About

Action Packed Fun for the Whole Family!

Vertical Endeavors operates some of the largest indoor climbing facilities in the nation with multiple locations throughout the Midwest. People of all ages and abilities can challenge themselves and have a blast. Routes are available for all skill levels from first-timers to advanced climbers and offer a great workout both physically and mentally.

We have a number of fun opportunities available for both youth and adults to become better climbers, meet new friends, and host group outings. All are welcome.

Take on a great work out and come experience the excitement of rock climbing!

Locations

We currently have 6 facilities in the Midwest: Five facilities spread out in Minnesota and one facility in Glendale Heights, Illinois.

MINNESOTA

Our Minnesota facilities consist of four Twin Cities locations and one facility located in Duluth. Aside from VE–Twin Cities Bouldering our facilities are equipped with numerous Top Rope climbs, Auto Belays, Bouldering areas, and Sport Lead climbing. VE–Twin Cities Bouldering is a bouldering specific facility complete with a dedicated fitness facility and yoga studio.

VERTICAL ENDEAVORS
VERTICAL ENDEAVORS
VERTICAL ENDEAVORS

ILLINOIS

Our Glendale Heights location is one of the largest indoor climbing facilities in the entire country! The facility offers numerous Top Rope climbs, Auto Belays, Bouldering areas, and Sport Lead climbing.

VERTICAL ENDEAVORS

FAQs

We offer climbing for all ages and abilities as there is no minimum or maximum age or skill set to climb at Vertical Endeavors. Participants under the age of 14 are required to have adult supervision. We do have age restrictions for using certain areas in the facility or for obtaining certain qualifications, such as belaying and bouldering areas. There is no weight limit for climbing in the facility in the Bouldering Areas or on Top Rope or Sport Lead Climbing. The Spectrum Auto Belay systems used in our facilities are tested for up to 250 lbs. See facility signage and the Vertical Endeavors Rules Agreement for more details.

You should wear loose and comfortable clothing with tight athletic shoes. Rental climbing shoes are available for $6. If you have long hair bring something to tie it back. Remember to remove all jewelry before climbing. 

You do not need to be a member to climb at Vertical Endeavors as we offer day passes for individual uses. We also offer 10-visit passes that grant you access to any of our facilities and can be shared among family and friends. Members enjoy unlimited climbing, pro shop discounts, and exclusive member-only events. We offer all-access memberships which allow you to climb at any VE facility anytime or single facility memberships which grants you unlimited access to any one location of your choice. Memberships are month-to-month E.F.T.  View our Pricing Page for more information on our rates.

The common misconception that climbing is all about upper body strength is completely false, as elegance of balance, movement and economy of strength are much more important. Our facilities offer a variety of activities including Auto Belays, Top Rope and Lead Routes, multiple Bouldering areas, as well as select locations offering Yoga, and Fitness classes. More than anything else, we combine the physicality of sport with problem solving, technique, and the mental stamina to overcome fears.

All you need to do is show up! Any time we're open, we're ready to welcome first-time climbers. Everyone entering the climbing area will also need to fill out a Vertical Endeavors Liability Waiver and attend a short facility orientation. Anyone under 18 must have a waiver signed by their parent or court-appointed legal guardian. You can save time by filling out our online waiver before your visit. With Auto Belays (a device that takes up slack in the rope as you climb and slowly lets you down when you let go) and bouldering caves, anyone can become a consistent climber.

Our facilities set routes and problems based off of the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). This system describes the difficulty level of the climb in combination with a scaled rating number from Beginner to Advanced/Very Difficult.

Roped Routes: Boulder Problems:
5.1-5.4 - Beginner VB - Beginner
5.5-5.8 - Easy V0-V1 - Intermediate
5.9-5.10 - Intermediate V2-V6- Hard to Difficult
5.11-5.12 - Hard to Difficult V7-V10 - Very Difficult
5.13 - 5.15 - Very Difficult

View our Policies page for more information!

All climbers wishing to belay in any Vertical Endeavors Indoor Rock Climbing facility must have prior climbing experience and successfully pass the VE Belay Qualification test. In order to top-rope belay in a VE facility, you must be 14 years old or older. The belay qualification test must be requested at the front desk immediately upon arriving at the facility and completed before climbing, belaying, or participating in any activity in the facility on the day of the test. If a request has not been made at the front desk immediately at check-in or before participating in any activity in the facility, the participant will need to come back to test in no less than 24 hours. Taking the test after you have started climbing in the facility is not allowed.

The Belay Qualification test requires a climber to successfully demonstrate the following procedures:

  1. Properly put on a harness and tie in as a climber using the appropriate tie in loop(s) on the harness and a Retraced Figure Eight (Figure Eight Follow Through) knot.
  2. Set-up as a belayer using an appropriate belay device properly.
  3. Perform pre-climbing safety checks and commands.
  4. Effectively belay a climber.
  5. Catch the climber in a fall and demonstrate the proper lowering technique.

The same procedure must be used with any type of belay device, including a Gri-Gri or other type of assisted-braking belay device. If you need to learn these procedures, they are taught in our Basic Top Rope Skills Lesson, or you can schedule a Private Lesson with one of our skilled instructors.

Lead Climbing

Anyone wishing to lead climb and lead belay in a VE facility must follow the same check-in procedures as the top-rope qualification. Lead climbers must first be qualified to top rope belay before taking a lead climbing and belay test. Ask a staff member at the front desk to get an approved instructor to conduct a lead climbing and belay test. Lead climbers must be 16 or older in order to belay.

Lead belay testing must be done with an ATC/tube-style device. (An assisted-breaking belay device is allowed to be used after successful completion of the initial test).

All Lead tests are tested on 5.9 routes.

If you need to learn these procedures, they are taught in our Sport Lead Lesson, or you can schedule a Private Lesson with one of our skilled instructors.

Anyone who has not been climbing in a Vertical Endeavors facility in 4 months or more, should expect to re-qualify for Top-Rope Belaying, Lead Climbing, and/or Lead Belaying.

Learn the climber language with our terminology guide! 

All participants must sign our Liability Waiver and Rules Agreement.