True North Climbing image

True North Climbing

Fitness center Camp Rock climbing centre After school program

😠 My teenage son asked me to bring him to this climbing gym as he likes to explore different gyms here in Canada and abroad. We are dissappointed that our experience at this gym was not a positive one due to a specific staff member ( caucasian male, skinny, glasses). This employee was unprofessional:... People often mention climbing, staff, routes, experience, friendly, time, North, gyms, area, great,


Address

75 Carl Hall Rd #14, North York, ON M3K 2B9, Canada

Website

truenorthclimbing.com

Contact

+1 416-398-7625

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (234 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 10 am to 10 pm
  • Monday: (Family Day Canada), 10 am to 10 pm, Hours might differ
  • Tuesday: 10 am to 10 pm
  • Wednesday: 10 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 10 am to 10 pm
  • Friday: 10 am to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 10 am to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: climbing (30) staff (24) routes (14) experience (13) friendly (11) time (10) North (10) gyms (9) area (9) great (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Margarita P. 6 months ago on Google • 16 reviews
    My teenage son asked me to bring him to this climbing gym as he likes to explore different gyms here in Canada and abroad. We are dissappointed that our experience at this gym was not a positive one due to a specific staff member ( caucasian male, skinny, glasses). This employee was unprofessional: 1. Not helpful during registration process; 2. Kept chatting about his life to his co-worker even though he can clearly see we are waiting right in front him at the reception area; 3. Condescending behaviour towards my son As I’ve mentioned, we’ve been to different climbing gyms here and abroad. The atmosphere has always been welcoming and positive. Perhaps our experience would have been better if this staff member was off from work! I hope management can look into this incident as it does not represent the business well.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andru V. 5 years ago on Google
    By far, one of the best indoor climbing facilities I have ever been to! We went as part of a team-building experience, and while I was initially worried I would not get the hang of it, the staff did a great job of instructing and teaching and offering their tips. The facility itself is amazing, and offers a variety of different levels to practice and learn on. I would say that the staff are what sets this place apart. They are very patient, helpful and understanding and want to ensure you have a good and safe time. Overall, this is by far one of the best experiences I have ever had and would strongly suggest it to anyone interested in learning more about climbing, those looking to build their team, or for experts looking to brush up on their existing skills.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 C S. 4 years ago on Google
    Fun staff but always engaged in conversation so you don’t get many chances to ask them questions Lost stars- 1. Not really for newbies or individual people because there are only 12 autobelays and they are always super busy. 2. Pros came along and climbed super close to me and then fell and almost hit me. I have attached a sketch of the climbing situation. The pros are green and blue. Extra comments - came here at 7:30pm on a Thursday for the first time ever. Super busy. No space. Every time someone hits to ground, another runs in and grabs the belay. Someone also down climbed onto my fingers today. Not a fan of the professionals who come here.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Klaus R. 3 months ago on Google • 160 reviews New
    This is the only rock climbing gym in North York. The staff's attitude and efficiency are very good. You can take the lead test directly without making an appointment and get a long and good-looking card. Except for the crowded interior, everything else is good.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Sugafull 2. 4 months ago on Google • 299 reviews
    Not sure why they’re spraying whatever it is indoor. The glue smell or this unknown chemical like smell was so strong it gave me a small headache. It was ok near the front desk area but it was so strong where the bordering area is. Couldn’t even climb one route there. We all left pretty early.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dana H. 1 year ago on Google • 283 reviews
    Our son had an amazing experience here back in February. Staff were all very friendly. As mother of the climber (who doesn't climb), I was welcomed to supervise him without issue. We had a fun time and will definitely stop in the next time we're traveling through the area.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ahmet K. 4 years ago on Google
    This is my favourite climbing gym in Toronto. They have so many different routes. Staff are friendly and helpful. They usually change the routes which is great because you want to try new routes and challenge yourself. They also have a small auto-belay area which is very convinient for people who are solo climbing.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daenujan k. 2 years ago on Google
