★ 5

Such a great spot. It’s relatively smaller but a lot quieter. The gym above is amazing. The manager Dan is the nicest person I ever met. Highly recommended! Best touchstone location❤️

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★ 5

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★ 5

This place is awesome. For sure one of the quaintest Touchstone gyms around. At 2:00pm on a Saturday I was basically the only one in there. Very friendly and welcoming staff, fun climbs, clean gym. Make sure to check out their top rope area, it is beautiful in the natural light!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great gym

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

I’ve been climbing here for a few years now. The staff here is amazing. This is a great gym if you’re visiting from out of town because it’s easily accessible via BART and bus. Plus, it’s an easy place to meet locals (like me) who’ll probably have good recommendations on things to do in the area. In regards to climbing, the bouldering section is small, but the routes are creative and challenging. There are occasionally strong climbers who’ll spend 4 hours projecting a V10, and there are also plenty of new climbers trying the sport for their first time. I prefer the ropes section here over Pacific Pipe because the wall geometry fits my style more (there are a lot of good corners here and slabby sections). The weights section is pretty great. There are 3 power racks on the second floor, and there are more downstairs near the back outdoor area. The 2nd floor has a Kilter Board and a couple hang boards. There are also a bunch of cardio machines (treadmills, stair master, bikes, elliptical, and rowing); my favorite is the Peloton because I can connect my Bluetooth earbuds for on-demand spin classes. There is also a fitness room where they offer several yoga and cardio classes. I love the yoga classes, and the boxing class is also fun. My only complaints are that I wish there was a sauna, and I also wish the gym stayed open until 6pm on Sundays (I wouldn’t mind if the gym closed earlier on Fridays to compensate). Touchstone should also pay their staff and route setters more.

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★ 2

Decent weight room, nice but small bouldering area. Two price increases a year is ridiculous though - I am having to cancel my membership after 2.5 years simply because this place is too expensive now and no longer worth it. Removing the discounted yearly option is the cherry on top to make me no longer recommend this spot. Would be more cost efficient to simply go to another gym and get a day pass when you want to climb; would only recommend if you absolutely LOVE climbing multiple times a week.

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★ 5

It’s co

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★ 4

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★ 5

Great gym with classes and a good amount of powerlifting stations. Cozy so can be busy during peak hours.

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★ 5

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★ 1

Horrendous in many ways, including a 4 pm weekend close time

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★ 5

I love this gym! I’ve always liked this gym bc it’s very calm during the day and fun and social in the evenings. Setting is top notch and the staff are cool. They play fun music in different genres. They have a kilter board upstairs And an extensive weights/cardio gym upstairs.

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★ 1

Touchstone loves to take all of your money. They're super greedy. Yay capitalism. The staff are amazing and genuinely lovely people tho

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★ 5

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★ 5

Overall it's a good gym. It's small so the bouldering area is small but it's dense enough to have plenty of climbs for one session. The ropes area is big enough and is also dense. There is lead climbing but Touchstone makes everyone sign a log every time they lead which is different from Movement gym policy. The shower hot water was broken. The weights and machine area is large and had everything I wanted. The work area has wifi and plenty of power outlets. In boulder grading this gym is about one step easier than Movement Santa Clara so V5 here in Oakland feels like V4 at Santa Clara.

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★ 1

Horrible customer service! Extremely rude at the desk, unknowledgeable and unwilling to follow their own policies. Worst experience ever!

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★ 4

Only reason it is a 4 is because it is tiny in area dedicated to boldering.

And no Sauna...

But great service well maintained nice weights and conditioning areas despite its small size.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Amazing climbing gym. One of the best in the USA. Not as big as pacific pipe or mission but still big and a more rustic local vibe. We were there middle of a week day and it was very quiet. Loads of great top rope climbs. Huge weight/ cardio gym. Loved it.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great

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★ 5

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★ 5

Staff couldn't be friendlier

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★ 5

Friendly staff, clean space that has not been too crowded in the times I've visited. Although it's not a huge gym, the space is well utilized. Super easy to get to the gym via public transit too

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★ 4

I visited this gym to buy climbing shoes today, and was able to find some that I really liked. I was disappointed that I couldn't try how the shoes felt on actual footholds / rock, as they didn't have such an area in the shop, so if you're not sure which shoes, I don't recommend. Great staff otherwise.

