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The ARC - Arcadia Rock Climbing
Categories: Active Life Climbing Active Life Rock Climbing Climbing, Rock Climbing
305 N Santa Anita AveArcadia, CA 91006
(626) 294-9111
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10 am - 10 pm
Fri 10 am - 8 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
74 reviews for The ARC - Arcadia Rock Climbing
74 reviews in English
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Review from candie s.
Pasadena, CA
1/18/2012 2 photos
This place is pretty darn awesome. I can't believe its taking me so long to drop in ... I have to give a hat tip to Groupon for this one.
We made an appointment for MLK day morning ... showed up and had the time of our lives. We were given a brief lesson in the world of transverse planing and a summary of the differences between a VB path (beginner) vs. a V8 path (hanging upside down like monkies).
Once the instruction was over we were welcomed to stay and tool around on all the courses. Who knew rock climbing was such a mental sport! We were there until our forearms were practically falling off and our hands looking like those extended trash grabbing tools.
It was definitely a good time. $15 for a day pass and I think something like $40 for a monthly unlimited pass (with EFT). You have to check the place out .. like I said, it's awesome. -
Review from Carol C.
5/16/2012
This is the only climbing gym i've been to, but I assume there MUST be better ones.
The front desk people were all kids - pretty sure some were around 13. They weren't paying attention to customers at all because they were too busy drawing. Yes, drawing.
Secondly, I had to borrow shoes, because yes, i'm new. Maybe this is how it is at all climbing gyms but the shoes were ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. I could smell the shoes from a mile away. My fingers smelled so incredibly bad just from holding the shoes that I had to wash my hands about four times. They were still wet from the sweat from the person who borrowed them before me.
I did like the place though because of the variety of levels, and the people who go there all seem pretty chill. Still, I think the shoe aspect was pretty grotesque. -
Review from B T.
Pasadena, CA
4/12/2012
This is a nice bouldering gym to get your pump on. For me at least, there's enough climbs with enough variation and the problems are rated fairly consistently. I can agree with their taste in electronic music for the most part.
There's a few drawbacks. They don't have a water fountain. The restroom is sometimes out of order. On weekends there are children swinging on a rope suspended from the ceiling.
The student membership is a good deal here. I can't wait to come climb again. -
Review from a.r z.
Los Angeles, CA
4/5/2012
Almost all bouldering. The top rope section is for starters or kids or something. People here are waaaay nicer than hanger 18, staff and climbers. I saw some staff giving lessons and they seemed really nice and friendly too. Almost every wall is overhanging, there's an REI across the street, so if you need chalk or something.
Wish it was bigger and smelled nicer. -
Review from H C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/9/2012
This is the only climbing gym I've been to, but I really enjoy its laid back vibe. It's great to come for a bit and pump the arms.
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Review from Charlie S.
Los Angeles, CA
12/23/2011
Yesterday was my 3rd visit to the ARC. I get a great workout every time and the routes are very challenging, but I feel that they're within reach. I'm a beginner and I've left every time feeling accomplished and wanting more.
As I'm getting more into rock climbing, I've been thinking a lot about buying a membership. I've never had a membership to any kind of gym, but have been feeling a desire to commit to my health and fitness lately. Lisa, who was very helpful and friendly, was the reason I went through with it.
The staff is very friendly, there are a good variety of routes, and it's a very comfortable environment.
And after a fun session of bouldering, I was pleased that I went through with buying the membership. -
Review from Solana M.
San Fernando, CA
3/27/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
This place is the SHIZ-NIT! :D I'm an absolute beginner, but this place & the peeps in it are SO nice, I feel right at home :)
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Review from Jason F.
12/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I came here Saturday with some friends to try bouldering for the first time. The people working were very friendly and helpful. As a first timer I wouldn't know necessarily how these walls compare to other locations, but I thought some of these "easier" routes were pretty tough and I am a fairly fit guy!
I think next time I'm going to get an instructor to teach me the ways, but for $20/day with shoe rental, 2 hours of my life was fun filled and painstakingly rough on my hands and body! It was a great workout session that was both physical and mental as you climbed your way up. -
Review from Shari M.
Burbank, CA
1/15/2012
Purchased a great Groupon deal for a 30 minute Bouldering lesson and all day pass for $30!
We had the trainer Elliot, and he was professional, fun, skilled, and so patient to our lack of experience. This is the first time we ever went Bouldering and we had a great one!
This place was GREAT. It wasn't crowded because we went in the morning, and we had to make an appointment in advance.
They have many large walls with different difficulties, it was clean, the rental shoes were in good condition, and the people who work there are all so friendly and cheerful! They also had the perfect music playing.
