I rarely write negative reviews — especially for a climbing gym — but my experience at Mission Cliffs in SF was so disappointing in so many ways. Maria (staff member) was extremely condescending. We were visiting from out of town and my partner needed to take his lead certification because he hadn’t visited a touchstone before. Between us, we have hundreds of hours of lead climbing experiences, both indoors and outside. We were made to wait over an hour — despite repeatedly coming back to the front desk to ask when we could take it and if anyone was available (they were, but were just chit chatting at the desk). After the hour, we finally went to the desk to ask again and she said “oh, hasn’t someone already tested you yet?” to which she finally agreed to come administer the test. I have previously passed a lead test at touchstone, but was told that by participating in the test again that if I did anything wrong my lead cert would be revoked. Get the need to be safe here, but this felt super unnecessary. She then pointed out that I didn’t have a lead card (we had told her when checking in that we were visiting from out of town and didn’t have this). She then said in an accusatory tone that she could take away my lead cert for not having the card (all before the test, all still extremely unnecessary). She then proceeded to administer the test — which is one of the unnecessarily hardest lead routes for a test imo having visited many gyms in many countries. There is no need for a lead climber to be able to climb an overhung 10b successfully and clean in one go — the emphasis should clearly be on safety rather than ability (other gyms I have visited have plenty of great 10.b and below lead routes). There is also no need to intimidate the climber taking the test prior to them taking the test. Her instructions were convoluted (“clip 6 clips, you can discuss which ones between you” — unclear why she couldn’t just say clip all the draws on the route) and she was just downright mean. The cumulative effect of this is a gym that feels extremely oppressive and unfriendly to climbers — both old and new. I cannot even imagine how a newer lead climber would feel taking this test — intimidated, scared, and frankly not wanting to bother to clear these hurdles. Sadly, to top it off, the route setting was not even good. Straight up and down and nothing very interesting.

My recent visit was one of the worsts experiences I’ve had with any business staff. Maria was very condescending. Plenty of other better gyms nearby. I came in for a day pass to lead climb. From the beginning the front desk employee, Maria, was dismissal towards me for wanting to take the lead test. My climbing partner was already certified. She asked us to wait an unspecified amount of time for the test. We warmed up for over 20-25 minutes and ended up doing non lead climbs while we waited. All our gear was ready near the lead test station the whole time. Almost an hour later of doing non lead climbs, I checked in again and Maria treated us like we were being an inconvenience to her for wanting to lead climb. Before I started the test Maria was belittling and condescending as if she didn’t want me to pass. Being critical of everything I could potentially do wrong. Ultimately it came true. Failed my first lead test. I’m not the strongest climber but I’m a safe climber and have passed at every other gym. I didn’t make any mistakes, just slipped off on the 2nd to last hold. I guess that’s what happens when you do an overhung lead test after an hour of “warming up”. I have hundreds of hours climbing indoors and outdoors. I’m all for safe climbing but damn this is just gatekeeping. Never coming back to this gym again. Don’t need this kind of toxic and non inclusive behavior in the climbing community.

The gym is awesome! They have all necessary equipment for climbing and for working out. There are a steaming room, shower with shampoo etc., they also provide with towels. Gets really full during rush hour, so the time using cardio section is limited (30min) during this hours.

Great place to indoor rock climb. Went with my 9 year old daughter and her friends. They had a blast.

Went here just twice while in town and had a great experience. For a relatively small space, they have an incredible amount of routes, equipment, weights, machines, hangboard area, cycle room, yoga studio, and on and on. Staff was all super friendly and helpful. I love that you can borrow an ATC for free while you’re there. The belay test was quick - though I had to take it each day I came in, even though only 2 days apart. The top rope routes were tightly packed on the walls but didn’t have a ton of traversing, so it felt like almost every space could be used simultaneously. I was very impressed by the number of routes, the variation in wall shape/overhang, and use of space. Only spent a short time in the bouldering area as it was quite small and packed. Good for a warmup or if you come in off hours, but a little difficult not to be on top of other guests during peak hours. Bathrooms were clean and inclusive. Many cubbies and lockers for storing your belongings. People were generally very friendly and stayed out of each other’s way. I’d definitely return if in the area again!

The problem setting is good and interesting, but the rest of the experience is bad.. They have a lot of top rope, but I could only find a single 5.8 in the whole area.. The bouldering is strangely tiny for the size of the gym and very crowded. There's a ton of friction on some of the top ropes, to the point where it's concerning. Parking at peak times is an exercise in madness but I guess that's normal for the area. There was only one staff member trying to man the counter and do belay certifications at the same time, so I had to wait several minutes. They were also visibly teaching some people how to belay during the test.

Decent facility for TR and lead, but the bouldering and weights section is small. IMO the route-setting here is lazy compared to other gyms I’ve visited. Walls are reset very infrequently, and the new routes that are set are often just slight variations on the routes that were there before. Feels like there is a lack of creativity and variety. In addition, the TR grades are pretty heavily “feather”-bagged: there are virtually zero routes graded below 5.10, and routes are generally a grade higher than they should be. Finally, this is a very corporate-feeling gym. Initiation fees, freeze fees, friction to cancel, no free tape, etc.