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★ 5

a great gym. Bouldering sections aren’t huge, but they’re big enough to have an interesting variety (and the wall has a nice variety of caves/overhangs/slabby sections which definitely helps it feel bigger than it’s footprint suggests). Especially now that Pac Pipe opened nearby it’s also usually never too crowded. Also has a kilter board\small climbing training area and a bunch of space for weightlifting, cardio, and classes.

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★ 5

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★ 5

My friend and I came to scratch a climbing itch and to unwind. It was my first time top roping at Great Western Power Co, and for a smaller climbing gym (vs. Pac Pipe), it has pretty good climbing problems that require some strategy. Can't speak for bouldering (will try next time!), but I liked that the top-roping problems involved unique solutions that encourages climbers to utilize good footwork, balance, and spatial awareness.

Vibe-wise, the ambiance was chill and it wasn't overly crowded. Lots of street parking is available too! (But it being Oakland, spare yourself the broken windows, and don't leave valuables in your car!)

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★ 5

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★ 5

Smaller than the other touchstone gyms but wow just as mighty. Multiple levels, like 3 definitely. Yoga is on the tippy toppest level. The sunlight comes in through the windows so beautifully during 7am yoga. No sauna. Lock your bike up properly. See y’all there!!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

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★ 5

My favorite place to climb. Great community atmosphere. I love the mix of challenging routes and also easy routes.

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★ 5

I really liked this climbing gym. Very central, very cool, great vibes, strong climbers, good routes.

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★ 5

GWPC has the most interesting and challenging routes. As a newbie who is only capable of climbing the few v0 routes over and over again, I learned this routine actually set me up for success because v0 routes at other gyms just feel so much easier. Staff are friendly, supportive and welcoming. They are always very patient answering my questions, help me get started on good forms and techniques. The classes are interesting too. I enjoy all the classes - yoga, HIIT, boxing, movement, climber strength. Like others pointed out, gym is a little small, but pacific pipe is only a few bus stops away. The crowd goes to this gym has a really positive vibe too. I absolutely enjoy starting my climbing journey here.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Roped side is very large and has many routes. As far as I could tell, the huge majority of the routes were 5.10 or 5.11, few higher than that, few lower than that. Touchstone gyms don't have autobelays, which I find to be highly limiting if you're alone or want to do a single route over and over many times. Bouldering area is smaller and if you came here often, it would probably be easy to run out of new problems, but let's be fair, Pacific Pipe is 5 minutes away and Berkeley Ironworks is 8 minutes away, members have access to them all so I think the bouldering area is more than adequate. I'll definitely be back.

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★ 4

My home gym is Ironworks and GWPC is much smaller being situated in downtown Oakland. I came here for the Crossfit intro class.

The locker is tiny and not as clean as Ironworks. I liked the different floors for working out -- seemed very spacious and airy on the upper most floor.

If you're into rock climbing, the walls feel crowded.

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★ 5

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★ 5

all the touchstone gyms are great, but this is my favorite. it's not the biggest or the newest or the fanciest, but it has a great community of climbers who really support each other. when i come here i feel like everyone is in it together to crush routes. i really like the setting, too. go to another touchstone gym for the coolest routes, come to this one too feel at home.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Bouldering and sport climbing gym. The bouldering problems are quite interesting here as they have limited space so they try to have a variety set out.
There’s also a moonboard and hangboard upstairs as well as a complete workout gym and studio space for classes. There’s more of a crossfit area downstairs with an outdoor section too.
Overall, I wish they had more bouldering problems but the cosy feel is nice to have too.

