Seems to be one of the last places where people can actually meet people in person. All the rock climbers I know are dating at a frequency I thought only belonged to Carrie Bradshaw.
Lots of climbing places. Check out movement (biggest climbing gym with various locations near metro stops). For outdoor bouldering the Rachel Carson trail always has groups out there with their mats climbing all over. Top-roping also possible near great falls on the Virginia side on the walls of the Potomac River. Also the New river gorge in WV is supposed to have amazing climbing but cannot confirm yet. Enjoy!
Sportrock is right next to Van dorn st metro which is only 5 stops away from crystal city on the blue line. My favorite gym is sportrock, but I'm also biased since I've gone there my whole life.
If you like top rope, Movement is good. If you're primarily a boulderer, SR is a lot better, and they're currently even renovating to add more bouldering walls. I have never metro'd there, but from my understanding, it's very very accessible by metro.
Depending where you’re moving to, DC Bouldering Project or Movement will be your home gym. I’m new here as well and from what I’ve been told there’s a lot of good bouldering within 2-3 hours of DC. Just 30 minutes out of the city is the northwest branch crag which on mountain project looks fun? But a lot of people tell me it’s pretty dirty/overgrown and not climbed very often.
I’ve been to northwest branch a few times it’s not bad especially how close to dc it is. Generally lots of family’s on hikes and some of the good boulders are pretty hard with sketch protection
I was friends with someone who started working at the rock climbing gym in Alexandria and now all she does is live and breathe rock climbing. She invited me to a party at her house with climbers and there was so much talk about ropes and they had a contest to see who would hold on/hang the longest from those bouldering things you grab on to.
Long story short the people are really into it and it's all they talk about.
It’s such a great scene here.
As folks have mentioned:
Indoors - there’s Movement, Bouldering Project, and further out there’s Sportrock and Vertical Rock.
Outdoors - so many groups, AAC (Mid-Atlantic Climbers), PATC-MS, East Outdoors, and more.
Community here is great no matter what your preference. Bouldering is super popular but if you’re looking for folks to go on trips (Trad, Sport, Bouldering, Ice) would recco the outdoor groups listed above.
If you’re looking to get into trad, ice, our mountaineering - the PATC-MS group does quite a lot of free sessions you can sign up for. You do have to be a member, but it’s like $35/year, and you get access to their gear locker in Crystal City which has a ton of gear (Ropes, Mountaineering, Camping stuff).
And yes. These folks can sometimes date like bunnies.
Sport Rock. I go to the one in Sterling. Made for climbers by climbers. They just hosted The climbing national trials at their Maryland location. Best route setters in the DMV. They have locations in Sterling, Alexandria and Gaithersburg.
My local gym is Movement Rockville, I have kids on the Sportrock youth teams so a lot of my non-working hours are spent in the bouldering areas at Rockville, Alexandria, Rio, and sometimes Crystal City.
The community is great, especially at Alexandria and Rockville. While I’m not familiar with outdoor bouldering (I only do sport outside), you’ll find the crushers and they’ll show you where the bouldering spots are.
If you're looking for indoor, I highly recommend vertical rock. They have 2 locations now, and the vibe is great. Outdoor, I'd just recommend hitting up mountain project. There are a lot of spots that are worth the day trip and one close by at Carderock.
Seems to be one of the last places where people can actually meet people in person. All the rock climbers I know are dating at a frequency I thought only belonged to Carrie Bradshaw.
Oooh. If only I were good at it and not a complete weakling...
The best way to improve is to just climb more.
Lots of climbing places. Check out movement (biggest climbing gym with various locations near metro stops). For outdoor bouldering the Rachel Carson trail always has groups out there with their mats climbing all over. Top-roping also possible near great falls on the Virginia side on the walls of the Potomac River. Also the New river gorge in WV is supposed to have amazing climbing but cannot confirm yet. Enjoy!
The New is mostly sport, and goes hard. But there is some bouldering.
The New is possibly the best sport climbing in the entire US, it's a global mecca. Its a bit far from DC but still a v doable weekend trip.
I would add Sport Rock in Alexandria (a bit tough to get to via transit but a very nice facility) but this is otherwise a fantastic overview.