So fun for a date! I highly recommend them!! :-) We can't wait to go back... -
Review from Teresa H.
Irvine, CA
3/14/2012
This place is awesome. They are super nice and it's next to a vegetarian cafe. I think you get a buck off smoothies or something if you show them your ARC receipt for climbing. They have kids classes in the afternoons, so if you're kid phobic, don't come in the afternoon.
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Review from Heather E.
Burbank, CA
9/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I moved from SF - home of Planet Granite and Touchstone climbing gyms which are spectacular in their own ways. So any gym in southern cali has some big shoes to fill.
ARC makes you earn it like no other. I hear that routes at the ARC mimic the outdoors which is great because I need to be trained at climbing outdoors. So if you want the same - become a member at the ARC. It'll prep you really well and you'll keep up with your passion for climbing. But I must warn you - a V0 at the ARC is like a V1-2 in the bay area.
The ARC has some cons - The bathrooms STINK! And I feel gross having to change into some gym clothes in there. There isn't any cardio equipment but they have an area for you to jump rope, punch a bag, hang your TRX, or stretch. I absolutely hate going on weekends when there are bday parties as the kids scream like crazy.
The membership fees aren't that bad for what you're getting here though. At the end of the day it's what you make of it. Self motivation will definitely make this gym everything you need. -
Review from Chris C.
Walnut, CA
8/16/2011
Arcadia Rock Climbing was a very fun experience.
My first visit I was full of excitement and enthusiasm. I told myself that I was going to climb the hardest most difficult rock there was in there. I'm an athlete I told myself, I can do anything. That all changed when I met the instructor.
The instructor greeted us with a smile and asked us if it was our first time. For a split second, I had to reevaluate my situation. My first impression of the guy was that he was muscular. He was wearing a tank top and shorts. I could see all the muscle striations in his arms and legs. He had chalky white hands as if he just finished his climb. All that vanquished when he reassured us, in an Australian accent, that we were going to have a blast. He walked us through the process step by step. He introduced us to the beginner, novice, and advice rocks. Essentially, each rock was color and numerically coded by difficulty. The goal, if there was any, was to climb a certain rock by color.
So we signed up and got rental shoes and got started. The first thing I realized was how tight fitting the shoes were. The instructor told us that the shoes were meant to be tight and he was right! I was on the beginner's rock and I was glad that my shoes were on tight.
Anyways, I abolished the idea of climbing the hardest rocks mainly because I wasn't there yet. I mean, the advanced rocks started vertical but ended horizontal- WTF! But there were people doing it and I was in awe.
30 minutes worth of climbing later, I was exhausted and I really did have a blast. If this is your first time, ask questions and go all out like I did- OWN the beginner rocks!
Downside: It's dangerous. Take it one step at a time. -
Review from Leah M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/4/2011 3 photos
This place is bananas - BE- AYE-EN-AYE-EN-AYE-ES:
- Instructors - Val is awesome! She's got this encouraging spirit; but it's not the annoyingly typical rah rah sis boom bah - she encourages with her relaxed and extremely patient attitude; and this is so important; mental conditioning is just as important as physical conditioning; it's easy to panic up there when your mind exaggerates your body's limitations and magnifies your distance from the floor.
- Music - they've got Pandora set on just the right station to get you energized and hyped;
- Courses - went here for bouldering (rock climbing w/o a harness); good variety for all levels!
- People - everyone there was super friendly and encouraging;
- Location - Good parking and good restaurants w/i walking distance
- Sport - Such a challenging sport; Works every part of your body, including your mind; it's not just about monkeying up the course, you've actually gotta problem solve - figure out how to leverage your body to monkey your way through.
- Other - These guys thought of everything. my nails were only slightly grown but I was still afraid of losing them; asked for a nail cutter and sure enough, they had one handy. (Before coming - make sure you've cut your nails).
Take advantage of their yelp offers (bummed because I didn't realize they gave 57% off for the first time and paid the full 70 =(). -
Review from Jason D.
Pomona, CA
7/22/2011
Good Bouldering Gym- Very limited roped climbing, and almost every wall is overhanging. Not the greatest place for beginners, but if you come regularly you'll get strong pretty fast here.
Routes/ problems are marked with tape- which I find confusing, but it's pretty common for gyms.
I go here because it's on my way home from work.
If you want to have a kids party, they do have a setup for it- but I'd rather go to hangar 18 to get the most out of it. -
Review from Jeffrey Z.
