Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym

The Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym is a FREE on-campus resource for students, faculty, and staff. This facility includes a large climbing room as well as a training area. Options exist for bouldering, top-roping, lead-climbing, dry-tooling, slack-lining, and training. All ability levels are encouraged to come, and equipment is provided for free for those without any personal climbing gear. The Ritt Gym Staff also offers a wide variety of clinics and workshops throughout the year!

El Pomar Sports Center, Middle Floor

For an updated list of all of our events, clinics, and aerial fabrics classes, please visit SUMMIT!

All active employees and students are welcome to use the facility.

Group Climbing Sessions

 

 

Are you interested in bringing a group to the Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym? Reserve a time slot for your group and you'll have the whole climbing gym all to yourselves! 

 

  • During Fall/Spring Semester hourly blocks of time can be reserved for groups on Mondays, Weeks 1-4 between 2:00 pm-4:00 pm each block. 
  • Groups must have at least 4 people but may not exceed 8 total during an hour block. 

 

See what is available and reserve a time for your group on SUMMIT NOW!

Open Climbing Hours

The Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym will be CLOSED until June 6, 2023. 

 

Summer hours begin June 6, 2023:

Tuesday 2-6pm

 

Fall/Spring Semester Hours:

Monday and Tuesday 4-10pm

Wednesday 6-10pm

Thursday 4-7pm

Sunday 6-9pm 

*closed during block breaks, fall, winter, and spring breaks.

Weekly Clinics and Programs 

Women's Wednesdays, 4-6 pm

This weekly timeslot is reserved for female-identifying climbers. All skill levels are welcome! This happens every block during weeks 1-3. Make sure to check Summit for special Women's Wednesday Clinics.

Diverse Climbers of CC, 2-3 pm Third Mondays

This timeslot is reserved for Climbers of Color. All skill levels are welcome. This happens every third Monday of the block. 

Top Rope Belay Classes, Various times - Register on Summit

If you are new to climbing or just need a refresher on safe belay practices, register for one of our Top Rope Belay Classes! Belaying is the process of safely taking in slack in the rope as the climber progresses up the climbing wall, which protects them in case of a fall. It is one of the most important skills that all climbers must be proficient in to climb safely.

If you already know how to properly and safely belay, stop by the climbing gym at any time and ask for a Belay Assessment! Our belay assessments are based on the American Alpine Universal Belay Standards.

Prerequisites: No previous experience is required!

Lead Belay ClassesVarious times - Register on Summit

If you are excited to take your indoor or outdoor climbing to the next level, register for one of our Lead Belay Classes. This class will build off of your top rope belay skills and will enable you to belay someone who is "leading" a climb from the ground up. This class will also introduce how to lead climb as well, which is an essential skill to learn in a safe environment like our indoor climbing wall! Lead climbing is the process of starting with both the rope and climber on the ground and the climber works their way up the wall, clipping into quickdraws (anchors) on the wall as they move higher and higher, protecting themselves from landing on the ground in the event of a fall.

If you already know how to properly and safely belay, stop by the climbing gym at any time and ask for a Belay Assessment! Our belay assessments are based on the American Alpine Universal Belay Standards.

Prerequisites: Must be Top Rope Belay Certified at the Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym and feel comfortable top rope belaying before attending this clinic.

Open Route Setting

Are you interested in helping to create some of the awesome routes at the climbing wall? Stop by our Open Setting hours every Tuesday from 1:00-4:00pm during weeks 1-3 of each block. Our route setter staff will provide a safety orientation and help you set fun and challenging climbing routes! 

Aerial Silks Classes

All are welcome to come to experience the exciting world of aerial silks through hands-on instruction. Silks participants will learn to use the fabric that is suspended from the climbing wall to swing, fall, suspend, and spiral their bodies into and out of various positions. Classes are offered for all skill levels including beginner and intermediate.

Register in advance on Summit!

Additional Clinics Offered

The Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym is a gym meant to be a fun, safe, welcoming, and educational space for all of the CC community. We offer a wide variety of clinics for all skills and ability levels. The clinics are taught in line with industry standards and will help any climber take their skills to the next level and learn how to be safe in the process! See a current schedule and register on SUMMIT!

Some of our clinics include:

  • Knots and Hitches
  • Climbing Movement and Technique
  • Intro to Anchor Building
  • Anchor Cleaning and Rappelling
  • Intro to Traditional Gear and Anchors
  • Intro to Multipitch Climbing
  • Intro to Dry Tooling
  • Rock Climbing Rescue
  • Intro to Aid Climbing

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Facility Hours

Outdoor Education Center
Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm
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Please visit each facility page for more information regarding hours for the Gear House, Bike & Ski Co-op and the Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym.

Contact Us

(719) 389-6803

931 N. Nevada Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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Report an issue - Last updated: 05/25/2023