​coaching their friends/​taking breaks. Plus, you’ll probably need to take a breather in between climbs anyway. I climbed a few different V2s and managed a V3 (among others), as well as an auto-​belay 5.9.
I took a belay test right when I came in — all of their topropes are outfitted with Grigris, but they’ll let you belay on your own device (I brought my ATC with me.) Test was pretty straightforward and after I passed it, the employee who tested me also taught me how to use the Grigri.
There’s also a small fitness area with weights/​machines, which I glanced at just to check it out but didn’t actually use. Definitely enough for my purposes so that I don’t have to have a separate membership at a standard-​issue gym.
Only major con is that it’s so crowded on weekday nights (and I would guess weekends as well), so definitely try to come during off-​hours if you have any flexibility in your schedule. This isn’t really the gym’s fault though, and again, it’s New York and there’s a line for literally everything in this city. Also, the locker rooms have showers, but there’s not a ton of space (and honestly, I think any space they have is better devoted to more bouldering/​climbing than a spacious locker room). I don’t really use gym locker rooms so this doesn’t affect me, but it’s something to keep in mind if you plan to.
In any case, I enjoyed my two hours there enough to sign up for a membership on my way out. I’m leaving this review at an open-​ended four stars, which I expect to update as I visit more often and try out some of the clinics/​classes (hopefully one of the ladies’ bouldering clinics as well as the lead climbing class!).

My husband and I love this gym because it’s convenient for us to get to. The routes seems to be set generously. The staffs are friendly. The lockers are tiny and there are many broken ones now.
** one huge complain. The gym really smell like stinky feet!!! It’s so gross! If this doesn’t improve soon, I may have to jump ship! The smell is horrendous!

At first, I didn’t like the idea of rock climbing but my friends pulled me to join. To my surprise this indoor rock climbing gym was great!
This gym was huge and every month they change the routes. It gives me time to improve my climbing. It gets exciting when the routes changes and you’re able to learn how to improve your climbing techniques. They provide classes where you can learn top rope, lead, and bouldering.
There’s also a mini gym where you can work out especially cardio. A great gym for working out then going to climb.
Also, a bench where you can sit down, relax, eat, read, or enjoy watching others climb.
I love the staffs here. They’re all very friendly. Everyone else in the gym is also friendly.

Really clean and huge place! The staff was fine, but for how many of them sit behind the desk they’re not very efficient or welcoming. They have an upstairs bouldering portion which was manageable, but the main bouldering portion is very crowded (which can’t be helped but is still intimidating for beginners like me– see below). Really tall top roping/​leading routes, and the slackline is great for when you are resting your arms. The price is on the high side, but seems to be worth it to the majority of people.
An issue I had which they can’t help is that this place is popular for groups who «take up» a section of the wall so they will all take turns to rotate in a few times before they get tired of the route and move on to let others have a go. Good for them, not so good for people coming alone or in pairs.

Great route setting, constantly updated so there’s no lack of new climbs to work on. Staff is cool and very informative, overall a great gym.

Prefer Brooklyn Boulders, but this place is OK too.

Writing an updated review since I took some classes here and visited Brooklyn Boulders.
The instructors are great, I highly recommend them for learning how to toprope/​lead belay. I mentioned non kid friendly music in my last review but I haven’t heard anything like that since, probably a one-​off kind of thing. If you have issues with the music you could always talk to someone at the front and they’d probably deal with it, everyone here has been super friendly.
I have a new appreciation for the Cliffs after visiting BKB… the biggest difference is that these guys do a fantastic job of keeping the space clean. They also don’t have as many bouldering problems but there are still a lot (you definitely won’t get bored), and the toprope/​lead climbing here is so much better.