Temple City, CA
7/3/2011
The majority of the walls here are for "bouldering." I think that's what it's called. It's rock climbing without harnesses basically, though you can still get them for certain courses. There are plenty of walls and courses here. I think 12 would be a fair estimate, and from my experiences, I think you usually have like 4 people on each wall. You know, one person climbing and three friends shouting overlapping instructions that ultimately end up confusing the climber even more, which causes him or her to drop and everyone to be disappointed. The point is, you probably don't need to worry about this place being overcrowded for a date or whatever. I recently took a big group (15 people) on a dead day and we took up like 3 walls. There was still plenty of space for other people. If there does happen to be an overflow of people though, you probably would want to leave.
Now let's talk prices. 15 bucks to climb all day, or at least until your arms fall off. 5 dollars for rental shoes, 2 dollars for chalk. Trust me, you will need the chalk. If you don't use the chalk, good luck driving home. And if you took the bus there, good luck paying the bus fare. Or you could cheap out and steal other people's chalk. The price is reasonable, and you can purchase membership, but I forget how much it is and what the rates are.
Anyway, I really do enjoy this place. It's a lot of fun, great workout, and a good cover for my naturally poor driving ability. The only gripe I have is the potential of chaos (there's at most 4 people working there at the same time, and if they're overcrowded I don't think they'd be able to have much control). Also, the courses are quite challenging for the inexperienced. -
Review from Vic C.
4/3/2011
Went here today with a group of friends and my boyfriend and we all had a pretty good 2 hour workout! We all did the 30 minute lesson with Elliot and learned the idea and technique of boulder climbing. Elliot is very nice and friendly, and a great teacher. Very patient and easy to talk to.
The rock gym has quite a few walls to climb, each with many levels of difficulty. Each level is ranked by colors of tape and names like v1, v2, etc. that will mark the trail to climb. Even the beginning level is pretty tough for a newbie like ourselves. We arrived today (on a Sunday) at 3 pm and there was probably 25 people there (including my group of 5 and the staff members working). But after 4 pm, the place only had a handful of people. This is great because you are not waiting or trying to fight for a section of the wall to climb.
You can rent shoes and a harness for $5. But you are not given a helmet (you must sign a waiver before you start). Then you are free to climb. You are also not hooked up to a rope like you would see a rock climbing wall at the beach or at an amusement park. But there are these black pads that you can fall on and they are fine. They aren't flat so you won't get hurt if you fall.
You can check their website for the rest of the pricing, but this place is a pretty good deal for new learners. I would highly recommend this place. It is an awesome and fun way to hang out w/ friends (literally) and get in a great work out. -
Review from Not A.
Arcadia, CA
1/19/2011
I do enjoy climbing in gyms. Because of money and distance, however, I am unable to keep with a regular routine. I prefer to drive 30 miles to other gyms rather than go to the one in my hometown (ARC).
My friends and I complain about this gym, a lot.
I dread bringing new climbers to this gym because I fear it will deter them from the sport.
I found this recently on the website: "No children under 10 years old allowed in gym after 6PM on Monday through Friday."
This really comes as no shock to me.
Please, if you are going to bring children at all, watch your kids. Don't rely on the employees to watch them or even care about their safety. This is not a playground.
That's one thing I do not like about this gym. The counter where the staff reside at are far away from the walls. They can watch maybe 20% of the walls, while their view to the rest of the walls are blocked by a bouldering wall. Injuries happen, and they can't even see to at least try to prevent them.
A lot of people who frequent this gym say that it's too hard. I wouldn't say they are hard - they're just awkward. Unlike other gyms where the problems are set so that short people can jump around the challenge, a lot of these problems require very long limbs. I agree with what another reviewer: awkward does not make a hard problem.
Lots of high-schoolers who don't seem to have much climbing expertise.
Bouldering gym only. Don't even rent or bring a harness. There are only a few problems to work with. Most (90%) of the people come to boulder. This is one reason why gym membership/gym pass is so expensive. While you get a whole day pass for around $16 that includes top roping and bouldering, at the ARC you have to pay $15 that is essentially bouldering only. In comparison, I've seen other gyms that offer a bouldering pass only for $8-$10.
They also never seem to have membership promotion deals...
I would really appreciate it if they had enough crash pads to go around. I would prefer not to have to spend so much time waiting for an open pad, or taking them from other people, to secure a landing. Please, please get more crash pads!
The climbs can get really high for bouldering than it should... Be careful and do not go too far up!
Some of the people who work here are pretty rude and not willing to help when it comes to asking questions. Maybe it's just me but I'm just really used to chill climbers, , who seem to be much more friendly and open. If you tell the people at ARC that a hold is loose, they'll just be like uhok. Usually, the people at the other gyms are on it right away.
