Turner Hall Climbing Gym
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Turner Hall Climbing Gym offers a comprehensive climbing experience well beyond basic top roping and bouldering, featuring advanced training options, frequently updated routes, and a strong, supportive community. It stands out as an instruction-focused gym where climbers can learn specialized techniques like lead, sport, multi-pitch, and ice climbing. A key differentiator is the absence of auto-belays, requiring visitors to bring their own belay partner.
Key Highlights
- ✓Staff are consistently described as delightful, helpful, and friendly, fostering a welcoming atmosphere.
- ✓Offers a wide variety of climbing options including top roping, bouldering, ice climbing, multi-pitch practice, rappelling, and lead climbing.
- ✓Routes are thoughtfully set, creative, and on-grade, with frequent turnover (every few weeks) ensuring good variety.
- ✓Instruction-based gym providing opportunities to learn advanced climbing techniques like lead climbing, sport climbing with quick draws, multi-pitch climbing, ice climbing, and highline.
- ✓Features extensive training facilities including a weight room, rotating climbing wall, moon board, and hangboard.
- ✓Supports a lovely and socially progressive/active community.
- ✓Good value for the price, according to reviewers.
Standout Features
- ⭐Diverse and specialized climbing opportunities including unique features like a 12-foot roof, slackline, and ice climbing facilities.
- ⭐On-site gear shop available for equipment needs.
- ⭐Supportive and community-focused environment.
- ⭐Route setting is praised for being creative and challenging.
- ⭐Friendly staff who go above and beyond, even offering local recommendations like restaurants.
- ⭐An 'old school feel' that some visitors find refreshing.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Crucially, parents or family groups MUST bring a belay partner, as there are no auto-belays.
- →Consider this gym if your family is interested in advanced climbing techniques or instruction.
- →Plan for repeated visits, as routes change every few weeks, offering continuous new challenges.
- →Engage with the staff for helpful tips, whether climbing-related or local recommendations.
Things to Consider
- ⚠There are no auto-belays available, meaning visitors MUST bring a belay partner.
Price & Value
Reviewers note it's a 'Great rock climbing gym especially for the price!', suggesting good value for the extensive offerings. No specific pricing details are mentioned.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations for special needs were mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No specific food and drink rules were mentioned. A staff member offered a 'great restaurant tip after our climbs', implying food service might not be on-site or encouraged.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific details regarding parking were mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No specific information about crowd levels or busy times was mentioned in the reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Described as an 'instruction-based gym' where visitors 'can learn' various climbing techniques, implying a focus on proper and safe practices.
- •No explicit mentions of specific safety personnel, first aid stations, or entry/exit monitoring systems beyond the instructional context.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families or individuals who rely on auto-belays for solo climbing or to engage children without a belay partner.
- • Parents expecting a facility primarily for unsupervised children's play, due to the need for belaying.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Intro to Climbing Package
$125Duration: 9-Week Membership
Includes learn to belay class, gear rental during the course of membership, use of fitness & conditioning equipment. Classes are scheduled any time during open hours. Call or email to schedule.
Includes:
- •Learn to belay class
- •Gear rental during the 9-week membership
- •Use of fitness & conditioning equipment
Group Climbing - Adults
$260 for first 12 participants, $20 for each additional ParticipantTeam building and group classes for groups up to 20. Includes a Climbing/Belaying lesson with qualified staff-belayers on shift and all climbing gear and instruction.
Includes:
- •Climbing/Belaying lesson with qualified staff-belayers
- •All climbing gear and instruction
Group Climbing - Youth
$220 for first 12 participants, $15 for each additional ParticipantTeam building and group classes for groups up to 20. Includes a Climbing/Belaying lesson with qualified staff-belayers on shift and all climbing gear and instruction.
Includes:
- •Climbing/Belaying lesson with qualified staff-belayers
- •All climbing gear and instruction
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Gym Closure: Labor Day
September 01 (2025)
Gym will be closed.
Gym Closure: Staff Climbing Day
October 05 (2025)
Gym will be closed.
Gym Closure: Thanksgiving
November 27 (2025)
Gym will be closed.
Dry Tooling Competition
December 12-13 (2025)
Gym Closure: Christmas
December 24-25 (2025)
Gym will be closed.
Gym Closure: New Years Eve
December 31 (2025)
Gym will be closed.
Gym Closure: New Years Day
Jan 1, 2026
Gym will be closed.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Climbing waiver required for all climbers.
- • Climbers under 18 must have the waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
- • Fill out a waiver before coming to save time (Adult Waiver and Minor Waiver links available).
📅Booking Policy
- • Group climbing and classes are by appointment.
- • Call (414) 269-4616 during Gym hours to schedule classes or group climbing.
- • Email gym@milwaukeeturners.org to schedule classes or group climbing.
🚗Parking Information
- • Limited paid parking available in the lot north of Turner Hall on North Vel R Phillips and West Highland Ave. (follow orange 'Pay to Park' signs).
- • Limited street parking available.
- • Additional lots and parking structures within a two-block radius.
- • Bike racks/Bublr station nearby for bike access.
- • Accessible via MCTS bus routes (search 'Turner Hall Ballroom' on MCTS site).
Recent Reviews
Lauren
a year agoWe LOVE Turners. The crew here is absolutely delightful and always happy to chat or help. There's some top roping and building available, easy and challenging routes for each. There are no auto-belays so definitely bring a belay partner. The routes turn over every few weeks so the variety is pretty good. Overall, we love supporting and working with such a lovely and socially progressive/active community.
Mason Mueller
a year agoGreat climbing gym! Lots of ways to train. Weight room, rotating climbing wall, moon board, ice climbing, multi pitch practice, rappelling, bouldering, hangboard. Don't forgot the 12 foot roof!
david rubin
3 years agoIn town for work and had a few hours to climb. Staff was SUPER helpful and made us feel right at home. I was especially impressed with the route setting - thoughtful, creative routes and on grade! I even tried the slackline. The old school feel was refreshing. We'll definitely be back next trip and thanks again for the great restaurant tip after our climbs!!
Mike Krajewski
a year agoGreat place to climb, especially if you are into climbing other than just normal top rope and bouldering. Very instruction-based gym where you can learn lead climbing, sport climbing with quick draws, multi-pitch climbing, ice climbing, and even highline. They also have a gear shop. Kim is the best instructor!
Jason Lovrien
a month agoGreat rock climbing gym especially for the price! Cool staff and a good environment.