Cascadia
Welcome to the Cascadia page!
Here you can find information about the sport of climbing is as well as what Project Send It is working on in the NW Oregon/SW Washington area. We also have a list of local gyms and their youth offerings so you can easily find the closest gyms to you and get started.
What's going on in PSI Cascadia?
Sendership Applications Open
Fundraising Director
We are currently in search of a volunteer Fundraising Director. This person would be in charge of organizing fundraising events and campaigns for the Cascadia chapter. Please email Erin at [email protected] for more information.
Social Media
Follow us on Instagram @psi_cascadia for more info on what’s going on in our chapter!
Getting Started With Climbing
Finding a Gym
The first step to going climbing is finding where to climb. Luckily, our area has a lot of options. In addition to the city of Portland, climbing gyms have opened in Vancouver, Gresham, Tigard, Beaverton, and Hillsboro. Scroll down to see a full list of climbing gyms.
First Time
Some people may want to sign up for an intro-to-climbing class the first time. Others just go, rent shoes, and figure it out. Both are great options! If you’re interested in learning more before you go, this video is a great one to watch.
Bouldering vs. Rope Climbing
There are two main types of climbing: bouldering and rope climbing. Bouldering is much lower to the ground, with walls only about 10-15ft high, and climbers fall onto big foam pads. With rope climbing, the walls are much taller, so climbers use a harness and ropes to safely go to the top of the wall. Many people like to start with bouldering, since you don’t need to have any previous knowledge. However, rope climbing can be a good starting point for those who are worried about the impact of falling.
Belaying
Belaying is the process of managing the rope on the other end of a climber. The belayer pulls rope through a belay device, usually a grigri or an ATC, attached to their harness so that it stays tight for the climber. They can then release the rope to lower the climber. Most gyms offer intro to top rope belaying classes for those interested in learning.
Gear: What do I need for climbing?
Shoes: Climbing shoes look a little different than your typical street shoes. They have a pointed shape and rubber all around the outside. The fit is also much tighter than everyday shoes. Your toes should feel quite squished, maybe even curled over. This lets you have control over your toes so they stick better to the rock.
Chalk/chalkbag: Many people like to use chalk on their hands when climbing. Chalk makes your hands less sweaty and helps you get a better grip on handholds.
Harness: If you are going rope climbing, you’ll need a harness. This lets you attach yourself to a rope so that you can climb high safely.
You can rent shoes, chalk, and harnesses from most climbing gyms. However, if you’re climbing frequently, you might want to get your own. Below are a few local stores that have good deals on climbing gear.
Local Gyms
Portland City
The Circuit NE
The Circuit NE is one of three Circuit locations in the Portland area and is located just off NE Sandy and 17th. It has a slightly separated kids’ area with a slide and top-out boulder in addition to a variety of bigger bouldering walls. It offers several after-school classes for kids of various ages as well as a recreational youth team.
Note that the Circuit does require reservations for all kids 12 and under between 9am and 4pm on all weekends and no-school days. You can make a reservation here.
Mini Monkeys: ages 5-6, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Short Circuits: ages 7-10, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Circuit Bouldering Club: ages 11-14, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Recreational Team: ages 9-18, 2-hour practices, 2 days per week. Email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sign your Circuit waiver here.
The Circuit SW
The Circuit SW is one of three Circuit locations in the Portland area and is located off Macadam, just north of Willamette Park. It has a small kids’ area with a slide and top-out boulder in addition to a variety of bigger bouldering walls. It offers several after-school classes for kids of various ages as well as a competitive youth team.
Note that the Circuit does require reservations for all kids 12 and under between 9am and 4pm on all weekends and no-school days. You can make a reservation here.
Mini Monkeys: ages 5-6, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Short Circuits: ages 7-10, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Circuit Bouldering Club: ages 11-14, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Competitive Team: ages 9-18, 2.5-hour practices, 3 days per week. Tryouts by invitation only. Email [email protected] if you have previous competitive climbing experience and would like to try out.
Movement
Movement Portland is the only PNW location of a nationwide chain of climbing gyms. Located in Northwest Portland/The Pearl, it has a small kids area at the back, as well as a variety of bouldering and rope climbing terrain. It offers several after-school programs and climbing teams for kids of various ages.
After School Programs ages 6-8: 1.5-hour classes, 8-week sessions
After School Programs ages 9-12: 1.5-hour classes, 8-week sessions
All of Movement’s teams are open to kids ages 6-18.
Intro: 1 day/week, 2-hour practices
Intermediate: 2 days/week, 2-hour practices
Advanced: 2 days/week, 2.5-hour practices
Competitve (split into younger and older groups): 3 days/week, 2.5-hour practices
Sign your Movement waiver here.
Portland Rock Gym
The first climbing gym to open in Portland, this location of Portland Rock Gym is located in NE Portland, just north of Sandy and 12th. It has a separate room geared mainly towards youth and instruction, in addition to a variety of bouldering and rope climbing walls, and a cafe upstairs. It offers an afterschool club for new climbers, as well as several climbing teams for various ages and abilities.
Introductory Youth Club: ages 9-13, 1.5-hour classes once per week, 4-week sessions
Youth Belay Class: ages 9-13, single 3-hour class to teach belay skills
Recreational: ages 9-18, 1-2 days/week, 1-hour practices
Development: ages 9-18, 4-6.5 hours per week
Competition: ages 9-18, 4-6.5 hours per week
Sign your PRG waiver here.