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★ 5

Cool cute gym with interesting problems and great workout equipments!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Good climbing gym, earl-bird special pricing is great. Not too crowded during the day and the staff and most members are good about wearing masks!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great little climbing gym with lots of weights and equipment, and a couple of yoga classes each week. They have a mix of lead routes, top rope and bouldering. I love spending time here.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Had a fantastic time climbing! Facilities were clean and more than adequate. The worker Elena was extremely nice and helpful throughout our climbing experience. She also was a great teacher when it came to the belay. Would defiantly recommend to all!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Bench press, yes!!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Awesome gym with friendly staff. The only downside is that i mainly boulder and the bouldering area is relatively small but still a good place to climb. Especially if you top rope or lead climb.

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★ 5

Excellent climbing gym

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

Great for climbing and bouldering. It's a smaller gym and can get crowded. I kind of wish the place would get an upgrade. The locker room is very cramped with 4+ people changing and the exercise equipment, namely bikes and treadmills are old and don't work well. Staff are very friendly and responsive.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Such an amazing time !

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★ 1

Had a good time climbing. The routes were fun and well set. My bike was stolen while I was inside the gym. The gym has cameras pointing right at the front door and bike lock area. The staff wouldn't take time to review the camera without a police order... Some community...

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★ 5

Such a wonderful facility. Miss it lots, plan to visit when I'm back in the area.

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★ 5

A lot of BART travelers make this their regular home gym. Has great bouldering and top rope routes, a separate gym with traditional weights and rings, and a supportive atmosphere.

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

The bike racks and young crowd mean this place is full of people that take public transportation and cycle. That creates a cool vibe that contrasts with the atmospheres of other gyms I’ve been to with extensive parking lots. Being around healthy happy people makes you healthy and happy too! A big plus is that since it’s such a bikeable neighborhood people can walk to bars or restaraunts or concerts afterwards instead of jumping into huge SUVs to get back to their suburban homes. Always choose a gym close to s train ... the network effects will benefit you !

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★ 1

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★ 1

I want to love my neighborhood climbing gym and it’s with sadness I’m giving this poor review. This gym has a leaky roof which causes a serious mold problem. I am asthmatic and the mold makes it difficult for me to breathe. Management clearly knows about the problem (they put buckets out to catch the rain - which is a tripping hazard) and when I complained last year I figured it was a new problem and they’d fix it. I don’t understand where our high membership fees are going if not to fix something as basic as the roof. The rain also makes holds slippery and causes such bad rope friction on their old ropes that some can’t even be used. I would not climb at this gym anymore if there were any other alternative.

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great staff. Wonderful facilities. And they always play the dopest music! They cultivate a spectacular community.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 2

The climbing is fine, the main issue I have is the smell:

You can smell weed, smokers, street smells from inside the building.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

Great Climbing Gym lots of top rope routes a good bouldering area not a lot of stuff for beginners thou

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★ 5

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★ 5

Not as crowded as Ironworks, even though it's wayyyy smaller!

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★ 4

Friendly staff, great workout/warmup area, a ton of classes and workshops. Bit on the small side, and I wish there was a sauna.

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★ 5

The friendliest and generally best climbing gym in the Bay Area.

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★ 4

Full weight room on top of bouldering, top roping and classes makes for a great gym membership, even if you aren't into climbing.

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★ 5

Great climbing gym. Even though it's small, all the times I've been there it was never too crowded and we could get top rope routes easily. Some routes are challenging. People are nice. I highly recommend.

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★ 4

Great climbing gym! Professional, clean, routes gets changed pretty often, and very good staff.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

Good rock climbing gym with lots of different routes. It's a little pricey for day passes, other than that solid. Make sure to bring your own lock, also there is no communal chalk.

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★ 4

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 4

This is my home gym and its great for what it is: they rotate the routes frequently; holds are cleaned between uses; there is a sizable gym upstairs; and they have a variety of classes. However, GWPC feels like it caters more to getting people signed up than keeping its members happy. Give the workout area an overhaul and buy from more than 2 brands of climbing holds and this place turns into the best climbing secret in the bay!

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★ 5

My kind of place! Very laid back (but still safe) staff, awesome climbing routes that change regularly, and the coolest people. Hoping they can maintain that Oakland vibe when Uber moves in next door.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Touchstone member just out touching other stones.... ALL Touchstone facilities have their own uniqueness. I like this one cuz of the ol skool ambience and "crossfit" area.

