Indoor Rock Climbing in Redding: Start at Shasta Rock Club!

Welcome to Redding’s Climbing Community

Something I’ve always told people is you need to find a fun outlet for fitness to stick with it, or else you’ll never stick with it. I would always go to the gym with friends and it always felt like a chore. However, after stepping into Shasta Rock Club a few years ago, I realized fitness could also be fun. Not only that, but you meet great people and challenge yourself. Our gym is perfect for those new to climbing or already experienced.

Located at 2325 Athens Ave in Redding, we’re proud to be the only 24/7 access indoor rock climbing gym in Shasta County. Our community is inclusive, supportive, and passionate about helping climbers of all levels thrive.

Why Indoor Rock Climbing?

Climbing isn’t just a workout, it’s a puzzle. And the best part is you get to meet other people who work on these puzzles with you. There’s no community that I’ve ever met like ours.

• Year-Round Fun: Beat the Redding heat or avoid annoying rain. Come climb in our cooled/heated climbing facility.

• Full-Body Workout: Build strength, flexibility, and endurance when you come in. We have a whole dedicated workout area with pull up bars and dumbbells.

• Stress Relief: Focus on the wall, clear your mind, and enjoy the mental challenge.

• Family-Friendly: Great for adults and kids alike, with youth programs and camps for all ages.

Our Mission

At Shasta Rock Club, our mission is simple: equip and inspire climbers of all levels. There’s not too much climbing around Redding, and so we hope to provide something fun and unique to all the locals and not so local-locals.

How to Get Started

Getting started is easy:

1. Sign a Waiver – Click here to sign your waiver online.

2. Check Out Membership Options – Enjoy unlimited access and member perks. View Memberships.

Pro Tip: First time here? Don’t worry! Our friendly staff will guide you through everything you need to know.

Visit Us Today

📍 2325 Athens Ave, Redding, CA
📞 (530) 691-4505
🕒 Mon-Fri: 2pm – 9pm | Sat: 10am – 5pm | 24/7 Access for Members

Ready to start your climbing journey?
Join Now

Why You Should Take Your Kids Rock Climbing

Yesterday, my wife and I had our two kids in a baby dedication meeting at church. I was struggling to hold my almost 3 year old toddler, because he was wanting to move, explore, test things out in the room. I decided he needed to get outside before this baby dedication began. We walked around and found 3 foot boulders for him to climb on. He was in heaven. He loved climbing to the top and asking me to join him. This got me intrigued on the topic, “Why you should take your kids rock climbing.” If this was meeting his need, it would surely satisfy the wild, adventurous heart of other kids.

A recent study shows that 2/3 of children do not get enough physical activity to help their growth and development. Rock Climbing offers huge benefits helping children deal with fear, self confidence, trust, problem solving and decision making. Also, climbing is a great way to spend time outdoors in nature with friends and family. Here are six benefits of taking your kids rock climbing:

1. Healthy Lifestyle - Climbing is a physical activity that challenges the body and the mind. It requires full attention and frees the mind to be present in the moment. To excel, one must choose healthy eating habits, strength, and endurance training to help with the physical challenges. The rewards of these choices are joy, self confidence, happiness, health, strength and more.

2. Promotes Courage - Climbing is challenging. All climbers have faced fears while climbing. Overcoming fear is what builds mental strength, character and confidence. We need to create safe situations for our kids to get outside of their comfort zone so they can be brave.

3. Get Outside - Climbing takes us to beautiful places in the outdoor world. Kids need to get outside. The current generation has a disconnect with the outdoors. Climbing outside on real rock is inspiring and invigorating. This will be motivating and encouraging for kids.

4. Fail Often, Fail Fast, Fail Forward - Climbing teaches us that failing is ok. Failing is part of the process of challenging yourself. Growth happens in the challenge zone not the comfort zone. The more opportunities we create for our kids to challenge themselves, the more they learn that failing is apart of life. It’s humbling and teaches them that failure is apart of the growth process.

5. Builds Trust - Climbing requires a lot of trust. When using ropes, one person is climbing and the other is holding the rope (belaying) which is the safety line that keeps the climber from falling to the ground. The partnership between a climber and a belayer teaches kids how to communicate. Trust is important life lesson that is given to others, not earned.

6. Problem Solving - Climbing teaches kids how to solve problems. Climbing up a rock face requires a sequence through the path of least resistance. The challenge is learning how to read the rock and solve the many problems or sequences that are thrown their way while climbing towards the top. This is the perfect metaphor for life.

A Tale of Summer Backpacking: A Little Sketchy, A Lot Worth it

I’ll never forget the day I first saw Emerald and Sapphire Lakes from Sawtooth Ridge... 

