St. Paul Welcomes Bouldering Project, A National Climbing Gym Chain
A national climbing gym chain, Bouldering Project, is expanding to St. Paul after the success of its Minneapolis location. The new gym, located at 42 W. Water St., features over 10,000 square feet of custom bouldering terrain, fitness and yoga studios, a fully-equipped weight room, and a sauna. For those unfamiliar with bouldering, it’s a type of rock climbing that involves short, intense climbs and crash pads instead of ropes or harnesses. In bouldering, climbs are usually referred to as “problems” and an emphasis is placed on problem-solving and technique.
Based in Seattle, Bouldering Project has 12 locations across the United States, including Minnesota, Washington, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Arizona, Utah, and Washington D.C. The Minneapolis facility, located at 1433 West River Road N., was the company’s third-ever location when it opened in 2018. Today, the facility has over 4,000 members and regularly welcomes around 1,000 visitors a day, said Michael Cavazos, general manager of the St. Paul gym. “The fact that the other gym is doing so well and has so many people coming to it on a regular basis, (they) wanted to be able to expand and support the entire Twin Cities,” Cavazos said.
Bouldering Project St. Paul Features and Amenities
Located near Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul’s West Side, Bouldering Project St. Paul features several vertical, overhang, and roof climbing structures that can be customized according to difficulty level. The difficulty of the routes is noted by the hold colors, with yellow being the easiest and mint being the most challenging, Cavazos said, adding that the routes change three times a week. “We don’t repeat anything, it’s a creative experiment,” said Nic Oklobzija, Bouldering Project’s director of route setting. The gym also boasts two expansive Kumiki climbing walls, one for kilter and the other for tension.
The Bouldering Project St. Paul, a climbing gym near Harriet Island Park in St. Paul Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. The climbing gym opens to the public on Nov. 15, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
In addition to the main climbing apparatuses, the building also includes a kids’ climbing space with shorter walls, a heated yoga studio that can reach up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, co-working spaces, a co-ed sauna, and a retail shop where climbers can buy shoes, chalk bags, and crash pads. The building, which was formerly used as warehouse space, required minimal renovations when the team signed the lease at the end of 2024, said Project Manager Danika Patten Jessen.
Building Community and Partnership
Eliza Broan, a Bouldering Project forerunner who tests the routes, said what sets bouldering apart from other sports and forms of exercise is the communal aspect. “I’ve never met more supportive people than rock climbers,” Broan said. “You can see the community it builds. It’s a safe space.” Bouldering Project also has plans to partner with community businesses, like nearby Bad Weather Brewing and Backstory Coffee Roasters, to host events in the area, Cavazos said.
Bouldering Project St. Paul, a climbing gym near Harriet Island Park, features a Kumiki Kilter board, left, and Tension board, as seen on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. The adjustable boards are used by climbers to practice strength and technique. The climbing gym opens to the public on Nov. 15, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Once the St. Paul gym is in the swing of things, Cavazos said they have plans to add more fitness and yoga classes based on the members’ feedback. For more information, visit Bouldering Project St. Paul at 42 W. Water St., St. Paul. The gym is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Membership costs $89/month, and a day pass is $24 for adults. Read more about Bouldering Project St. Paul Here
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