Close Where To Learn Rock Climbing Around Knoxville, TN
Rock climbing is a challenging sport that emphasizes patience, dexterity, judgment, and strength. If you’d like to learn more about this exciting activity, the city of Knoxville, Tennessee has a few great places to get started.
Onsight Rock Gym
Don your favorite athletic gear, including closed-toe shoes, and get ready for the indoor rock climbing lesson you’ve always wanted. Knoxville’s Onsight Rock Gym offers several different climbing walls so you can learn and practice the sport. Take the Intro to Climbing Class if you’re a total beginner, or try the Intro to Bouldering Class if you’re ready to tackle this more advanced technique. There’s even an introductory class for families. You can expect to spend about $30 to $35 for a single lesson here.
The Climbing Center
Visit this indoor rock climbing gym operated by River Sports Outfitters for a comprehensive lesson in the basics of the sport. New climbers will learn how to belay their partners, tie knots, and communicate using “climbing language.” Even if you’re an experienced climber, the facility offers a bimonthly Fundamentals Class which helps advanced climbers keep their skills sharp. And if you don’t need lessons and are just looking for a place to practice, you’ll find 5,000 square feet of climbing surfaces that will suit your needs.
Ijams Crag
Had enough practice in the gym? Head out into the real world for some practical experience. Ijams Crag is a beginner-friendly outdoor climbing area located near the southern border of the Ijams Nature Center. The routes in this course range from 30 to 60 feet high, and there are bolted routes for novice climbers as well as more sophisticated paths. These routes are named with a certain flair for the dramatic, with monikers like “Down on the Corner” and “Master of Puppets.”
The Obed
You’ll have to drive about an hour and a half from Knoxville to reach this climbing destination, but it’s worth a bit of travel. You’ll have the opportunity to climb more than 1,000 routes of hard sandstone cliffs, with options available for both beginners and experts alike. Even in the hot Tennessee summer, the climbing routes here are well-shaded and comfortable. If you prefer bouldering to climbing, check out the nearby Lilly Boulder Field. Best of all, you can climb all day and then rent a campsite for under $10 per night.
HPER Vol Wall
Try your hand at a 12-foot-high bouldering wall or 32-foot-high climbing wall at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. If you’re a beginner, you can even get free lessons on the basics here. There’s just a single caveat — access to this indoor facility is limited to students, staff, and faculty of the University of Tennessee Knoxville. If you’re lucky enough to have access, all of your climbing shoes, harnesses, and belay devices can be rented at no cost.
Rock climbers have a lot to love about Knoxville, Tennessee. If you’re just getting into the sport now, enjoy these opportunities — and remember to be safe and have fun at all times.
“Indoor Rock Climbing GVSUOctober 24, 20118” via Flickr by stevendepolo. Used with permission via CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original