Pros:
The gym is very convenient for people who live in SGV.
The pads are really good (but there just isn't enough of them). Other gyms tend to have pads that are pretty worn out. I feel very safe landing on them.
It can get crowded, but not as crowded as another gym I go to (I think because of their groupon buyers).
Lots of newbies tend to come here, so if you're new, you can feel at ease!
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If I see improvement, I will definitely change my rating. -
Review from Kevin C.
Los Angeles, CA
12/13/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I bought the yelp deal, and went with a few friends. We had a younger gentlemen, forgot his name giving us a lesson. He was excellent, and helped us get the basics, and some new techniques down.
It wasn't that crowded, and the place had a great chill vibe. Got a nice workout and new muscles that don't usually get sore did.. so that's always a good sign!
wish the 210 didn't have such heavy traffic after work, or i'd consider getting a membership! -
Review from Ken C.
11/10/2010
Looking for a fun activity that'll kick your butt and challenge you? Rock Climbing and Bouldering should do the trick. On a random sunday, I had a staff member belay me so that I could climb the wall. It cost me around twenty bucks for an hour. In that hour, I jumped from wall to wall and it was a fun workout!
The difficulty of the rock wall depends on what routes you choose. If you want a challenge, you could follow the trails that experienced climbers have laid out. Otherwise, you do what you can to get up the wall.
They have rock climbing where you ascend the wall using the hand and foot grips as you're attached to a harness. They also have "bouldering" where you aren't attached to anything and you climb up shorter walls like you're Sly Stallone in Cliffhanger.
ARC was designed as a training ground for serious climbers, but, as a true beginner, it was a great experience and I had a fun time! I'd totally come back. They offer classes so that you can learn to belay a partner. They also have introductions to those bouldering classes. The only thing that detracts me from going again is that I know I have to have a reliable spotter to climb up/down these walls unless I want to hire a staff member every time.
If you're looking for something fun to do, this is definitely a solid option. It's located on Santa Anita, across the street from REI. Call ahead for reservations if you want to come at a time that's not too busy.Listed in: The bucket list
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Review from Alondra V.
Simi Valley, CA
5/9/2011
My sisters boyfriend introduced me to this place. I love the atmosphere! Everyone is super friendly and helpful. They encourage you to push yourself and give it your all. It's exciting to get that kind of energy. The routes are supposedly a little harder than what is written, but hey... I love a challange. The best part is that The Arc is located near some good restaurants.
Overall: The Arc is a great spot for indoor climbing. -
Review from Lisa Y.
Rowland Heights, CA
4/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was my first rock climbing experience, which definitely left me craving for more....but maybe at a different location.
I'm not sure how to gauge since this is the only facility I have been to so far, but it was a bit small and definitely was a bit expensive compared to other places that I've seen (especially for what they offer). It's $15 for a day pass and $5 for shoe/harness rental. We went bouldering (which is literally rock climbing without the ropes) so we didn't need someone to belay us. When I first walked in, I was a little taken aback by how grimy the place looked, but it's a place to get down and dirty, not a prissy princess party, so I got over it. I was a little disappointed by the limited number of trials for beginners. I would say there were prob 4 areas that I could even attempt. My height and lack of upper body strength was really a disadvantage, so this review won't apply to everyone.
All in all, this was a good intro to rock climbing. If you live around the area, I would definitely recommend checking this place out, otherwise, look for a different center.
P.S their bathrooms are a bit grimy, with no soap in the women's restroom! -
Review from Derek W.
La Mirada, CA
3/8/2011
I have never been to a rock climbing gym before even though I have done a couple of top rope walls over the years. None of the climbs that I have done were too challenging. So with that as my history with rock climbing, I started to plan a group activity here.
I called ARC a few weeks before the date of the party. They were pretty chill and were willing to answer any of my questions. The gist of their group rate (as of this review) is that it is $25/person for the first 10 people, $20/person for the next 10 people, $18/person for the next 10. They have a "party room" that is really just probably less party and more utility room. You get this room for 2 hours. All of the necessary equipment is included, and you also get staff that will stay with your group to belay you, help you, etc. So I put my $100 deposit down.
The day of the party, I got there about 45 minutes early just to check things out (since I had never been there before). They were pretty friendly in explaining that everyone would just fill out their waiver (which interestingly enough includes a clause about their lack of helmets) before they got their gear. The climbing itself was pretty enjoyable. We started on their (admittedly limited) top rope courses just to get us going since many of us had never been. We then made our attempts at bouldering, which was much more difficult. It was made even more difficult because many of us already had expended much of the strength of our forearms on the top rope courses! Nevertheless we had the bouldering, there was a huge rope ladder, a single knotted rope to climb, and even a rope swing. It was not too crowded. I would say that there were about 10 people there besides us.