    First time at this facility and it was definitely amazing. It was clean and had a super friendly staff. Our instructor Buba guided us along the way and even tried out climbing with us. He made our experience that day amazing. Definitely will be coming again!!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tania B. 6 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    I have recently switched my home gym to True North and the experience at True North is absolutely amazing. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The setting is very good on both bouldering and routes. Setters are always asking for feedback on whether the grades are right.The gym is very well maintained and I would recommend this gym to both beginners as well as seasoned climbers. Way to go, True North!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Neethan S. 2 years ago on Google
    True North Climbing is a great establishment for a large group or an individual looking to rock climb. The building was clean and followed COVID protocols. Our instructor Buba was very friendly and helpful, and he was a great part of our experience. Looking forward to coming again soon.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 narthdanah b. 2 years ago on Google
    An amazing indoor rock climbing facility that has many different equipment for all levels of difficulty.great team building experience. Our instructor Buba was exceptional and stuck with us through our entire journey and made the experience that much better. Definitely recommend for team building exercises or just a fun day with friends :)
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Monika S. 2 years ago on Google
    This is an awesome climbing gym with autobelay and a handful of routes with varying difficulties. Went here as part of a small group for the intro course to learn the basics, it being my first time ever rock climbing. Our instructor, Bubba, was all we could have hoped for and more! He was extremely friendly, knowledgable and patient. I highly recommend for all newbies to rock climbing to go to True North (and get a lesson with Bubba) for a positive experience that will make you want to turn it into a hobby.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angie N. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent climbing gym! I've climbed at all climbing gyms in Toronto and this one consistently offers the best routes - challenging and interesting problems, and well-suited for all abilities. Lots of auto-belay options as well! Covid protocols are clearly communicated, hand sanitizer is provided everywhere, and locker rooms and other common areas are kept clean. They also keep bookings capped per session, so it's not crowded at all.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dameli M. 7 months ago on Google • 19 reviews
    I've been going to this gym for 7 months and I've loved every day I spent there. A lot of walls, fun routes, they change them frequently so it doesn't get boring. Helpful and friendly staff, a lot of kiddos running around. The only downside is the memberships are kind of expensive.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yashaayan Y. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place with clean facilities. The instructor (Bubba) and staff were really helpful and friendly! Definitely would come by again!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Vianne X. 10 months ago on Google
    Update: Regarding the owner's response: "I believe my staff made some additional efforts... with some successes" - NOT true. No staff made any additional efforts to encourage my daughter. She sat aside alone. No staff tried to help her. "She meant well" - that does not make sense. What she said was unambiguously negative. Just read through other reviews and I noticed many reviews mentioned rude staff, bad attitude of the staff. That seems a pattern. I understand the owner doesn't like to see one-star reviews, as online reviews generally have some impact on small businesses. I would suggest that the owner works on better training your staff and improving customer service. That's the best way to avoid future bad reviews. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My daughter attended a school trip to True North Climbing and had a terrible experience. It was her first time visiting a rock climbing gym. Naturally, she was a little nervous and hesitant. However, she DID make an attempt and DID climb. A staff woman said to her, "it seems you aren't into it." This negative remarks ruined the activity for my daughter. She felt discouraged and unwelcomed. For the rest of the time, she sat aside by herself. No staff person tried to encourage her or help her out. Totally unprofessional behaviour and horrible customer service. Sounds like this place only welcomes customers who are experienced with rock climbing, and do not welcome novice customer at all.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Cameron A. 4 years ago on Google
    I've been a member at this gym for over 50 days, enough to see a full rotation of set top-ropes and boulder routes. I decided to postpone an initial review to really get a feel for the place. For context, my experience at climbing gyms includes 15 gyms from 10 different cities. The gym staff are all excellent. Great people, welcoming, and knowledgeable. The non-sport amenities are near-always clean and organized. The atmosphere is also good. The gym gives a more experienced vibe than many others. The routes themselves feel more difficult than other gyms I've had memberships at. I would say that the average route is a half-grade higher in difficulty than most other places. This makes the gym great for experienced climbers but less welcoming to new-faces.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 paulabulux 2 years ago on Google
