The sign-up process was extremely easy and flawless, there are also great deals which allowed my friend to give me a first time referral to climb for free which I was not expecting at all. I was also given shoes for free and had a great time bouldering! The space is huge and so many different courses to try! I will definitely be coming back, great way to exercise and decompress!

So great! This is my first time for bouldering in Chicago.Everything just amazing! Really big space and comfortable environment.I will return here soon!

First time ever climbing. The place is huge and the staff is super friendly. Its a nice sport if you have never try it. Super fun and with a lot of opportunity for progress

Visiting Chicago and decided to check this gym out. It is one of the nicest climbing gyms I’ve been to. Great route setting, chill vibe, clean and welcoming. Loved the little touches like liquid chalk dispensers and a “necessities” table with bandaids, hair ties, etc. Will definitely visit again next time I’m in town!

Great facility! Very clean, professional, and aesthetically pleasing. Great climbs, lots of variety and varying difficulties as well as styles. Enjoyed the atmosphere and had a lot of fun. Staff were helpful and very chill.

Strongly recommend the guided session if it is your first time trying the boulder climbing. Dylan was our instructor and he is amazing. Very knowledgable and passionate on everything about bouldering. He went through safety tips in detail and gave a great deal of climbing tips and techniques. We asked tons of questions and Dylan was super nice and patient, and encouraged us to try different routes and beta (problem solving) which was a fun experience. We enjoyed the time at First Ascent Block 37 and we are definitely coming back.

This is my first time climbing and I had so much fun with my friends! Would highly recommend if you’re looking for a good group activity.

I’ve always wanted to learn to rock climb but no one to do it with so I did the guided session with Colie. She was very warm and welcoming! She was also helpful and really encouraging so that made me confident with my climbs! Great experience, definitely coming back

Had such a great time here! Amazing facilities and great Boulder problems. This was my first time to a bouldering gym (I usually go to a top rope gym) and I will definitely be returning. They even have liquid chalk stations for everyone to use around the gym. 10/10 would recommend.

My husband and I made the decision to sign up for a membership back in January 2020 and we are so glad we did! The staff is so friendly, and in the midst of a pandemic, they’ve implemented protocols that are both safe and efficient. Super fun routes. Usually a lot of space to climb given everyone stay socially distanced. Amazing location that is convenient for those leaving their work offices in the loop.

Great facilities, very large and very clean. Staff is also super friendly! I will be coming back 😊

Outstanding, clean, not too crowded. There are cardio machines and a full weight training area as well for a well-rounded experience!

A fantastic place to boulder with equally fantastic staff. Plenty of routes ranging from VB to V12, lots of variety in route style and technique required. You can easily spend two hours here without noticing time pass by.

I love climbing at First Ascent. Its great to have options of where you can climb and theres such a good variety of styles. Its awesome there are climbs for beginners to more advanced stuff. I would highly recommend coming here!

Great gym. Tons of challenging problems for all skill levels, and a super nice fitness area as well.

Nice to have liquid chalk available for free and tons of different routes at a good location

Bouldering gym where staff is accomodating and helpful. Routes change often and are communicated both in the gym and on Vertical Life Climbing app. During COVID, the reservation system could be a bit improved regarding time slots... Offered in two hour slots and not really flexible there. Price per month for membership is a bit steep.

I cant rave about this place enough. Most friends/family I have come visit me- I bring them climbing. Their health and safety covid protocols arent excessive and all around, of all FA locations, Block 37 is my favorite. Keep up the good work :)

Colie was a 10 out of 10 outstanding staff member. Thank you for a great experience for my first time climbing!

A great new space, custom fit for the loop bouldering crowd. This space features a condensed gym with free weights and some aerobic machines, yoga and class space, lockers, and changing rooms. For those that work downtown, this space is a great option for bouldering before heading to the train. The color scheme is distinctly Chicago and even has walls that reflect the flag of Chicago. An arch, cave, and overhung walls compliment the more flat walls for people working on strength training.

First Ascent is an incredible business for anyone looking to get into bouldering, and for experienced climbers. Facilities are very well run.

I was weary about the idea of a climbing gym in a mall, but loved this place! It was busy but not too crowded to keep distance, everyone there was really nice, and the space has super cool views of downtown.

Loved this gym! Friendly staff—felt super welcomed!