Overall the staff were pretty friendly. Since we had over 20 people, it came out to be about $22/person ($25 * first 10) + ($20 * second 10) + (18$ * remainder). They did not charge for the people in the party who were not climbing. It seemed reasonable enough to me. I think that a good many of the people were a little bit surprised that the building was only a couple of stories tall, but it seems to make sense since the majority of the walls are bouldering without a belay. As a first time rock climber, I would not hesitate to try it again.
It is a little bit pricey compared to other activities, it's definitely physically challenging, and it is even really rewarding when you are able to do things that you had no idea that you could do. -
Review from Dorothy R.
Los Angeles, CA
9/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
This was so much fun! I had done rock climbing once before with a harness, but this experience was totally new. Instead of using harnesses so one repels down after climbing a wall, they use thick padding placed underneath the area where one is climbing. At first, I was very nervous, but after experiencing rock climbing this way, I think it contributes to the experience and makes it more fun. It makes you work harder, be more confident in your decisions on the wall, and gives you a better cardio workout from your heart beating so fast! As a fairly active person with some muscle, I can say this was one of the best workouts I've done. I even fell off the wall a few times, but it didn't hurt.
My girlfriends and I came here and did the Intro to Bouldering class, instructed by Daniel. He was really good and strong at rock climbing himself, and made it look so easy as he showed us exactly what do to. Although, despite his good instruction, it was still an butt-kicking experience for all of us.
I would recommend trying this if you are physically active as a completely different exercise you can't experience any other place beside a rock or a rock climbing gym like this. I've been sore for a week after our class, and it feels awesome! It was so thrilling and so much fun, I can't wait to go back!Listed in: Buns of Steel, Deals for Meals and Steals!
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Review from Alan J.
Pasadena, CA
2/10/2010 ROTD 3/9/2010
One of very few places where you can grab, pinch, hold, flash, cup, and squeeze all you want without getting in trouble. Add a little excitement and a lot of fun and you'd be at Arcadia Rock Climbing. Just had my first real experience boulder climbing and had a great time at ARC.
Our friend was kind enough to invite us to the ARC and try a little boulder climbing. It was very comforting to go with an experienced climber. He took the time to give us the cliff notes on what the routes mean and just how to climb in general. Just because I can do some pullups at the gym I thought I could automatically climb. Boy, was I wrong and found out fast that this sport is about mostly technique and not all strength. If you don't have a friend like JD, I believe they offer lessons and a guide to get you going. There are enough V0-V1 routes to get a beginner climbing at this place. It's exciting to make it to the top of the route only to be hit with a jolt of nerves and anxiety once you look down the crashpad.
The vibe at this place is super chill. Everyone seem to be cheering for you versus giving you the "newbie" look. It was fun to see experienced climbers gather to solve new problems and try to conquer the tougher routes. Actual facility is very well kept and clean for the most part.
This is only the second rock climbing gym I've been to. Brooklyn Boulders in NY was a much larger facility compared to the ARC. But from what I'm reading BKB is on another level compared to most gyms. Plus Arcadia is much closer to Pasadena than Brooklyn, NY. New hobby? Maybe not ...... yet. I will be back next week to give it another go. Something about sore forearms, squeezing, pinching, grabbing, and blistered hands that makes me want to come back. -
Review from Judy T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/1/2009
I love this place. It's not the best, doesn't have the highest walls and the best a/c system (giant fan, open door=a/c) but I feel super comfy when I go there. Whereas all the guys and gals are super buff and scaling the tiny rocks like ants, I am slowly inching my way up the wall, wondering if I will indeed land on my carelessly arranged crashpad or hurt myself
( well, in a room full of good looking dudes is that really a bad thing?)
You can't really belay here. There are only like three walls. I think there are about 10 for bouldering.
It's cheaper than Rockreation and the other place in Torrance. I like it. Plus it's near a boba place which is awesome after you're sweaty, hot and you cant hold anything because your muscles are cramped. -
Review from Debbie Y.
Altadena, CA
Updated - 1/11/2009
Ok, they have cleaned up their act since my last review. The person to blame no longer works there. I hope they can keep up the good work :)
Keep in mind that this is very much a bouldering gym. Not many good options for rope climbing. The routes have become mostly very reachy and the ratings are not consistent. Still a semi-decent place to train, but nothing spectacular.Listed in: Climbing Gyms
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/4/2008
Let's just be frank about this place. I have been climbing at the ARC for couple years now and it… Read more »
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Review from Darren Y.
