Yes, every person who enters Gold Crush Climbing Gym must have a waiver on file whether they plan on climbing or not. If you are under the age of 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must fill out the waiver for you.

We strongly recommend that you create your Gold Crush Portal account and sign your waiver(s) before you arrive. Please create your Gold Crush Portal account, add household members (children/dependants, if applicable), and sign your waiver(s). If you forget to knock this out before you come in, you can also do it in person at the front desk kiosks. SIGN UP FOR GOLD CRUSH PORTAL ACCOUNT & SIGN WAIVER HERE

When you arrive at Gold Crush, see one of our helpful staff members at the front desk. During your first visit we will help you sign a waiver, give you a tour of the gym, explain bouldering, safety and basic techniques, and set you up with rental gear. Our staff are always ready to provide advice and assistance. If you have any questions or would like some help before your visit, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any question at contact@goldcrushclimbing.com

Yes, we offer a range of climbing classes for all skill levels as well as private 1-on-1 and group lessons. Check out our current class offerings on the Classes page and for info on scheduling a private lesson. 

For bouldering you will need climbing shoes and comfortable athletic clothing that is easy for you to move in. Rental shoes are available during Public Hours for $6 from the front desk. We also sell chalk and chalk bags!

For top rope climbing you will need a harness and a belay device (we rent these if you don’t have your own).

Gold Crush has a variety of retail items available including chalk, chalk bags, and local guide books. We love to support local and Mountain Recreation in Grass Valley has a selection of climbing gear if you're looking for things like climbing shoes, harnesses, ropes and more! Gold Crush members get 15% off climbing gear at Mountain Recreation. Please ask our staff for recommendations on what and where to get the gear you need!

Please visit the Membership page for additional details. 

Please visit the Membership page for additional details. 

Yes! Getting kids climbing is an important part of the Gold Crush mission and we offer a variety of youth programs. From weekly youth classes, to Climbing Club to summer camps we have something for everyone!  Check out our current offerings on the Youth page.

All ages welcome. Climbing ability depends on the individual child. Kids as young as 2 and 3 climb at Gold Crush. Typically around the age of 6 years old, kids have the appropriate attention span/focus/strength and coordination to try climbing. They are usually also tall enough to reach more of the climbing holds. This provides them with a larger variety of climbs to attempt, resulting in a much more enjoyable climbing experience.

Yes, we would love to host your birthday party or group at our gym! Please visit the Classes page for more information. 

Our bouldering walls go up to ~15’ and the rope climbing goes up to ~21’.

Gold Crush has bouldering and top rope climbing. We also have a 12x12 Kilter Board, hang boards, a crack board, and campus board.

In addition to the climbing areas, we have a fitness zone that includes a stretching area, cardio equipment, weight rack and various free weights for all your strength and training needs!

We also offer free yoga classes for members!

Bouldering is a type of climbing done without the use of ropes or a harness where the climber may fall directly onto the ground. Bouldering routes are referred to as boulder “problems”. Bouldering is a form of rock climbing where the climber does not use a rope to catch their fall and instead relies on falling on padding (a “crash pad”). In the outdoors, bouldering takes place on large boulders, typically around 20 feet or smaller (although some can be much larger). Our bouldering walls can be up to 15 feet tall and we have crash pads in the bouldering areas. Please note: in bouldering, all falls are ground falls that could result in serious injury or even death, regardless of crash pads or the height of falls. Our crash pads are intended to help reduce the impact from falls but are not designed to prevent injuries to extremities or other parts of the body.

There are different variations of rope climbing. We offer top rope climbing in our gym. In order to top-rope in our gym, you will need a harness, climbing shoes, and an assisted braking device (ABD) style belay device to belay with. Please note: you must pass the top rope test before rope climbing at Gold Crush.

If you’d like to learn how to climb on ropes, sign up for a class or schedule a private lesson!  

Please remember, with any type of climbing at  Gold Crush Climbing Gym, your safety is your responsibility. Do not attempt climbing if you do not accept the risks and responsibilities involved. Please ask our friendly and experienced staff any questions you may have prior to climbing.

Yes! You must pass our top-rope belay test if you are top-roping. These assessments are free, but you must schedule an appointment for your assessment. Please email contact@goldcrushclimbing.com

If you are interested in learning how to rope climb we offer group classes and private lessons! 

Look at an entire problem before getting on the wall. This ensures the route doesn’t intersect with another climber’s route and helps to avoid running into someone already on the wall.

When on the wall, stay at least an arm’s length away from others and outside of their fall zones. Again, this is helped by looking at the routes other climbers are on before getting on the wall. Problems overlap and one problem may end directly above where another begins. Stay out of the fall zone!

Down climb a boulder problem, when possible. Every fall is a ground fall, so reduce the potential impacts by downclimbing rather than jumping off, when possible. If you do jump, please check underneath you to make sure no one is in your fall zone. There is no way to guarantee a safe fall while bouldering, but techniques have been developed over the years that may mitigate some injury risks. Attempt to fall in a controlled manner and use the following general falling guidelines:

• Spot your landing before releasing to ensure it is clear and there is enough landing space.

• Stay relaxed and attempt to absorb the landing while bent knees rolling to your butt, back or side if needed.

• Avoid extending your arms to catch your fall. If you’d like to learn more about bouldering, ask our front desk staff about taking a class.

Don't spray beta. It’s natural to want to share ideas. You may feel a strong desire to offer beta (advice) to someone climbing. If so, consider first asking if they would like to receive it. Sometimes people enjoy the challenge of problem solving and the joy of unlocking sequences on their own, while other times they will gladly accept your offerings.

Be mindful of profanity in your words and music choices. We have a lot of kids and families who come in to climb at our gym. 

Do not climb barefooted. You must wear climbing shoes to climb. No bare feet, socks or street shoes on the walls.

Do not wear your climbing shoes into the bathroom…Gross! 

Minimize chalk mess by using a chalk ball and shaking excess chalk in the chalkbag, not blowing it into the air. Better yet – give liquid chalk a try!

No food, drinks, or hard objects in the climbing area. Please keep all of these items stored in the cubbies.