This was my visit to First Ascent and I have to say it was quite memorable. I went along with some friends, who are members, who used their guest pass for me so I didnt have to pay anything to get in. Also, since it was my first time here, my shoe rental was free. The process of being a first-timer was seamless; the waivers can be filled out online (I completed them on the car ride there) and the orientation video was short but very informative for someone with no climbing/bouldering experience. I have not been very active over the last year and do not have a lot of strength but found the beginner routes both doable and challenging. My hands and forearms hurt but I still wanted to conquer more routes and didnt want to leave. The facility is also very clean, the staff are friendly, the routes are challenging and unique, and everyone seemed respectful of the other climbers. I no longer live in the city so commuting to/from First Ascent would be a challenge for me but Im strongly considering becoming a member.

I attended Earth Remedies event at First Ascent and had an absolute blast! Great to see First Ascent partnering with organizations doing such cool work in the Chicago area. Definitely planning to come back again!

Excellent facility with clear directions for a first-time visitor. Good range of courses for all ability levels. That’s the real draw- they really build good courses. This place is really fun for the family or a good day solo.

I absolutely love Humboldt Park First Ascent. Amazing staff and incredible climbers! The staff is so accommodating, friendly, and understanding and the gym is always clean. Its 100% bouldering walls, but thats my favorite style.

It was my son’s and I first time at this location and it was fun! The staff was super friendly and accommodating. The facility was clean, spacious and no concerns at all, during the never ending pandemic. We will for sure visit again!

This is my favorite of the First Ascent gyms. It has a large workout area but mainly it is just less busy than Avondale and Block37.It has a variety of routes. It tends to feel a bit easier than some of the other gyms due to to fewer overhang areas but there is a variety of routes available for climbers of all skill levels.For Covid and generally, there is a lot of space to climb and space out. The most popular routes are usually busy but overall there can be a lot of room. I think the workout area though usually busy is a lot easier to get a space to workout in than at the other gyms.Love the staff as well! Friendly and great music

I had a great time as a beginner. The VB-V1 routes were at a great level for someone new to climbing, and I felt challenged but also that I could top the routes I tried. The staff was fantastic too!

Had a lovely time visiting here for the first time! (Im in-between two locations.) It was great to be able to try so many levels that are in my range and practice different grips and techniques. Definitely felt like I improved by the end of my session :)!!

When visiting a new city, I love to check out the local gyms. First Ascent Humboldt Park has excellent setting, a welcome atmosphere, and I felt right at home here. I will be back whenever Im in Chicago.

The walls are huge with lots of features. Route setting was great. Huge scatter wall and moon board that isnt too low to the ground. Large fitness center with plenty of hangboards + campus boards. Highly recommend it for all levels.This was a home bouldering gym for years before I left the area. After being away and visiting other gyms, its definitely made me realize what a great gym FA Humboldt Park is!

I’ve been a member of First Ascent for almost two years now, with a massive break in the middle and it’s been a wonderful experience to return after a year away. The staff are nice, knowledgeable, and helpful. All safety protocols are in place and people are universally following the rules. It feels safe and I’ve met some nice people while climbing at both the Humboldt Park and the Avondale locations. It’s been amazing to be back on the wall and I’ve been telling everyone how positive the experience has been.

Great space for bouldering! The staff is fantastic and there are So many routes! There is a challenge for anyone of any skill level and is all around a lot of fun. The lifting area is a little small, but has everything you need for a good workout.

Great variety of boulder problems. Better pricing than Brooklyn Boulders. Great rewards program for members. Can use the Vertical Life climbing app to locate every boulder, rate/comment on routes, and track your own progress. Easy to reserve a session on the Mindbody app. Free parking available near gym!

Great first-time climbing experience. Everyone friendly and non-judgemental, very chill environment. Super fun puzzles to solve!

I love this gym! Ive been climbing at First Ascent for a year a half, and the Humboldt location has been my favorite for almost a year now. Its all bouldering, no roped climbing. Its huge, with lots of natural light, and airy -- one wall is all garage-door-type windows that they open in the summer. The fitness area is small but rarely crowded. It is right in front of the climbing walls, so not as separated as the fitness areas at the Uptown or Avondale locations.