I climb here for 2 years already and it changed my life. Aside from fantastic routes and clean space this climbing gym has a vibe like no other.

Awesome location, but only bouldering.

Wonderful facility, great location, fun routes, and a very professional staff! Me and my friends always have a great time here!

I love this gym and the staff. Great place to climb!

Great walls, really cool view of the city, friendly front desk people

Staff was very friendly. Nice amount of space in the gym with good views

Staff was courteous and helpful, and all the equipment was clean and new.

It is a great place and the staff were all very kind and helpful.

Nice layout, clean, convenient location

Great problems, good variety of all types of bouldering. Clean facilities. Friendly and nice people!

Fantastic set of climbing gyms. Very clean, big, and great routes!

Large bouldering gym with fun problems! Grading is on the softer side

I called beforehand to make sure it was okay to climb, they told me absolutely and that they close at 11. I showed up, not only was I told to leave by a grinning teenager named Matt but I was forced to pay a $21 parking fee. Thanks for the heads up Matt!

A note to firstcomers: its located on the 4th floor of the Block 37 mall complex. The location is pretty central, right in the heart of the Loop. Now heres my review.I needed to keep in climbing shape during a short conference in Chicago. This is a really nice facility with good (but softly graded--not necessarily a bad thing) and thought-provoking routes. Theres a gym area with a barbell rack, dumbbells, and kettlebells. Also, theres a moon board! Given the moon board, however, Im surprised by the lack of hangboards, which seems like an easy addition to the training equipment.All in all, a fantastic gym.

Spacious facility, friendly staff, constantly changing routes, and a beautiful view out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Lets not forget the gym facilities, which feature new treadmills, bikes, and other assorted gym equipment. Awesome.

I love climbing here

Friendly staff and great problems for climbers of all skill levels!

Love having a quality gym in the Loop! The facilities are nice and new with a gorgeous view of downtown Chicago. For the most part, FA Block 37 gets it right but there are a few things to improve:- They offer a towel service but its completely unreliable, sometimes they have them sometimes they dont. Its currently Thursday morning and theyre out of towels until Monday. Having to bring your own towel every day because you never know if theyre going to have them completely defeats the purpose of even offering the service in the first place. Not to mention how annoying your day begins if you workout and have to figure out how to get into your work clothes without a towel. I would expect more from an $80/month full service gym.- The free weights section has dumbbells only in increments of 5 pounds. I think thats fine for higher weights but for lighter lifters, some 3, 8 & 12lb dumbbells would be nice.- There are no mirrors anywhere except in the locker rooms so no matter what youre doing, you cant check your form. A couple mirrors on the walls bythe squat racks would be great.Ive been enjoying going to FA every day, the staff is always friendly and they have some great yoga and fitness classes. Just a few things to improve to make it a 5/5.

Was here from for a business trip. Coming from Florida gyms that focus more on money than the climbers, this gym was awesome! All bouldering, kids have to be a certain age to climb, and tons of room!! I would go back here in a heartbeat if I visit Chicago again. Thank you for motivating me again when it comes to climbing indoors!

Awesome bouldering gym! I visited Chicago from Chattanooga last week so I only got to climb for an afternoon. Highlights included the solid, creative setting, and large windows that provide views of the buildings and streets downtown. I usually stare at my phone during rests but it was fun to watch all the action outside for a change (Im not from a big city so this was pretty cool to me). The staff was great, too.

Passing through Chicago and had to get a bouldering session in. The setting is phenomenal, very impressed. Very diverse setting styles and a wide range for beginners to experts a like. I especially enjoyed the sloppers and crimps that we’re set. And to top it off the gym had an awesome view! Will definitely be back. Great atmosphere in there.

My closest First Ascent location, and therefore most frequented. Spacious facility, friendly staff, constantly changing routes, and a beautiful view out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Lets not forget the gym facilities, which feature new treadmills, bikes, and other assorted gym equipment. Love you, FA!

What an amazing boulder gym. They really think of everything: nail clippers, hand lotion, fresh towels, shampoos in showers, convenient lockers, tissues, yoga classes, fitness classes, moon board...Route setting is very creative and walls get frequently new set on a public schedule.I really like your idea of collecting points by just checking in when climbing to then use these points to rent ropes or take your friends climbing for free.