An enormous climbing gym in Long Island City. They have a tight rope, auto-​belaying machines, bouldering, lead climbing, and top roping. The Cliffs also has a gym on the upper level with a few barbells, kettle bells, bumper plates, yoga mats, foam rollers, a bench, dumbbells, pull-​up bars, rings, etc. If it is your first time rock climbing, don’t fret! The staff here is very friendly and will walk you through whatever you are interested in.
There are locker rooms, showers, etc. Great environment, definitely a gem in NYC.
Fill out your waiver online before hand to save time. There seems to be street parking a few blocks away, but there is a train station one block away as well.
$ 24 day pass for college students + $ Additional for gear rental. It can be a tad pricey if you are not a frequent climber.

My son has been here for the after school Viking Club once a week for 2 hours. He totally loves it and has asked to come back for the next semester. He was completely new to climbing and learned great climbing techniques and safety and had a lot of fun with the games the staff came up with. Abby is great and always nice to the kids and looking out for their safety.
I love that parents are allowed to do the 101 class as well as get to climb for free while your kid does the class. I never climbed before and totally love it. My skills improved so much over the last 4 months and I discovered a new sport for myself.

I’ve been going here for a little over a month now and I’m very pleased! There is a ton of verity to climb and very challenging problems to work on. The staff are there if you need them and always willing to help with a smile on their face. They were very helpful when I was looking for new equipment so I got the correct stuff for me and my needs.
The only con is that it gets very busy after 6 but the place is so big there is always something to climb on.

I was a big BKB fan, until I came to the Cliffs.
Geez, this place is great. Awesome, awesome routes. Definitely better for top-​ropers than BKB. They even have extra long routes that test your endurance. Also, gym facilites! Also, SHOWERS?!
I had a hard time justifying a membership to BKB, but I have seriously considered a membership at this place. It has all the functionality of a gym, plus great climbing facilities. Would definitely recommend a membership for climbing enthusiasts who also want access to a gym. Also, less tourists than BKB!
This place is more expensive than BKB, but their membership is cheaper. Also they have better facilities, so you get what you pay for.
Try Cliff’s climbs! His top roping routes are awesome. Speaking of this — all of the routes are marked based on who designed them, which is a cool little fact and I think it helps you get a better sense of your personal preference as a climber.

YES hairdryers are being ordered! Game changer for morning climbing.
They also added free (for members) ladies climbing clinics every few weeks. I haven’t had a chance to check them out yet, plus I’m not a solid V3 yet so I’d have to get better first. But I really appreciate this addition — it’s important to know that the Cliffs is investing in their members’ climbing. The better people get, the more hooked they’ll be and keep coming back for more.
I thought of an additional improvement: later hours during weekends. 9PM close is a bit early.
I know, there’s always something. But it’s just like climbing itself — always something to improve upon. I take full ownership of the cheesy analogy and stand by it.

Definitely one of the biggest rock climbing gyms around. More than 100 routes to try even when it’s packed with over 100’s of people. There’s always something to work on and someone to share it with. The environment is so friendly and certainly not musky or stuffy even when it’s super busy. Love that there are also locker rooms with showers and especially that it’s both clean and safe.
Not only is it a superb rock climbing facility with belay certifications and lead climbing certifications, there is a work out gym upstairs with battle ropes, kettle bells, training bars and of course cardio equipment. The gym is nice and spacious so you don’t bump into others as you work out.
Overall, really well thought out gym space. Definitely worth the monthly plan which also gets you free yoga and core classes, fitness assessments and climbing classes. Staff are also amazing!

By far the best rock gym I have ever been to on the east coast. I was going to slam the price for the $ 28 day pass, and thought about it all the way there, but within 30 seconds I changed my mind.
Spacious locker room with showers. Climbers and especially their feet stink. Best facilities in the NYC area for washing up after.
The walls are perfect for anyone from beginner to expert. The routes are easy to track. There are a ton of routes and ropes so you are not on top of your neighbor. There are some very long routes and man they are fun. Most have a little bit of negative slope on it to really and steadily get you stronger.
I did a little bouldering to warm up. There is a ton of variety there too.
Staff was friendly at the desk and during the belay test.
I didnt check out the gym that much up stairs, but they have everything. Totally worth the monthly pass if you are going to climb and work out in the gym.
I would just come early on the weekend. It fills up around 2.

