Ogden has become an outdoors epicenter in Utah in recent years, and now the city can chalk another new facility to its growing list of outdoor-related venues. The Front opened a brand new indoor climbing gym near downtown. It’s the third location for The Front along with Salt Lake and Boise, and this new gym is located in the newly restored American Can Building.
If you read “The Front” and immediately thought of the tiny bouldering gym in Salt Lake, then it’s time to get up to Ogden and see the new location.
My wife and I took the drive north to check it out and the building is amazing. Giant glass walls and skylights surround the interior where sunlight illuminates exposed brick walls and the climbing areas. There is over 10,000 square feet of climbing space including lead climbing, top-roping, and a giant bouldering area complete with a cave.
We spent a few hours climbing in “The Pit” area of The Front. In order to build climbing walls up to 40 feet high, construction crews had to dig down into the ground. This allows larger routes to be put up in a building that would otherwise be too short for a climbing gym.
The routes were put up by a dedicated team of climbers, who created a huge variety of lines in a small space. Route difficulties range from novice 5.6 climbs, to “Yoda” 5.12 and higher.
Climbing on those beautiful, wood walls was a different experience to typical indoor gyms with a more textured surface. The smooth, polished wood forces climbers to stay on their holds, discouraging any smearing for help in tough spots. I also thought many of the the routes felt “bouldery,” which made the climbing less straightforward than other Utah gyms.
Like most indoor climbing gyms these days, a lot more is offered than just the opportunity to climb. The Front also has cardio equipment, a full set of weights, and a Yoga studio where they offer classes and provide instruction.
The Front Ogden is open every day of the week, with hours ranging from 7am to 10pm, depending on the day. They also offer many different membership plans tailored to your specific needs, such as monthly, yearly, day passes, and 10-punch cards. For more information on pricing and hours of operation, visit The Front Ogden online.
The Front is located in downtown Ogden, Utah at 21st Street and Lincoln.
If you’re a rock climber in Ogden, then I recommend checking out The Front. It’s been a long time coming for a quality climbing gym to open up in northern Utah, and The Front did it right.
Wow, check out all those windows! That would encourage me to try indoor climbing a bit more. I appreciate that they are trying to allow the outdoors to come in for the climbers- who, afterall, are probably lovers of being outdoors. 😉 Very nicely done.