Best view in the Alps: Emerald and Sapphire Lakes

A couple years ago @alexjwittmer, @isaiakawika and I scrambled up Sawtooth Ridge above Big Caribou Lake known as the “Caribou Scramble”. The large drainage to the south of the lake is decorated with beautiful granite blocks, full of boulder problems galore. It’s like Candy Land for explorers who love cross-country travel and route-finding. The grand prize is the summit. Some say it’s the best view in the Trinity Alps.

Last week my nephew and I hiked from Big Caribou to Emerald and Sapphire and then back. It was a burly day (especially when you can’t find the trail down the ridge). We improvised and chose to descend along an obvious drainage down the mountain. How hard could it be? 

We were down-climbing steep loose rock, deep in the wilderness. A wilderness scattered with rattlesnakes and mountain lions. An area where you can’t afford to mess up. What if we hit a section where we couldn’t down-climb?

I kept thinking about how in 1982 an 18-year-old kid died from heat exhaustion going back up the 99 switchbacks. (Ironically, I was born in 1982 and my nephew is 18). Not encouraging. 

“This is going to be an awesome adventure or a total failure,” I thought. “Am I the worse guide ever, taking my ‘newbie’ nephew down this? This is going to be awesome. Just send it.” 

To our relief, we made it to the bottom of the canyon after a couple hours reaching the lush Stuart Fork Trail. We submerged ourselves in the creek to celebrate, as the 2200-foot descent down the mountain offered no shade.

The craggy peaks encircled us with towering views on every side. We took our time reveling in our surroundings, both because it was epic and because it was practical... delaying the hike back as much as possible helped us avoid the scorching heat that bakes the south-facing side of Sawtooth Ridge. 

Emerald Lake looking back at Sawtooth Ridge

We had a long way to go from Sapphire Lake back up the mountain and down to base camp. Lucky for us, we found the trail this time which we hoped would be an improvement from the drainage line...

It was 6pm and the temperature was still roasting. The ascend back up was more like bushwhacking than following a tidy trail. (I’d heard no one goes up this side of the mountain, now I clearly saw why). Among hikers this section is known as the “pain cave”. We felt like ants compared to this beast. Our legs were heavy and ached, our lungs craving more oxygen, our minds fighting dizziness. We shared the silence and marched onward, each of us secretly praying for a cool breeze to sweep through. 

The look on my nephew’s face by this point concerned me. I could tell he was at the end of his rope. Half way up we took a break, we took in the ground we’d covered, (and I took stock of his mindset and stamina). Thumbs up. Serendipitously, that cool breeze did sweep through, whispering it’s encouragement when we needed it most.

We finally made the summit of the ridge close to 8pm. The homestretch trail leading back to base camp was memorably beautiful. We hugged and laughed a lot coming down the other side, any prior anxieties now behind us. The pain from our long day was overshadowed by thoughts of tacos and a campfire. 

We processed our experience that night... Hiking Emerald and Sapphire Lakes was a dream come true, and it did not disappoint. My nephew said it was both the hardest and coolest thing he had ever done, “an experience of a lifetime” he said. In retrospect, I’m glad we found ourselves on the path less traveled. Because these are the type of memories that define us- moments of overcoming challenges, dealing with fear, and discovering what’s inside of you beyond the limits of your comfort zone. The experience marked both of us in more ways than one, and we left our imprint there in the mountains in return.

Words & Photos by Benjamin Goodpasture

Sapphire Lake

Five Adventures to Jump Start Spring

Hello May! Thanks for bringing Spring, one of, if not the best time of year in Northern California. There are a handful of reasons spring is welcomed in our neck of the woods. Daylight begins to hang around longer, temperatures rise, and for a short time, the grass is actually green. For most of us, May adds a spring back into our step and draws us to the thing we love most about living here; the outdoors! Here are five activities to shake off the winter rust and make the most out of this beautiful time of year.

1. Explore Whiskeytown’s Waterfalls

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a mere 7 miles from Redding and gives recreationalists a myriad of outdoor adventure opportunity. Spring is prime time for exploring Whiskeytown’s beautiful waterfalls. For the adventurous folk, hike to all four in a single day!

2. Mountain Bike the Swasey Recreation Trails

Just outside of Redding, the Swasey Recreation Area is a mountain bike mecca with miles of dirt trails. Many of the trails have been recently developed and majorly improved, creating a buzz among avid mountain bikers. The trails range from beginner to advanced in difficulty and additionally welcome walkers and horseback riders. Check out the Mayors Mountain Bike Challenge!