Pasadena, CA
9/14/2006 1 photo
I'm a n00b. In fact I'm such a newbie to rock climbing that I don't even know if "n00b" is a word in the dictionary of climbers. At best I'm an amateur fun sport climber at D&Bs (or wherever), and at worst...well let's face it...I'm at my worst as far as bouldering goes. Rock bottom.
But that's the point.
I was turned to bouldering by a good friend of mine who recently joined The ARC on the simple premise that it's an extreme workout that's extremely fun. So I decided to show up and try out their $35 intro to bouldering course. I wasn't expecting much and admit I was slightly intimidated by the sport going in, but the wonderful people at this gym not only encourage new climbers, they were also more than eager to help beginners like myself.
I can't comment much on the facility as I have nothing to compare it to but I've heard that although it is one of the smaller gyms in the Southland the walls are diverse enough with sufficient problems that even the most advanced climber, or n00best n00b, will be happy. -
Review from Jason L.
San Gabriel, CA
6/11/2007
The only indoor climbing spot around the SGV. A pass is $15, which is normal for a indoor gym. $5 for equipment. They also sell a multiple pass card, 5 for $60. It gets pretty expensive if you make this one of your hobbies.
In the front, is a small belaying section and not really the place to go if that's what your looking for (try rockcreation instead). Bouldering on the other hand is GREAT!. The workers there are pretty experienced rock climbers, so the set ups are very good. Even the V0 (easy ones) have some degree of difficulty in them.
The place can getting a little noisy during the weekdays from mid afternoon to early evening b/c of some day care program. The people there are really laid back, and nice if you make an attempt to conversate.
NOTE: if you do not have your own climbing shoes, BRING SOCKS!! The rental shoes stink. They do not spray foot spray onto the shoes when a person is done using them. -
Review from Michael S.
Pasadena, CA
4/25/2007
I've been climbing for 7+ years now. When I lived in NC, the climbing gym was a integral part of my training and social network. Many of the my best friends were people who I met at the gym there - the crappy gym. I really don't think that I've ever been to a good climbing gym, but the Arc is better than what we had back in NC.
It should be stated that this place basically specializes in bouldering (un-roped climbing). Much more of the route space is dedicated to boulder problems, vs. top-rope or lead route (roped climbing). This is for good reason since the ceilings here keep route lengths pathetically low.
Ok, Ok, before I ramble on too much..
The Good:
1. The typical climbing gym staff is friendly, if a little lackadaisical, but unlike other gyms I've been too, at least they all climb.
2. They change the holds regularly and generally have a good range of difficulties for routes and problems.
3. They I have a pretty decent pad setup so there are less worries about twisted ankles. It's a nice change from the old gym mats I started off on in NC
4. It's across the street from REI and down the street from In-n-Out
The Bad
1. More routes would be nice.
2. The way they set routes seems to leave little room for being creative and making up your own routes. Every hold is specifically place for a problem...needs more jibs.
3. No top-outs, and the walls are a little high for bouldering. It makes it harder for me to want to pull that really hard move if I'm 15' up.
The UGLY
1. The price. $15 for an evening of bouldering is highway robbery. That said, I understand that real estate is more expensive in CA. $50 a month for membership, I just can't see that I'm getting $50 return on my investment, especially when compared with traditional gyms. -
Review from Lilani E.
5/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
As I type this review my forearms are weeping from being so sore. I came here with 3 of my most favorite people and we bouldered.
It was an intro class and afterwards we fiddled around for about 15 minutes after. Our arms would not allow for anything longer.
They almost could not find our reservation when we first got there. Which was not cool but they were nice about it and eventually did find it. Ice was our instructor. Ice was, well, cool and he did not speak to us like we were 4 year olds learning how to ride a bike.
It was fun and quite the workout. I would recommend going when it is less busy (there was birthday going on) as wall space is limited and there were children swinging from ropes screaming at a volume 20 the whole time we were there. -
Review from Wendy T.
Pasadena, CA
5/16/2007
***EDIT 7/3/07: After coming here several more times, this place has sapped me of motivation to become a regular. Why? Tired of the mediocre routes. No wallspace to make up your own problems or do Add a piece, and no options for an easy hangboard workout. Minus one star
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ARC really ought to be called ABC - it's pretty much centered around bouldering. There are a few roped climbs - pretty much solely for people who wanna learn to belay or lead really really short sport. But wait - this is not a diss - bouldering is a great way to train - it takes lotsa technique and strength and is still fun. The people who work here are laid back and the new manager is really nice. The features are fun ranging from dead vertical to a medium sized roof- nice! Lotsa nice, cushy crash pads too.