We used to describe this place as a wonderful gym where people respected the equipment and each other because thankfully, you really only belonged here if you were into indoor climbing, and indoor climbing is a pretty chill sport. Those times they are a changin’… Cycling room with awesome instructors? Gone. Great class instructors? Gone (hope you are all alright and off living your best lives). Small but respectable weights area in front of room up doors for ventilation? …Crammed into to a small unventilated glass box with the kettlebells (that also used to have their own section) and the medicine balls and the only gym mats. Smith press? Scraped. AND what did we get? Ooo!!!! Twice the number of squat racks!!! WTH… Did you forget this was a climbing gym? We already have enough trash 24-hour fitness gyms in this city. No thank you please. But hey! Now they are attracting new members who couldn’t make it up a 5.10a even if you slipped a cattle prod in their chalk sack. And with their bizarro-world “rebrand”, we’re now experiencing things I haven’t seen in a decade of being a member: - physical altercations in the weight areas, - cross-fitters taking up three to four bench/weight/machine combinations (you have your own gyms, please go away), - trashed locker rooms (top three of the last two months are, in no particular order, the dying of hair in the sinks, shaving of short and curlies in the showers and nude trimming of nails onto the floor), Woo. Hoo. They say it takes a few years to change the culture in a company. Apparently it only takes a few months at Mission Cliffs. I still think there are good people here (looking at you Dan and a lot of the regulars who come here). Solid routes, they replace the ropes often enough and though they don’t reset as often as they did pre 2020, still pretty good and creative routesetters. Plus for the included towels (although fees continue to climb). Fingers crossed they fire whatever “consultant” they hired post-pandemic.

Awesome walls with great routes set. Uses a lot of underclings and high steps. Also has a great gym area for an overall workout experience. Sean (Shaun?) was super helpful and was able to make my experience renting a harness and equipment quick and painless. Highly recommend going here for a good workout or warm up before going outside.

I've never been much of a gym person but I was interested in trying bouldering for the first time. It was a relaxed atmosphere with little to no chit chat. There was plenty of space. Everything was clean. Some people were even tucked out of the way working on laptops which gave it more of a hangout spot vibe.

This is my favorite rock climbing place, and it has an amazing gym. If you like working out and like rock climbing I would recommend going here!

Had an hour to kill before a flight so we stopped by here. Staff very generously gave us a significant discount on a day pass as we only had a short time we could climb (and I think they felt bad we were headed back to a cold climate...) Bouldering area isn't huge, but has a nice variety, with a wide range of skills used within each grade. Would definitely like to come back next time I'm in town and spend some more time.

Great experience here, the top rope is awesome and so is the bouldering wall, would recommend this to anyone looking to start climbing.

They really need to at least try to take care of the bouldering area. Routes are redone extremely infrequently, and most of the days they have kids classes that knock out swaths of the walls. Please reset the routes more often and have your staff member enforce climbing etiquettes in your classes.

I came SF for a business trip and found this gym! They have various options. I haven't tried the lead climbing but good workout gears and bouldering facilities.

Great rock climbing gym with roped and bouldering areas, as well as yoga and other fitness classes. Part of the touchstone gyms.

Extremely unfriendly front desk staff member who was not at all helpful in purchasing my membership. Once bought a 10 pass, which they did not tell me had an expiration date… No returns on shoes if you purchase there— even the staff will tell you not to buy shoes there. Basically a greedy gym chain that strips away member value as much as possible because they essentially have a monopoly of gyms in the Bay Area. Route setting is generally soft. Gym is extremely crowded in peak hours. You have to download a dumb app once you’re a member to get in. I don’t want another useless app- just give me a physical card. 🙄

Big gym with good physical infrastructure but problems with customer service and client vibe. Place feels understaffed in terms of climbing course offerings and capacity to do lead courses or testing. Route grading is soft giving new climbers a grossly overestimated ego boost (think 11b with many jugs). Climbers at this gym are notorious for leaving phones in their pockets and being shocked when it drops out during a top rope route. The gym has zero insulation so expect it to be cold af in the evenings and a sauna during sunny afternoons.

Lots of tall walls. Mid sized boulder area. Small gym, but we’ll equipped. Great sauna. Kind staff.

Closest touchstone gym to my home. Some of the staff members here give me a judging look as if I am being a bother, recently one of my other Indian friends complained as well about how they have been treating him in an unwelcoming manner. Which makes me question if the staff here have a thing against Indian race people, or are they rude to everyone(I hope this is the case). Nevertheless two stars.

(Visiting from another state) Really nice gym! The walls' varieties are great. Lot of choices in different level. I was so shocked to see a room for cycling and a sauna in the locker room. The work out area is fully equipped. I kind of wish this was my gym. I can't wait to come back again when I'm in town next time. It was very cold inside though, it was prolly warmer outside in the 60s. I am not used to it and with bad circulation, it was hard to climb with numbed fingers.

Dan (staff) was rude and condescending. My partner made a back step and corrected it instantly but when he saw this it launched a series of accusations talking down to us like morons (we both have hundreds of hours of experience in and out of the gym with no incidents). Correct us, lecture us, sure, do your job keeping the gym safe, but practice some respect. This is basic.

Mixed feelings about this gym. I felt like their practices with belay testing were unsafe after witnessing a staff member give a single day belay certification to a child who didn’t properly know how to belay, and who was being taught to belay while being tested. The climbing was fun, and I felt safe personally since my partner and I have been climbing for years. Their work out area was nice as well. Just felt uncomfortable with their policies regarding belay certs.

A great climbing gym! Like all gyms, it's a great community, but the number of top-rope and lead climbing routes here is awesome. To be fair, I'm a novice at harnessed climbing; I'm primarily a boulderer, which leads me to my only gripe about this gym- the bouldering area is quite small. Still, I'm glad they have bouldering at all. My home gym, Dogpatch Boulders (another one of Touchstone's), has the opposite problem- no top-rope. The location is pretty central in SF, not too far from anywhere other than Outer Sunset/Richmond.

We had a great time at Mission Cliff Rock Climbing today! Matt was our instructor and he was absolutely awesome. He was patient and taught us the basics of belaying and climbing in detail with enthusiasm, and he did an excellent job. As a couple, we enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend it.