Skyhook
Skyhook is one of Portland’s newer bouldering gyms, opened in August 2024 in the southwest corner of Ladd’s Addition. While this gym belongs to the same company as Skyhook Ninja in Tigard, Skyhook Bouldering is a dedicated climbing gym, with a variety of bouldering terrain and only a bit of parkour equipment. Skyhook offers a few options of youth classes and is in the beginning stages of building its climbing team.
After School Program: ages 6-14, 1.5-hour classes, 3-month cycles
Includes option for pick-up from Abernethy Elementary
Skyhook does not currently have a climbing team.
Sign your Skyhook waiver here.
Tomo Bouldering Club
Tomo is Portland’s newest bouldering gym, opened in February 2025 in Northwest Portland/The Pearl. The gym has a variety of bouldering terrain, as well as an upstairs mezzanine with couches and tables. Tomo does not have any youth programs or teams, but does offer private coaching.
Tomo does not offer any youth programs.
Tomo does not currently have a climbing team.
Sign your Tomo waiver here.
Vancouver
The Source
The Source is currently the only climbing gym in Vancouver, WA. Located on Main and 12th, the facility has a rope climbing area including autobelays up front, and a bouldering area towards the back. It also has a youth climbing area upstairs. The Source offers several levels of kids’ classes for intro climbers in addition to their youth teams.
Youth Intro Class: ages 6-12, single 1-hour class
Youth Classes: ages 6-14 (classes divided by age), 1-hour classes once per week, 4-week sessions; must take Youth Intro Class first
The Source’s current climbing team season is 9/7/24-6/6/25.
Recreational: ages 9-18, 1-2 days/week, 1.5-hour practices
Competition: ages 9-18, 2-3 days/week, 2-hour practices
Sign your Source waiver here.
Gresham
Rock Haven
Rock Haven is a bouldering gym that opened in 2022 in Gresham, OR, just off Glisan and 223rd. The gym has an excellent kids area including a little playground wall with a slide, in addition to a variety of bigger bouldering walls. Rock Haven offers several options of youth class and climbing team, as well as discounts for homeschool students and field trip opportunities for schools.
Youth Bouldering Class: ages 5-12, 1-hour classes, both weekly and monthly sign-up options
Recreational and Competition Teams: ages 8-18, 1.5-hour practices, 2 days per week; email [email protected] for more information and to register.
Sign your Rock Haven waiver here.
Beaverton, Tigard, Hillsboro
Portland Rock Gym Beaverton
Portland Rock Gym has two locations. The newer Beaverton gym is located in Peterkort Towne Square, just off Exit 68 of US 26. It has a large bouldering area with varied terrain. In addition, a rope climbing area including a speed wall is set to open in Fall 2024. PRG Beaverton’s youth offerings include several levels of climbing team.
There are currently no youth classes or programs offered at PRG Beaverton aside from the teams.
Recreational: ages 9-18, 1-2 days/week, 1-hour practices
Development: ages 9-18, 4-6.5 hours per week
Competition: ages 9-18, 4-6.5 hours per week
Elite: ages 11-18, invite-only, 7.5+ hours per week
Sign your PRG waiver here.
The Circuit Tigard
The Circuit Tigard is one of three Circuit locations in the Portland area, and is located at Upper Boones Ferry and Durham. It has a large kids’ area with two slides and two top-out boulders, as well as a variety of bigger bouldering walls. It offers several after-school classes for kids of various ages in addition to a recreational youth team.
Note that the Circuit does require reservations for all kids 12 and under between 9am and 4pm on all weekends and no-school days. You can make a reservation here.
Mini Monkeys: ages 5-6, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Short Circuits: ages 7-10, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Circuit Bouldering Club: ages 11-14, 1-hour classes, 6-week sessions
Recreational Team: ages 9-18, 2-hour practices, 2 days per week. Email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sign your Circuit waiver here.
Stoneworks
Stoneworks is the second-oldest climbing gym in the Portland area, opened in 1993. The gym is in Beaverton, just off Hwy 217 and SW Denney. Its concrete walls make up a variety of boulder and rope terrain, and it does have autobelays. Stoneworks offers a youth team which is open to newer climbers as well as more experienced athletes.
Recreational Team (grades 3-6): 1.5-hour practices, 2 days per week
Recreational Team (grades 7-12): 2-hour practices, 2 days per week
Comp Team (grades 6-12): 2-hour practices, 2 days per week
Sign your Stoneworks waiver here.
Beyond the Wall
Beyond the Wall is a bouldering gym that opened in June 2024 in Hillsboro. The facility is located in Shute Park Plaza. In addition to their bigger bouldering walls, they have a smaller separate room with easier climbs meant for kids and intro climbers. Beyond the Wall offers several youth classes for various grade levels.
Rock Rascals: 1st-3rd graders, 1-hour classes once per week, 6-week sessions
Send Squad: 4th-6th graders, 1-hour classes once per week, 6-week sessions
Mountain Mavericks: 7th-8th graders, 1.5-hour classes once per week, 6-week sessions
Beyond the Wall does not currently have a climbing team.
Sign your Beyond the Wall waiver here.