Where to find indoor rock climbing walls in Westchester, Rockland

Decades ago, indoor rock climbing might have sounded like a contradiction. But indoor climbing walls are now available at a number of Westchester and Rockland facilities.

There’s the Cliffs at Valhalla, which has been offering indoor climbing in Valhalla, a Mount Pleasant hamlet, for 20 years. In fact, Cliffs Climbing & Fitness operates several locations, including in New York City and Philadelphia, such as the Cliffs at Harlem and the Cliffs at Long Island City.

“We really pride ourselves on being inclusive in terms of having a lot of things for different ability levels, age levels, experiences, and there is definitely something in this facility for everybody,” said Miri Dainson, the Valhalla facility director.

Cliffs at Valhalla (www.valhalla.thecliffsclimbing.com/) has a learn-to-climb package, at $59 for a month, that includes two intro-level climbing classes, weekly yoga and fitness instruction, and free rental gear.

Dainson said a range of ages and abilities can climb at the Cliffs at Valhalla − there are members ranging from 5 years old to people in their 80s. There are various kinds of climbing. There's bouldering, which is climbing rocks that are under 15 feet and doesn't require a harness. There are also types of climbing that require a partner and involve being attached to a harness and with a trained belayer. A person can become a belayer through the learn-to-climb package at the Cliffs of Valhalla.

For climbing that involves belaying or managing a rope, a person must be age 14 and up.

The range of ages and abilities and types of climbing could bode well for someone like me, as my exercise has been more limited in recent years to the finger joints − lots of typing on a computer on deadline. It's been some time since I, for instance, regularly fired from third to first, the baseball cutting through the air with a hiss. (A more recent attempt bruised the grass a few feet in front of me; cue up Springsteen's "Glory Days."). It's been a while since I dribbled a soccer ball with regularity (if far short of superstar Lionel Messi's standards). Or swung a tennis racket.

“We definitely consider ourselves a place that really welcomes folks,” Dainson said. “Climbing is really great because there’s no one type of climber, there’s no one size of climber, height of climber.”

Indoor climbing has become popular around the country. There are hundreds of climbing walls, according to a report from IBIS World, which said "the broad popularity of indoor wall climbing, particularly among climbing communities in Colorado and the West Coast, has established this physical activity as a popular pastime."

Dainson said the Cliffs at Valhalla offers a community night in which people can pay what they want; there's no admission fee. It's every month's first Friday, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

"These special evenings are designed to break down barriers to the sport of climbing. We wholeheartedly invite individuals of all backgrounds, whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned pro, regardless of age or physical fitness level," Dainson said. "It's important to emphasize that there are no age, body type or experience restrictions when it comes to climbing. You don't need to be able to do a pull-up or be a gymnast. Climbing is about discovering the joy of movement, building a sense of community and trying something new while connecting with outdoor sports."

The Rock Club, 130 Rhodes St., in New Rochelle, (pinebrookfitness.com/the-rock-club) also has a new-climber package that includes a Climbing 101 class and free rental gear. According to its website, there are day passes at various prices for a child age 12 and under, for a student and for an adult. Gear rentals are for shoes, a harness, a belay device and carabiner, and for a chalk bag. Check out the various kinds of memberships here.

Here's a look at other places in the region with indoor climbing. If there's any we missed, let us know at mmckinney@lohud.com and we'll update:

Westchester

∎The Grit Ninja, 404 Irvington St., Pleasantville, www.thegritninja.com

The Grit Ninja, located on Irvington Street off Marble Avenue, just south of the village's main downtown area, offers "ninja warrior style obstacle-course-based fitness," its website said, and includes a climbing wall area. For hours and fees, check online or call. Contact: (914) 747-1115 and pleasantville@thegritninja.com.

∎Hapik Yonkers, 51 Market St., Yonkers, hapik.us/your-center/ridge-hill-yonkers-ny

Hapik Yonkers is situated in the Ridge Hill shopping, restaurant and activity area, between Interstate 87 and the Sprain Brook Parkway. Hapik Yonkers' hours are, according to its website, Monday through Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., during school weeks and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. during holidays and school vacations; Friday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., during school weeks and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. during holidays and school vacations; Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

∎Westchester Ninja Warriors, 150 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, westchesterninjawarriors.com

Westchester Ninja Warriors' facility, on Clearbrook Road off Route 100C, between the Saw Mill and Sprain Brook parkways, has a range of athletic activities, among them a climbing wall, according to its website. Hours are Monday through Friday, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the Westchester Ninja Warriors website. Contact: (914) 909-9444 and info@westchesterninjawarriors.com.

∎Sportime USA, 2 Lawrence St., Ardsley, https://sportimeusa.com/

Sportime USA has arcade games, batting cages, billiard tables, Laser Tag, bumper cars, and more, as well as a climbing area. According to its website, the 24-foot rock climbing wall is supervised by Sportime staff and climbers don't need to have any experience. Hours are subject to change, so check online. A recent online schedule showed Tuesday and Wednesday, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It was closed on Monday and Saturday. Contact: (914) 425-5802.

Rockland

∎ClimbZone Palisades, 3594 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, https://climbzone.us/palisades/

ClimbZone Palisades has 34 different themed climbing walls, including one bearing a blasting-off space shuttle, another of Mount Rushmore, one with a knight in armor, and another with King Kong atop a skyscraper. Hours are Monday through Friday, from noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to ClimbZone Palisades' website. Contact: (845) 605-9555 and palisades@climbzone.us.

Michael McKinney covers growth and development for The Journal News/lohud.com and the USA Today Network in Westchester County and the Lower Hudson Valley.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Where to find indoor rock climbing walls in Lower Hudson Valley NY