Brooklyn Boulders, everyone in the city has heard of this place and subsequently everyone goes there. Thank goodness The Cliffs have come to Queens to save us the commute of an hour just to hook in and work those muscles. The Cliffs is a huge rock climbing gym which additional second floor that offers more traditional gym equipment. There is of course space to boulder and belay.
Looking over the space, I’m fairly certain that this place is bigger than Brooklyn Boulders and coming over on a weekend it wasn’t particularly crowded like my experience over at Brooklyn Boulders (line literally running out the door). I would recommend checking in online first and getting your waiver completed before hand.
After quickly getting tested and belay certified we were off climbing. The environment is great, lots of great space, friendly people, and we never really had to wait in line to find climbing spots. Lots of great height to challenge everyone including very, very challenging walls with overhangs that no doubt require spiderman like qualities.
The Cliffs is conveniently located next to Court Square and has the added benefit of having John Brown’s Smokehouse down the street so you can get great BBQ as a break to relax those arms and hands.

Omg guys, Brooklyn Boulders is the absolute worst. Between the long commute from Harlem, the small space, the sheer number of people asking if you’re done with your rope, and all of the shirtless men parading around (this is a minus, believe me), I’d nearly sworn off climbing forever. It just wasn’t an enjoyable experience at BKB, regardless of how much I wanted to maintain whatever progress I’d made back at Mission Cliffs in SF.
Josh K. had been trying to get me back into climbing since I’d quit (because he needed a belay partner, and was otherwise not getting much out of BKB), but I insisted on avoiding BKB altogether. I told him, «Let me know when the Cliffs reopens, and I’ll check it out with you.»
The Cliffs reopened earlier this spring, and I’m back in the game, friends. It’s so amazing, I have committed to a membership, going two to three times a week. The space is enormous, they have actual locker rooms, and there aren’t a billion and a half people asking for your rope. The routes are great and difficult (I definitely had to swallow some pride, starting back at 5.5s after not climbing for two years), and all of the rocks are super rough (which is both good if you have sweaty hands, and bad if you’re prone to accidents). The people that work there are really nice (props to Eli and Carmen, who are super approachable and informative, as well as other employees who have randomly come up to offer tips on routes, as well as other random information), and I can’t really complain.
The shirtless men have also found the Cliffs, but they don’t usually show up on weekends, and the ones that show up after work on weekdays aren’t so great in number, so I’ll take what I can get. Also, the Cliffs has been a great reason to explore more food options in Queens, of which there are tons! I’m so glad this gym exists.

An indoor climbing gym with plenty of walls to keep you busy. If you’ve never been rock climbing this is a great place to start/​learn. They have really high walls (50 feet?), and shorter ones for those of us who don’t have the endurance.
The guys behind the desk are super chill, and will essentially teach you how to belay during the test. If you’ve never belayed before they offer some awesome classes including classes on lead climbing.
If you’re a die hard top rope climber this is the gym for you! They switch the walls up so often that there is alway variety.
The bouldering however is not nearly as intense as other climbing gyms. They still have plenty to offer those interested in bouldering, but they’re just not as big on it.
The gym also sports a few out of date cardio machines, a free weights section, and a slack line.

Enormous open facility, clean & friendly staff. This is a indoor rock climbers paradise. The facility offers Rock Climbing, Boulders, Equipment Store either to buy or to rent, Locker area with showers & A small gym area on the second floor.
The Rock Wall patterns changes every few weeks to keep you guessing. Some nights there is a DJ keeping the beats turned up. Truly a great workout & fun too. If you drive here prepare to spend at least 15 minutes looking for parking, that’s if you are lucky. The rental shoes smells horrible keep your socks on! The rental harness aren’t very nice to the family jewels :(. If you are rock climbing more them 3 times a week, buy your own equipment or you may never have kids lol.
$ 25 all day pass $ 11 rental Harness & Shoes … Beginner Package $ 139
2 lessons & unlimited use of gym & rentals for a month. The staff are inviting & experienced rock climbers, I had my belaying class with Heather awesome! Total body workout :)