The Circuit Bouldering Gym SW

our 6 year old had her birthday here and had a great time - it was truly the perfect thing for a dozen kindergarteners to get their energy out, they were so engaged the whole time and no one wanted to leave! welcoming and patient instructors who set up fun games, great kids climbing section in a corner with tables and chairs for byo food/drinks and an epic slide (!!). also was a very chill vibe/not crowded with other screaming children, and the parents could mostly chat and relax. our youngest is already asking to have her next birthday here !

It's not very large, and with all Circuit gyms it's only bouldering, so no top rope. I will also say that during the school year it's a regular place for college students at night. That said, it's still one of my favorite gyms with fun routes. They also have competitive pricing, and with generally softer graded routes, it's great for beginners, but still has enough for stronger climbers.

The Good: Beginner friendly. New climbers will be able to many routes here—more than other gyms in the area. More affordable than other climbing gyms. 2 free guest passes a month. The Bad: Kids run around and their parents aren’t always watching. The gym doesn’t seem to care either. I personally don’t want to be responsible for falling on a child. Gym equipment is limited. Not a huge deal if you just want to climb. Climbing holds often twist and shift when I put my weight on them. It happens to me around once a session( although I’m much heavier than the average climber at 210). The padding under the climbing area feels old and needs to be replaced. My other more experienced climber friends I’ve brought have said it’s unsafe. I have hurt my back a few times falling(again, I am heavy). The gym equipment is also old. I saw the lat-pull-down bar break when someone was using it. Safety in general could be better.

This is the smallest of the 3 circuit gyms in the Portland area, but it doesn’t lack anything. Still offers a good variety of boulders and routes overall. I personally like the icicle wall where the foot starts in air or at a higher than normal level, it’s not common in other gyms. Parking is a pain if you are coming by car. There’s some parking on the street opposite but be mindful of that while pulling in during peak hours

Regularly climb at this gym which is very close to my house. The routes get reset regularly with a nice variety. Gym is clean and the walls get cleaned on each reset. There’s also a free weight area upstairs including squat racks. You also get access to the other Circuit gyms if you buy a membership. Definitely recommend!