BP
Bouldering Project - U District
Climbing in a former bank vault, with a sauna.
3.8
Business
$$
Climbing in a former bank vault, with a sauna.
Bouldering Project - U District at 4502 University Wy NE, Seattle, WA 98105, is a two-story climbing gym housed in a bank building. It offers a wide range of boulder problems across two floors, a compact workout area, and a sauna tucked inside the original vault. Located near UW and public transit, it draws a student-leaning crowd, though peak hours can be crowded and some climbers miss more training boards.
No photos available
Access to two floors of varied bouldering routes with color-coded grading for all skill levels, set in a historic bank building with unique architectural features.
Relax and recover in a sauna located in the original bank vault, complemented by a cold plunge for post-climb rejuvenation.
Use our small but functional fitness space with basic equipment for off-the-wall training and warm-ups.
Flexible options including first-time free codes, day passes for visitors, and memberships for regular climbers.
Secure storage with personal locks required and shower amenities for convenience after your session.
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Overall rating
Jennifer Leinweber
Wow, love how they’ve transformed this building into a climbing gym! Fun boulder problems, clean facilities, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Small workout area. But the crown jewel is probably the sauna in the original vault - what a cool idea! We had limited time during our visit but would love to return and do the sauna and cold plunge.
Serena Starks
The staff is very unfriendly and unhelpful in finding the locker rooms, showers etc. It was my first time at this gym (I used the first time free code) and they gave me no instruction on how to fall safely, the color grading system, or a tour of where the climbing walls are in the gym. During ny session, I took a bad fall off a wall and injured my ankle. The staff member who came up to me showed no sympathy, took my information, and then told me to “have a good day”. They also charged me for advil and offered no other assistance. The culture of this gym does not feel like a community but a place where everyone is stand off ish and lacks a positive energy. I would not recommend this place if you are looking for a communal space to meet new people or to a beginner climber who is looking to get into climbing. Additionally you have to provide your own lock for the limited amount of lockers available. If you enjoy the Bouldering Project atmosphere go to their other branches in Seattle!
Jay Glessner
Really cool location. It can be crowded, I was here at 7pm on a weeknight which is usually peak time for gyms. Good density of setting, and they've fit a lot of climbing footage into a small building footprint. I would say there's a lack of overhang and a surplus of slab/vert but that's personal preference. Setting around the mid grades (v4-v7) seemed a bit soft to me but again that's subjective. Very strange for a new gym to not have boards or the popular hangboards - this plus the layout making it hard to stay out of fall zones when it's busy is what makes this a 4 star for me. I'm sure I'll return when in town because it's so convenient from the lightrail if you are downtown. It's 95% college-age kids and a lot of folks in rentals (nothing wrong with that, just don't expect perfect climbing etiquette). Overall, I prefer Poplar
Jacob B
I’m so excited for this to be near UW! Was a little bit hot inside but I love the old bank vault aesthetic and it is super large. They turned the bank vault into a sauna which is interesting. Edit: I have been going semi regularity and they have fixed their hvac system!
Herakles Li
So glad for another climbing gym on the north side! Climbing is getting ever more popular and the gyms are pretty crowded during prime hours after work on weekdays. This is the fourth bouldering project in Seattle and very conveniently located near both bus and light rail. The gym is large, modern, and what you would expect from the new wave of gyms. There are two floors of climbing with the main floor having a small section of climbing and a workout area and the second floor holding much more climbing. A few things keep me from being able to give this place five stars. Namely the lack of training boards which I feel every serious climbing gym should have these days and the workout area feels very small and not well thought out. There was a pull up bar but it's been removed and there are only a few hang boards (and not even the popular ones) which are mounted quite high and require a stool for most people. There also doesn't seem to be much support for off the wall training with a lack of weights and belts for weighted hands, no rice buckets, and zero no hang devices. The plastic PVC pipes for warming up are also really short and don't offer much resistance the way the wood ones do at their other locations. The walls are also really close to each other and it can feel hazardous to climb or even stand between some of them when people are on them. Overall I think the gym is a fine addition and conveniently located for public transit but not a gym serious climbers looking to train will be able to frequent. Parking nearby is also very hard and I would not recommend driving.
