Last updated on: January 23, 2024, 1:38 p.m.
Everything is bigger in Texas, including your choice of gyms. Houston climbing gyms are everywhere, which means you’re never far from a climbing gym. Even though it’s great, it can be difficult to decide where you want to go. Whether you want to boulder on a city trip or are looking for a gym to call home and hone your sport climbing skills, the city has something for you. And we have the beta you need to make the right decision.
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Momentum Houston Climbing Gyms
As with all major cities, there are chains of climbing gyms in Houston (this is a movement in the Portland gym community where I climb). And here, the Momentum gymnasium reigns supreme. Membership at one of these gyms has the benefit of being able to use either their Katy or Silver Street location. They also have outposts in Washington and Utah, which means you can get a free workout if you stop by one of their other locations.
In Houston, their Katy location features an impressive 29,000 square feet of rope climbing and bouldering with over 200 routes to explore. They also offer a variety of yoga and fitness classes for those looking to work out or change things up every once in a while.
Their second location on Silver Street is a mammoth 43,000 square feet of pure block. For sport climbers like me, this sounds like a nightmare. But for all bouldering, there are over 280 problems that make it Houston’s premier bouldering room. And with members-only hours on Saturday mornings, you can beat the crowds and take as many rides as you want.
Houston Momentum Gyms Details
Hours:
Silver Street:
MONDAY – FRIDAY 6AM – 11PM
SATURDAY 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. *Members only 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
SUNDAY 10AM – 8PM
Katie:
MONDAY – SATURDAY 8AM – 11PM
SUNDAY 10AM – 8PM
Types of climbing:
Silver Street ~ Block Only
Katy ~ Bouldering, Lead, Top Rope
Advantages of installation:
Climbing lessons
Fitness and yoga classes
Training area
Hours reserved for members
Prices:
Day pass: $22
Monthly subscription: $79*
*Discounts available for students and veterans. One-time registration fee of $59
Texas Rock Gym
This gym is ideal for climbers of all levels. They place great importance on safety, accessibility and sharing the world of climbing with others. If you are new to this sport or want to climb as a fun activity for the day, this sport is for you.
Another interesting aspect of this gym is the style of the walls. This deviates slightly from what you see in typical gyms and looks a little more natural and more functional – closer to what you can find outside.
For more experienced climbers, there are still sport routes and boulder problems that will challenge you. That said, the focus seems to be on teaching and developing the sport, so it may not be the best place to really improve your grades.
But for those trying to learn, this is the place. With classes and tons of youth programs (including a summer climbing camp), the potential is virtually unlimited to develop your climbing skills.
Texas Rock Gym Details
Hours:
Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Types of climbing:
Rock
Lead
Top rope
Advantages of installation:
Climbing lessons
Fitness classes (including yoga, tai chi, kung fu and aikido)
Training area
Hours reserved for members
Many events in the gym
Prices:
Day pass: $30 – $40
Monthly membership: $65
Space City Climbing Gym
Space City has one simple claim to fame: its climbing vaulted roof. It’s the only climbing gym in Houston (or Texas for that matter) with this type of feature allowing you to work on those outdated skills.
That said, Space City is pretty small. They have 5,000 square feet of total climbing – it’s bouldering and sport combined. It’s also not open in the morning (sorry to all the early risers). Day passes are really cheap, so if you’re stopping in town this is a great place. But if you’re looking for a place to train long-term, you may find that amenities are lacking at this gym and that there’s better bang for your buck elsewhere.
Space City Gym Details
Hours:
Monday to Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Types of climbing:
Rock
Lead
Top rope
Advantages of installation:
Training area
Hours reserved for members
Many events in the gym
Prices:
Day pass: $10 – $15
Monthly membership: $65
inSPIRE Houton climbing gym
No list of Houston climbing gyms would be complete without inSPIRE. With two locations, over 40,000 square feet of climbing terrain between them, and all the amenities you could want, it combines the benefits of a mega gym with the feel of a small one. A huge advantage of this gym is its automatic belayers, which means you can take up sport climbing even if you don’t have a partner.
Beyond space to climb, this gym has everything you need to improve your climbing skills, like moon boards and campus rungs. They also offer competitive climbing leagues for adults and children. The last thing that really stands out about this gym is its Olympic-sized speed wall. If you’ve ever wanted to see how fast you can fly up the wall, this is the place for you.
The only criticism here is the timings. If you’re like me and like to enjoy that sunrise session every once in a while, inSPIRE doesn’t have that option. But for everything else it gets 5 stars.
Gym Details inSPIRE Climbing Gym Houston
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: noon – 6 p.m.
Types of climbing:
Rock
Lead
Top rope
Automatic belay
Advantages of installation:
Training area
Hours reserved for members
Climbing leagues (youth and adults)
Moon board and speed wall
Prices:
Day pass: $20
Monthly membership: $76
Houston Climbing Gyms Conclusion
While Houston may not be a mecca for outdoor climbing, there is certainly a thriving community of climbers living in Space City. Whether you’re looking for a quick workout while driving through town or somewhere you can improve your climbing, there’s a gym here for you. Be sure to check out our guide to Dallas gyms if you’re there.
Happy climbing!