New to climbing? You’re in the right place.
Plan your first visit
Everything you need for your first time rock climbing at our indoor gym in Ripon: what to book, what to bring and what to expect.
Three easy steps
How your first visit works
Sign your waiver
Everyone who comes in, climbing or not, needs a signed waiver. Adults 18+ sign their own; a parent or legal guardian signs for anyone 17 and under.
Sign the waiverChoose your climbing
Beginner Climber Basics, Top Rope Class and Staff Guided Belay need a reservation. Day passes, bouldering and the Adventure Center are walk-in.
See your optionsArrive early
Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your start time on your first visit (15 minutes after that). Our staff will give you a quick tour, go over the rules and get you set up. Find us at 1450 Garrison Way in Ripon, a short drive from Manteca, Modesto, Salida and Escalon.
Get directionsFind your fit
Pick how you’ll climb
Not sure? Start with Beginner Climber Basics.
Never climbed?
Beginner Climber Basics
Recommended · $60 · ages 13+ · reservation required
- A 90-minute guided class with a staff guide
- Try bouldering, auto belays and the rope room
- 2 weeks of unlimited climbing after class
- All gear included
- Join before your 2 weeks end and we waive the $100 start-up fee
Climbing with kids?
Adventure Center
$30 · all ages · walk-in
17 themed walls on auto belays, a sky walk, a speed wall and a leap of faith, up to 20 feet high. Kids 12 and under must be supervised (1 adult per 4 kids).
Staff Guided Belay
$65 first climber, $35 each additional · ages 7+ · reservation required
Our staff belay you and your kids on the tall walls for a 90-minute session, up to 4 climbers per staff belayer. No experience needed. Looking for weekly coached classes? See our youth programs.
Already climb?
Day Pass & Bouldering
$30 · ages 13+ · walk-in
Over 4,000 sq ft of bouldering, from easy problems to V9+. Belay-certified? Ask for a belay test at the desk and climb the rope room. Rentals: shoes $5, harness $3, chalk $3.
Top Rope Class
Ages 13+ · reservation required
Learn to tie in, belay with a GriGri and climb on your own in a 60–90 minute class. Includes rental gear and a 2-week membership.
Good to know
Before you come
- Arrive 30 minutes early on your first visit. Reserved sessions start on time, and a late arrival cuts into your climb time.
- Wear comfortable clothes you can move in. Climbing shoes, harnesses and chalk are available to rent.
- Closed-toe shoes are required in the Adventure Center.
- Kids 12 and under must be directly supervised at all times, 1 adult for every 4 kids.
- Kids 13 and older can climb without a parent in the gym.
- Supervising but not climbing? You don’t pay, you just need a signed waiver.
- Need to cancel a reservation? Give 24 hours’ notice for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, we’re happy to reschedule.
Real reviews
What climbers are saying
Pro tips for experienced climbers
- Everyone must sign our waiver before entering.
- We’re an inclusive gym with a wide range of climbers. If you climb 5.13+, help the 5.9 climber progress.
- We set routes monochromatically: follow the colors.
- We grade with –, solid and + instead of a, b, c, d. For example, 5.11– is roughly 5.11a/b.
- All volumes are on for every route.
- Headphones are fine in the bouldering area, but not while on a rope or belaying.
- Lots of kids and families climb here, so please watch your language.
Every climber must pass our belay test to belay. All top ropes have fixed GriGris. After you pass, your belay card must always be visible on the back right gear loop of your harness. When you buy your day pass, ask a team member for a belay test. We look for:
- Tying in with a figure-8 follow-through with enough tail
- Correctly operating a Petzl GriGri
- PBUS (pull, brake, under, slide) belaying, which Alpine requires for all climbers
Every climber must pass our lead belay test to lead belay. After you pass, your belay card must always be visible on the back right gear loop of your harness. Ask a team member for a lead test when you buy your day pass. You’ll need:
- Your own rope (35 meters or longer) and your own GriGri. GriGris are the only belay device allowed; you can rent one.
- To lead up to a 5.10–, take a fall, and show proper clipping, belaying and slack management
- PBUS belaying, required for all climbers
First visit questions
Start with Beginner Climber Basics. It’s a 90-minute guided class for ages 13+ that covers bouldering, auto belays and the rope room, includes all your gear and comes with 2 weeks of unlimited climbing. Bringing kids under 13? Try the Adventure Center or book a Staff Guided Belay.
Only for Beginner Climber Basics, Top Rope Class and Staff Guided Belay. Day passes, bouldering and the Adventure Center are walk-in, first come, first served.
The Adventure Center is open to all ages. Staff Guided Belay starts at age 7. Bouldering, day passes, Beginner Climber Basics and Top Rope Class are for ages 13 and up. For kids 5–18 who want to keep climbing, see our youth programs.
Yes, once you’re belay-certified. Take a Top Rope Class first, then belay them on a later visit. If your kids come along while you take the class, bring another adult to supervise them, since kids 12 and under must be directly watched at all times. Or skip the ropes and climb together in the Adventure Center.
Kids 13 and older can climb on their own while you use the gym. Kids 12 and under must be directly supervised, so you can’t work out and supervise them at the same time.
No. Parents and guardians who are only supervising don’t pay. They just need a signed waiver.
Comfortable clothes you can move in. Climbing shoes, harnesses and chalk are available to rent, and closed-toe shoes are required in the Adventure Center.
Plan on about two hours: 30 minutes to check in, sign in and get your gear, plus 90 minutes for Beginner Climber Basics or a Staff Guided Belay session.
Give at least 24 hours’ notice for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, we’re happy to reschedule, but cancellations aren’t refundable.
Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness is at 1450 Garrison Way in Ripon, CA, a short drive from Manteca, Modesto, Salida, Escalon and Riverbank. A second Alpine gym opens in Roseville in spring 2027.
Members get unlimited climbing, yoga and fitness classes and the full gym. Join before your Beginner Climber Basics 2 weeks end and we waive the $100 start-up fee. See membership plans.
See you on the wall
Ready for your first climb?
Book Beginner Climber Basics for $60 and get 2 weeks of climbing, or walk in for a day pass.