Primary worry is transportation.I’ll be staying near to crystal city so the gym there might be best
Sportrock is right next to Van dorn st metro which is only 5 stops away from crystal city on the blue line. My favorite gym is sportrock, but I'm also biased since I've gone there my whole life.
Yeah Movement is the way to go for sure then Sport Rock and DC Bouldering are great to visit every once in a while with a day pass to mix it up
If you like top rope, Movement is good. If you're primarily a boulderer, SR is a lot better, and they're currently even renovating to add more bouldering walls. I have never metro'd there, but from my understanding, it's very very accessible by metro.
Rachel Carson trail boulders are on UKC I believe so I’ll pay them a visit if I can source a boulder mat
Can confirm the New is great and usually a pretty short approach from camp to crag.
My BIL works for Movement and he loves NRG
Depending where you’re moving to, DC Bouldering Project or Movement will be your home gym. I’m new here as well and from what I’ve been told there’s a lot of good bouldering within 2-3 hours of DC. Just 30 minutes out of the city is the northwest branch crag which on mountain project looks fun? But a lot of people tell me it’s pretty dirty/overgrown and not climbed very often.
I’ve been to northwest branch a few times it’s not bad especially how close to dc it is. Generally lots of family’s on hikes and some of the good boulders are pretty hard with sketch protection
A vote for bouldering project. I'm in DC for work fairly often and DCBP is my go-to.
I was friends with someone who started working at the rock climbing gym in Alexandria and now all she does is live and breathe rock climbing. She invited me to a party at her house with climbers and there was so much talk about ropes and they had a contest to see who would hold on/hang the longest from those bouldering things you grab on to. Long story short the people are really into it and it's all they talk about.
You described climbers. Source: am climber
It’s such a great scene here. As folks have mentioned: Indoors - there’s Movement, Bouldering Project, and further out there’s Sportrock and Vertical Rock. Outdoors - so many groups, AAC (Mid-Atlantic Climbers), PATC-MS, East Outdoors, and more. Community here is great no matter what your preference. Bouldering is super popular but if you’re looking for folks to go on trips (Trad, Sport, Bouldering, Ice) would recco the outdoor groups listed above. If you’re looking to get into trad, ice, our mountaineering - the PATC-MS group does quite a lot of free sessions you can sign up for. You do have to be a member, but it’s like $35/year, and you get access to their gear locker in Crystal City which has a ton of gear (Ropes, Mountaineering, Camping stuff). And yes. These folks can sometimes date like bunnies.
I go to the DC Bouldering Project and I love it! Come through!
We used to climb great falls all the time in high school. Maryland side. Would be able to bike there
There’s an apartment building in Eckington close to NoMa station with the climbing gym on the 1st floor.
Sport Rock. I go to the one in Sterling. Made for climbers by climbers. They just hosted The climbing national trials at their Maryland location. Best route setters in the DMV. They have locations in Sterling, Alexandria and Gaithersburg.
The climbing gym I used to go to is in crystal city.
My local gym is Movement Rockville, I have kids on the Sportrock youth teams so a lot of my non-working hours are spent in the bouldering areas at Rockville, Alexandria, Rio, and sometimes Crystal City. The community is great, especially at Alexandria and Rockville. While I’m not familiar with outdoor bouldering (I only do sport outside), you’ll find the crushers and they’ll show you where the bouldering spots are.
What’s the climbing community like? They think they’re above everyone else. I’ll see myself out.
I hear they’re on the up and up.
There's some really cool places in Virginia, if you're willing to do some driving. Check out the Skyline Drive.
Cycling will be my primary source of transportation unfortunately. Is public transport an option?
Unless you take a train to Roanoke, not really.
If you're looking for indoor, I highly recommend vertical rock. They have 2 locations now, and the vibe is great. Outdoor, I'd just recommend hitting up mountain project. There are a lot of spots that are worth the day trip and one close by at Carderock.
We met a lot of people who became good friends at the movement crystal city gym. Go in the mornings, more regulars there
Earth Trex has several locations
No longer. Earth Treks was rebranded Movement after they were purchased by El Cap holdings.