3. Hike Castle Crags

Castle Crags State Park showcases an intense and impressive landscape of massive monolithic crags. This place is truly-inspiring and holds countless opportunities for exploration and adventure. The “Dome Trail” remains the most popular of the 28 miles of hiking trails within the State Park. It offers breathtaking views of the Crags, Mount Shasta, and the rugged Trinity Alps Wilderness.

4. Climb at Lover’s Leap (North)

Not to be confused with the iconic Lover’s Leap of Tahoe, Lover’s Leap “North” is located in Siskiyou County north of Mount Shasta. The limestone crag is situated in the Scott Mountains and boasts intermediate to advanced Sport Climbing, along with spectacular views of the Scott Valley.

5. Backpack the Lost Coast Trail

The Lost Coast Trail is considered one of the best coastal backpacking trips in the United States. This section of the coast is rugged, dramatic and unreserved. No roads or houses fill this stretch of coastline, making it a perfect destination for an adventurous hiker. The hike is a 25 mile trail skirting along the King Range National Conservation Area.

HIT System Training

We have a new training tool in the cave for building finger strength. The HIT system stands for Hypergravity Isolation Training. Here's a workout that we recommend trying. This is for intermediate to advanced climbers only. It takes time to develop the tendons and muscles in the fingers. Always warm up before this workout. We recommend 20-30 mins of stretching and bouldering prior to starting the HIT workout.

Three Requirements for Effective Training

1. High Intensity throughout workout.

2. Rapid Muscle Failure (12 reps / hand). If you do more than 24 total reps, add weight using a weight vest. 

3. Focus on single grip for an entire set.

WORKOUT

1. Warm up (20-30 mins) of bouldering and stretching

2. Crimp Grips - 3 sets (3 minute rest in between)

3. Pinch Grips - 2 sets (3 minute rest in between)

4. Two Finger Pockets (pointer finger and middle finger) - 2 sets (3 minute rest in between)

5. Two Finger Pockets (middle finger and ring finger) - 2 sets (3 minute rest in between)

6. Two Finger Pockets (ring finger and pinky finger) - 2 sets (3 minute rest in between)

7. Open Hand Grip - 2 sets (3 minute rest in between)

8. Cool Down - 10 mins of light bouldering / traversing

9. Reverse Wrist Curls - 10-15 lb dumbells x 3 sets

10. Recover - Eat clean protein, drink lots of water and rest. Recommend 2-3 days rest. 

HIT workouts are intense. Make sure you warm up, stretch, cool down and recovery well. This is not recommended for beginner climbers. 

References: http://nicros.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/hitstripsystem.pdf

There's No Better Time to Climb: Why you should start rock climbing in 2018.

This is your year to become freer, happier, more motivated, and more connected to your heart, dreams and passions. Might I suggest rock climbing as the vehicle to get there. Where are we going? I believe we are going for the best version of ourselves, to be happy, to be content, yet hungry for more.

Rock climbers have a disease I like to say... It's called GSD - “Get Shit Done". Once you start rock climbing, you find yourself wanting more of it. It changes you. Here's how I would describe that process in 5 steps. For best results, be consistent for 6 months. 

1. Embrace the Suck. The first 2 weeks will be challenging. You will be using muscles that you never knew existed. The skin on your fingers will hurt. Your pride will need crutches because you're not as awesome as you thought. Rest easy and remember... this too shall pass.

2. Challenge Yourself. If your not falling, then you are not challenging yourself. Embrace vulnerability. This place of vulnerability (aka failing) creates strength. For example, a body builder knows that it takes resistance to build muscle. This could be the one sport where falling down is encouraged. The best athletes in the world get this, which is why they are the best. They grow to love the uncomfortable.

3. You're Not Alone. Rock climbing is a community sport. Everyone is a beginner at some point. When we realize that we all have this in common, there is greater freedom to be present. The rock climbing culture is very welcoming, encouraging and positive. Which is why the sport has exploded in the last 5 years. 

4. Show Up. We celebrate effort not performance. Effort looks like showing up. There will be good days, there will be bad days, and there will be average days. The bad days and the average days are victories when you show up. This might be a new mindset for some people. When you show up, you win- regardless of the results. 

5. Oh the Place You Will Go. Dr. Suess is right. Rock climbing takes you to beautiful places. Think about our local surroundings- Castle Crags, Mount Shasta, Lassen National Park, Humboldt County and the Trinity Alps. We are surrounded by beauty. Not to mention even bigger areas within a day's drive like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park or Smith Rock, Oregon. One could spend a lifetime exploring California, not to mention the world.  

“Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.” - Paulo Coelho