    I love their walls. If you like lead, this is probably one of the better gyms. Staff is always friendly. Bouldering section is alright but there is good overhang. Plus they have a big autobelay section now.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 peyman s. 2 months ago on Google • 8 reviews New
    I have explored all the climbing gyms in Toronto and the surrounding area over the years, and I can confidently assert that this is the worst climbing gym in the GTA. If it were not because of the lack of competition in that part of the city, they would have gone bankrupt years ago. During my visits, I've consistently observed incidents that required paramedic involvement, which is alarming. This is despite the fact that 1- staff constantly comment on people's technique and 2- Selected ropes are too thick or too old for the belaying devices. In fact, for lighter kids, you have to manually force the ropes into the Grigri which has its own safety issue. It seems management is compensating for a lack of trained staff by being overly conservative on device setting and allowing constant misleading comments from predominantly inexperienced staff. As an experienced climber, I can use pretty much any device and setting. The issue was tolerating comments from inexperienced staff who did not know what they were talking about. However, for most of other climbing enthusiast, it is a matter of their safety and learning incorrect techniques. The issues do not end there, Remy in particular is not only inexperienced but also very rude to climbers. She does not mind to scream at people unjustified and unprovoked or using racist comments. Through communication with management, I have realized that her behavior is actively supported by management in their action, despite their claims of being against this behavior only in words. Overall, I would advise staying away from this gym, they are a disgrace to the rock climbing community.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Siew Han Y. 1 year ago on Google
    I climb here regularly and have always loved true north for the high walls and challenging routes. But in the last 3 months, they haven’t changed any of the right side of the gym’s roped climbs and the stalactite at all (excluding autobelays, though they’re finally doing so very slowly now..) which has made coming here a bit of a drag and terribly boring. Edited and updated: Thanks, John, for the information and reminder. I’ll clarify that it’s not just the back walls, or the 10% of walls as you point out, but the entire right side of the gym (excluding autobelays) and the stalactite. And thanks for the suggestion we climb elsewhere. We have in fact, gone to other climbing gyms, rock oasis, the hub, boulder parc, etc.- in the last 3 months because of True North’s issues, and they update their routes more frequently than the 2.5 month timeframe. I have no issue with the bouldering area and appreciate the routine updates there—I can see those have been changed, which is why I pointed out roped climbs specifically. I understand that there have been changes over the last 3 months that may have affected the resetting schedules, but again, I’m not sure that the response really addresses the issue in a productive manner. I’ve also given feedback in the climbing QR code the gym provides, but no acknowledgment. Finally, these are all things about operations you don’t need to share with the customer. I’m sure I’m not the first or regular climber/member to notice or point it out and be disappointed by the response.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Neal G. 2 months ago on Google • 26 reviews New
    I could talk about the quality of climbing, but that's a given - True North has a great mix of lead, top rope and bouldering routes for all skill levels. What really makes this place special is the culture. Staff are exceptionally friendly and committed to your experience being safe and positive, and other climbers of all skill levels are courteous and fun to be around. I'm new to the sport but have projected boulders with strangers on multiple occasions, proof the climbing environment True North has built is worth your time and money. Love the addition of traditional weight lifting gear (bench + squat rack + free weights) as well, great value for money. No regrets terminating my Goodlife membership and making climbing my physical activity of choice!

  • 5/5 Suzette C. 4 months ago on Google • 19 reviews
    Nice high walls and a wide variety of good climbing routes that are changed regularly for top rope, lead and auto belay, and bouldering. Clean, bright, scent-free gym. Good workout area. Helpful, friendly staff.

  • 5/5 Ryan S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great place if you want to do some bouldering or wall climbing. They have student discounts too! Great place to come get a fun workout in.

  • 5/5 Kyle N. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place for bouldering and top rope, prices are amazing and course changes weekly!

  • 5/5 Marnie G. 3 months ago on Google • 2 reviews New
    My partner and I love this gym. Lots of variety, staff is great, route setting is fun. Every top rope is already supplied with a grigri which is charming. There’s lots of different spaces for different things including three distinct boulder walls, an auto belay area, the stalactite (!), and some very over hang-y lead-only space. They also have a little store with most things one might need and are very receptive to feedback on new routes. My favourite climbing facility I’ve ever been to personally!


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