If you’re looking to be a dude on a rock, then come to First Ascent and ROCK ON DUDE! Really great gym! Would recommend. Am recommending. Just go check it out for yourself!

Come here if you like climbing. I think within the First Ascent family this is my favorite spot, it is very spacious and it offers many different types of settings for you to try on. Parking is also easy and free, so that is a plus.

My favorite place to boulder in Chicago. Lots of routes and laid back vibe.

First Ascent is awesome. Great setting and plenty of walls. Humboldt is my favorite out of the 4 gyms. Membership with FA gives you access to all 4, which is extremely convenient.

We have climbed at 4 bouldering gyms in Chicago and FA humboldt park is the best. Great mix of problem difficulty, large space for bouldering, and free yoga classes!! I also enjoy traveling to the other two sister gyms about every 2 months for some variety.

I love coming here! Love the bouldering problems, staff are super nice, and the place has bike racks for those who chose to bike there. It also is accessible via the CTA 65 as well as the CTA 66 bus. Ample parking on Sacramento Boulevard too. 10/10. Love coming here!

Really fun bouldering gym - one of the best Ive been to around the world. Plenty of problems, and super technical route settings - a lot of focus on foot work, tensioning, balance than just plain upper body.The grades are on the savage end, but you can really tell that the setters are good.Theres also a moon board, campus rung, scatter board, a workout area.Cool and new location, friendly staff. Climb on!

The First Ascent gym at Humboldt Park is nothing short of a sanctuary in the city. The lighting at 1400 in the afternoon was spectacular for indoor climbing.The staff was friendly and professional. I appreciate that the orientation video includes poc. Music choice was 🔥.The routes were thoughtfully set and the equipment in the fitness area is intelligently chosen.I appreciate that the membership program is gamified, the points based reward system seems to encourage new climbers. If I lived closer I could definitely see myself becoming a member.

Great location for climbing. The routes are creative and varied to keep bouldering entertaining. Gym turns over problems at a good rate, and the price is solid as well for what you get.

I love climbing here! Its my favorite past-time, and Ive made so many new pals.

FA is fantastic. Great sets, convenient locations and fun atmosphere. Favorite gym in the city!

One of the bigger bouldering gyms in the city, with great routes - both for newbies and more advanced climbers. The staff is also really nice :)

I love coming to FA Humboldt Park - the staff is friendly, the gym is clean, and the community is so great to be a part of. I would recommend First Ascent to anyone with any climbing ability or fitness needs.

A climbers Paradise. The staff is great, always eager to help and assist you in all your climbing needs. Among the staff there are experienced climbers, Yogis, and route setters. As for the setting, there is a diversity of climbs, slabs, over hung, powerful climbs, crimpy climbs, they have it all! In abundance! This is by far my favorite gym in the Chicagoland.

AWESOME gym, let me tell you why:-friendly staff-friendly patrons-VERY clean facilities-easy membership-LOVE the reservation system (in place for COVID)-good quality & variety of routes-the gym has everything you need for a good workout-well organized space-climbing classes are top notch

Love that I can get all my fitness needs met at this gym - fun variety of climbing, gym equipment, weights, and yoga classes!

Phenomenal gym, great customer service and decent pricing. Climbing is a fun sport but honestly this place would be worth it just for the gym!

Its clean, the staff is friendly, the community is great, and there are usually routes for all skill levels and climbing styles.

Friendly staff. Lots of bouldering options. There is are two overhang areas. Very clean. Great bouldering-only location.

I have really enjoyed this place since it opened. I can always park on the street and the sound system is great. My favorite place to climb in Chicago

First Ascent is an amazing climbing gym. Excellent features, sets and community!

Unlike the Avondale location this is all challenging bouldering with no ropes. Tough climbs!

Best gym I have ever been to! Staff is amazing, people are laid back and sanitary, I look forward to coming here each day!