Really big bouldering space and gym setup. Went here in a day pass and wish I had more time to explore. Route setting is okay - problems are graded a tad easier than most gyms and could be more creative. Lots of slab and vert

One of the best climbing gyms Ive been to! Wide variety of problems and spacious enough to not climb all over other people. The staff was super cool too. Def want to come back when Im in Chicago next

Was visiting on a Saturday. Routes were fun, staff was friendly, there was plenty of room despite a good amount of people being there, and the floor to ceiling windows let in tons of natural light. Cool place.

Really fun climbing gym! The setting was great (a tad soft on the V6/7 range), the gym equipment and training areas are nice and new, and the vibe was super friendly. Will definitely come back next time I’m in Chicago! Also, the gym is on the 4th floor of the mall if you’re having a hard time finding it

Great little bouldering gym in the heart of the city. Where the routes are long long, they are technical. Great natural light and ample places to sit and rest while your hands need a break. Definitely coming back here next time I’m in town.

I love this gym. I’m a total beginner and wanted to learn a new skill and a new way to get in shape. I felt welcomed and included from the first time I walked in. Highly recommend!

Good bouldering, convenient location, also if you get a membership they have 5 other gyms in town with the avondale location having top-rope/sport climbing routes.

Fun little boulder gym with enough to keep you busy for the day. Great problems ranging from overhung to slab with plenty of equipment to keep you moving. Stopped by while I was in town and had a great time.

Amazing climbing gym right in the heart of Chicago! So much detail in every aspect of the gym, a great place for exercising without wasting any time on commuting. One of my favorite places in the city! ❤️❤️❤️

I collect bouldering halls in my travels... This joint stood heads and shoulders above most every place Ive been before in either the States or Europe. The routes were fairly rated, no sandbagging, and were super fun. Ive never had the opportunity to kneebar in a gym before. The modern lockers, clean gym, general amenities, the view out the windows, all of the above... This is a solid hall. I just wish I dragged my lazy bum out of bed yesterday morning to climb then too!

Just went for a first session at this new bouldering gym. Loved it. It does get crowded by 5.30. And for now the ratings between various setters are a bit inconsistent. But both of these negatives are vastly compensated for by the amazing modern and convenient facilities. Thanks First Ascent!

This place is a gem in the loop and its obvious theyre making consistent improvements since theyve opened to appeal to all clients. My only suggestion is keep making it workout friendly for those looking to shower and head back to the office. Good job guys!

I loved this place it is so fun and encouraging to go far I’ll give it a five out of five

Great facility, great prices, the bathrooms are state of the art, great climbs for beginners and seasoned climbers. I wish I could go every day. Hope they open one in the north suburbs soon.

Great place to learn/practice bouldering. It has a great gym too.

Fun challenging routes, new grippy holds, and a great community!Special shoutout to Jen for her core class!! It’s free if you get a day pass and it’s unlike any other!Also, thank you JW for making us crimp on sharp crimps...

Called ahead to make sure my 8 year old could take the Learning to Boulder class. Came in 30 minutes later and the SAME guy I talked to on the phone who told me my son could take the class is now telling me he cant take the class at the this location. Total waste of time, train your employees better.

Spectacular gym with amazing views of downtown. Conveniently located by the red & blue lives too.

Reasonable prices and a great setup. Very convenient for lunch breaks in the loop.

Finally a climbing gym closer to downtown. Great facility with gorgeous views and space to work and take a long lunch. The mall location is nice. But dont let its convienent location fool you. This location has a full set up with campus rungs, moon board, atheletic equipment, yoga studio, weight racks, bathrooms and showers, WiFi and a staff that works to be better everyday. Having something like this downtown helps me feel destress and be more comfortable being in the urban jungle.

Only walked by here. Filled with people.

Great addition to the community. Perfect place for the bouldering savvy

Very similar in style to the FA Humboldt, but with some amazing city views!

A great bouldering gym at a convenient location!

Great climbing experience, relatively cheap membership

Amazing climbing gym, dope problems, great view and friendly staff. PLUS free wi-fi and digital locks for every locker.

Excellent theater with plush seats and great food.

Super rad space with tons of routes. A little crowded, but thats to be expected--theres finally a climbing gym in the loop!

I played fall out boy and they turned off the music...Update, they turned it back on.

The showers here are amaaaaaaazzziiiinnnggggg.

Increíble lugar para ir a escalar en Chicago. Se los recomiendo 100%