Things they could improve....
1. Hangboard - the "easy" hangboard workout is hard for this 5'2" girl with small hands. The hangboard is way too high - I can't even reach it. And the PVC pipe is too wide to get a good grip.
2. More jibs! The route setters here are tall and they seem to set reachy problems - a few feet here and there would preserve the same level of difficulty for those under 5'8"
3. Routes: they use almost the SAME type of hold for the ENTIRE route. What was the last problem you've done outdoors that was all jugs? All side pulls? You get the picture.
The weird thing here is that unlike other gyms I've been to - where are all the old timer hardcore climbers with lotsa experience and tips? Maybe I'm just coming at the wrong times, but most of the people are pretty young... like early 20s young.Listed in: If you're not afraid to play…
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Review from Kathy K.
Monterey Park, CA
5/26/2008
NEVER! NEVER! QUIT!
It was an enjoyable experience, and I will be returning to ARC again. My boyfriend and I were greeted by a grumpy worker who seemed like he didn't want to be working there. We had to stand there for a while for him to even notice us, and we couldn't rent out equipment because there weren't enough workers to help us. It was our first time there and we had to boulder all on our own, no ropes, no harness, no NOTHING! luckily I bumped into a person there who knew a thing or two about bouldering, and told me I could ask him questions if i needed to. HE should be working for the gym, NOT the grumpy kid. Besides the service, it was a fun place with a great vibe to kick your butt into shape. -
Review from Vicki L.
4/17/2011
This is the place where I first started climbing!
I took a 30 minute introductory bouldering lesson the first time I came here. I believe it cost me around $35. Normally it costs $30 for a start up fee and $42 for a month's pass but because I got the $30 lesson, one of the staff waived the start up fee for me which was really nice. Getting a monthly pass includes free shoe rental every time. With a month's pass you also get a free guest pass for one of your friends.
PROS:
Good for bouldering- HUGE bouldering section.
Good service- Overall friendly staff who mostly are all really good climbers. Pretty clean. Whoever chooses the music has really good taste (in my opinion) :)
Tough problems- The problems here are a little tougher than I've experienced than other places I've climbed at now. But I like this because their problems have really big reachy moves that present a nice challenge.
CONS:
Kids-On weekends, there are little kids running EVERYWHERE and it's WILD. Weekends are when kids come to have their birthday parties and they're just EVERYWHERE. I guess this has nothing to do with the actual gym but let this just serve as a warning if you decide to come on a weekend. (Sometimes it's kind of dangerous because you'll be climbing and then you have to make sure before you jump down that you won't land on some little kid whose parents did a poor job of keeping an eye on them).
Almost purely bouldering- Unlike most other climbing gyms, this gym is literally almost purely for bouldering. There's a slack line they set up occasionally and a small actual rock climbing area for little kids. Come here if you want to boulder, but not really for any other types of climbing.
Poor Lessons- I don't know if it was just whoever taught me, but I felt that my bouldering lesson was NOT worth $35. I mean now that I think about it, there really isn't a point in taking a bouldering lesson because for bouldering you just...climb. Anyways, the girl who taught me didn't really teach me any techniques or give any advice on solving problems. When I couldn't get the next hold, she would just ask me, "What hurts?" Well now that I've been climbing a while, I've learned that there are different techniques to climbing and each problem has different little key points you have to get to move onto the next hold. Bouldering is not all about strength (though it helps) but a lot about thinking and strategizing too. The girl I got a lesson from did not emphasize this at all. But this is not to say their staff are unknowledgable. A lot of their staff are really experienced climbers and know their stuff, just depends who you get to teach your lesson that day.
Overall good place to come for bouldering. I try to come here whenever I'm in the area. -
Review from Son T.
Monterey Park, CA
4/9/2009
Hi, this is my first yelp review, and my first time boulder climbing. So I really don't have anything to compare ARC to. I went on Weds, and there were a lot of people. I guess it's because every 2nd Weds of the month, girls get in free which is fine with me :P
The place was bigger than I thought. There are walls for all levels, but I pretty much stayed at the beginner walls. People there were friendly (employees and customers). There were newbies and pros. Maybe they're not pros, but they climb like they've been doing it for awhile.
I don't know if I will go back soon though. Maybe the 2nd Weds of May :D. $15 per visit is a little steep if you want to go a lot, but not enough to get a year's pass or something. I don't know if I am doing something wrong when I climb, but after I got home every part of my hand hurts, even the tips. Probably going to have a few blisters. -
Review from Calvin Y.