This is my primary gym for working out in addition to being my favorite gym to climb. Couldnt be happier!

Big open facility with varying terrain. Setting is great.

Great gym. Very open layout. Problems well spaced out. Didn’t try the training area but it looks well equipped.

Smells like feet and the route setting for v4 and below was boring.

Really nice place to climb.

Sadly, unlike other gyms in the city, they arent enforcing the requirement of wearing masks by the unvaccinated guest.

High quality facility with great route setting.

One of the best places for casual to high-level climbing. The problems are creative and the holds are well maintained. Theres a weight room and a yoga room. There are programs and classes of different types available. Generally helpful and friendly staff. Well kept and clean for the most part. Free lockers are usually available. Reasonable membership fees with several locations. Highly recommended.

Great staff & great routes!

Great atmosphere and parking in the building

Good facility, friendly staff, fun time

This gym is great! Very spacious and never too crowded. As a new climber it was great to not feel too self conscious on the wall. Also I love the wide variety of music.

My favorite FA gym by far. Its very spacious and set incredibly well. The staff are always super friendly, engaging and make me feel very welcomed. The vibe is always set right for sends, especially the eclectic and tasteful music playlists. Lastly, all the recently added plants make it the zen palace it was always meant to be.

Best climbing gym in Chicago!

I couldnt have asked for a better experience with the intro to bouldering class. The instructor was knowledgeable and the group was great. Really encouraging atmosphere and very nice facility.

Absolutely wonderful place. Setters are fantastic and know how to make it fun and challenging. Difficulty grading is maybe a bit soft, but thats every gym. Staff are friendly. Only reason I dont make this my primary gym is that its just a bit too far from my home in Aurora to make regular trips to.First Ascent, please open a gym in the western suburbs. Im a Vertical Endeavors member waiting to switch over. Plenty of abandoned retail and warehouse space to take over...

So much fun! Great workout and people!

Great variety of workout options, including bouldering (no toproping or lead at this location), climbing training area, yoga classes, and a surprising range of weights and machines, including kettlebells. Accessible and useful to beginners as well as seasoned climbers.

Always such great setting

This place has plenty of gym amenities like yoga and treadmills and the facility seems clean and well-managed, but I wish they had one beginners wall.

Could there be a better bouldering gym? I can’t see how.. It’s huge; the setting is great and frequent. The vibe is like Avondale- welcoming to folks at every level. The new league only strengthens that community feel, esp how they organized the last league comp so a team tackled problems together. So lucky to have this place in our city!

Friendly employees, great facilities at a good price. Theyre working very hard to keep the facilities clean and safe

Cool place, not too many people, decent amount of gym equipment. Great!!

The best purely bouldering gym of the First Ascent locations in terms of the walls and vibe. However, FA Block 37 has the nicest facilities.

Love this place! boulder problems are always fun and staff is kind. very clean for a climbing gym as well!

For a bouldering-only gym, FA Humboldt does it with aplomb. Excellent route setting and some very creative slab routes.

Awesome place like the other two FA. The holds are so new they hurt your hands like real rock! Very tall walls for bouldering and new features for training

Great climbing gym with a lot to boulder. Especially love the arch and the big overhang boulder.

One of the best bouldering gyms Ive ever been to. Reasonable price, nice staff and lots of problems.

Always good climbing and great tunes!

Stunning mountains 🏔 good to clone friendly people

Cool new bouldering gym, they have a great variety of walls: cool little cave, arch way and a great over hung wall. Walls are larger than the Avondale gym.

Clean facilities, friendly staff, and new grippy holds that might take a bite out of your hands if youre not careful . Thankful for a gym a little farther south than the other two:) 5 starzzzz

🔥

The best place to be exercising your body and mind

Local empire that promotes community, climbing (& fitness) and goodwill. What’s not to love?

Great new spot added to the First Ascent family!

Very nice gym - day passes are a bit expensive but you can take a yoga class as well.

Great spot!

A gym that all other gyms should aspire to be

Amazing bouldering gym

So big!

Very dope.

YES