7/11/2010
This is a great place for beginners to try belay and bouldering as there the staff are friendly and helpful and the vibe is very chills and relaxing. My fiancee booked an appointment as a surprise b-day gift for me for a belay lesson that includes a full day pass and equipment rental. We got our shoes after signing the waiver and were instructed to warm up by moving right to left on the wall to get a feel.
Our instructor - "Icemer" - walked us through the steps in making a figure 8 knot, how to pull the slack, and climb up and down. After a few times taking turns climbing up with him watching, he let us go to do it on our own and we spent the next hour to hour half taking turns on the belay routes.
We loved the background music - downtempo and electronica; the large cushion soft mats for bouldering, and the ability to just have fun and not feel embarrassed at being a noob. The only drawbacks here is the price - $15 for a day pass does not include shoe rental or equipment (harness rental). And a $50 for a 1-month membership as other Yelpers have said, its just too much more than the typical gym membership.
Definitely will come back again and bring energy bars and more water to last out longer (we got tired and hungry after about 1.5 hours) and also want to try the bouldering. But if they dropped the prices a bit, then will make visits here at least bi-monthly. -
Review from Leanne Z.
Los Angeles, CA
9/14/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I have never been bouldering before - and for those of you who don't know what bouldering is, it is basically rock climbing without the harness/line - but it was a great work out and it was REALLY fun. I went with my sister and our instructor was very friendly and demonstrated to us the different techniques. The only reason I gave it a four was because I noticed that the place was geared more toward more experienced rock climbers because most of the walls were overhanging. Nonetheless, I would definitely go again.
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Review from Felicia C.
Portland, OR
6/12/2007
Kickin' bouldering gym. (Bouldering = no ropes, maxes out at 12-15 feet, padding below if you feel like falling).
There is a lot of advanced stuff at this gym...that I can't do, but look super fun (think HUGE ASS overhang). BUT! there was an okay amount of moderate-beginner routes. NOT the best for a super beginner, unless you're fairly athletic, but even then it is nice to have more easy routes for beginners.
The gym is a little small, and I've never been there in the evening, but I bet it gets pretty crowded, which would impact your climbing time.
Nice atmosphere, nice climbing, but no 5th star because it costs too much, and cause one of their holds ate half of my finger once. SERIOUSLY. Shit just ripped my skin off, and I have never had that happen anywhere before, it was weird and ouchy. (Added grossness for your enjoyment!)Listed in: Rock Gyms Galore
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Review from Greg P.
Covina, CA
11/2/2006
Really fun place to come with some friends and play around. Plus some cute staff there.
They have walls that will build your self-confidence to ones what will tear it down and make you feel like a loser, with a few inbetween that look tough, but make you feel great after you reach it.
Definately should try it out once. Lots of fun for a small group. They also have packages there if you are into it hard core and wanna go all the time, plus they have work out plans there. Some kids programs also. Have fun! -
Review from michelle l.
South El Monte, CA
1/17/2011
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO MY FRIENDS OR ANYONE ELSE.........BECAUSE THE SERVICE IS AWFUL!
They did not seem to want to help us. They did not give us a tutorial (and we are beginners) we had to ask them to do so, and they made us wait for 30 mins. The girl staff member was rude and extremely unhelpful. She claims to not know how to tie knots and did not help us, later we see her do just that "tie the knot" for another customer. Did not even show us how to wear the harness or anything. Instructor did not check in on us to make sure we were properly and safely doing the bouldering. Crazy lady comes and yells at me for not doing it right and threatening to kick me out!! WTF if your employees were helpful and taught us correctly then there would not be a need for you to come and scream at me! Anyway the staff made our first time experience ........ a truly unpleasant one.......FYI there equipment is old and unsafe my cousin who came with me has done this before and she said other places have auto lock systems for safety this place does not! If you want crappy service and unsafe equipment then check out ARC . -
Review from Patrick C.
Arcadia, CA
8/13/2007 2 photos
Smells like sweat and dogs in here.
I'd rather be hiking and climbing in nature.
Climbing/Bouldering here is quite a challenge and a good workout.
It was a really humbling experience, especially when little girls were scaling the walls with such ease and no fear whatsoever.
The waiver form is a smart idea on their part.
Surely, death would be too easy. Broken bones and pain are much more feasible than death here.
Everyone from beginners to pros are welcome.
Then there's the daredevil, diehard, showboats who make monkeys look like fools.
I may come back, but for their prices, not frequently.
Maybe winter time is better than 100 degree summer and only a couple fans.