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★ 5

A really great facility. Something for everyone, even if climbing isn't your jam, it's a great fitness center. Friendly atmosphere & staff. Def coming back next time im in oakland!

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★ 5

Great walls. Great classes. Fun times all around. If you're a member try Mission Cliffs or Berkley Ironworks for their sauna, makes climb recovery much better.

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★ 5

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★ 5

It was my first time ever climbing! By that I mean really really first time, and my instructor was amazingly amazing and the whole crew and people working there are amazing! Seriously felt like a pro. I did 5.10A and it was legit !
If you are ever planing to try new things and rock climbing happens to be that then this is the place!!! Parking might be everyone's complaining point but hey free parking right the other side by 21st and another block by 22nd street, so yepi Kia yey!

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★ 5

Come here for ropes - less crowded than Ironworks and the lead wall has nice routes

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★ 4

Cool location, but can feel crowded at times.

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★ 4

Some good bouldering and top ropes...

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★ 4

They have some easy kid friendly routes from 5.3 and up that are not too high and are slab, my 5 year old was able to complete the 5.3 and almost finished a 5.7 in the main climbing area that had a slight overhand near the top, which he really was stoked to get to. I liked that the holds are not too far apart for a toddler's reach, unlike a 5.7 route made for adults, such as what you would find at Ironworks or DRG. They also had almost brand new kids rock climbing shoe rentals, a big plus compared to the other touchstone gyms. I wished they had some bouldering for kids there because the V0's have holds that are too far apart and too high of a start for a toddler's reach. Dogpatch has an entire kids bouldering area, but I guess GWPC has limited space for bouldering. Friendly staff. Only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because there is no parking other than metered street parking @ $2/hr

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★ 5

I've been to most Bay Area and Sacramento Touchstone gyms and GWPC is my favorite. While it lacks a sauna that some of the others have, and the total wall space that Dogpatch Boulders can and certainly should take pride in, it makes up for it with awesome people that work there, amazing classes, and perhaps the most challenging and interesting bouldering problems among indoor climbing gyms.

I am often climbing early weekday mornings when Kyle is the guy welcoming everyone at the front. He has been instrumental at times in advising me and others about how to solve a particular problem. And today without even slightest hesitation helped me fix my bike chain. It would have been a really stressful day otherwise. In addition, Marie Schwindler is an amazing Bootcamp instructor. Avram Pearlman, her no-longer-fiancee-cause-husband is a killer evening yoga instructor. Chaturanga, upward facing, chaturanga, downward facing.

I have no reservations about GWPC and short of moving away from the Bay Area, I have no plans to stop coming here.

Also Great Western Power Company has an amazing name, and that chimney can't be mistaken for anything else.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great Western Power Company is like the cool kid of the Touchstone gyms in the East Bay. Problems are tougher, the staff are the chillest and the community only cares about one thing - you got the beta on that? If you hear someone complaining about problems being soft or inflated - they're obviously a try-hard. What do we do with try-hards - ignore them.

If you ask stupid questions, you'll get stupid answers. If you need to be coddled - go to 24 hour fitness where the people drink prozac spiked vitamin water. Otherwise, stop whining - GWPC is a climber's gym - not a fitness planet, not a la fitness, not a crossfit.

You're expected to get callouses, you're supposed to bleed, the ropes smell like bum sweat because it's better that way and you know what, the adults who climb there like it.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Good location, near the BART. Really neat building, with climbing walls constructed around an old smoke stack from a power plant. The bouldering walls are comparable to what Mission Cliffs has, but more spaced apart. Top-ropes here can get a little crowded and claustrophobic though.

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★ 5

Awesome location, friendly staff, fun routes. Stick your head in the smokestack and look up. It's a little smaller than other Touchstone gyms, and I didn't like the thin, movable bouldering mats (used to places that have thick mats covering the entire floor).

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★ 4

GWPC is the most transit accessible climbing gym I've been to in the San Francisco Bay Area. Less than two blocks from the 19th Street Oakland station makes it a great spot to get your climb on before heading to/ from anywhere you please in the Bay. Ample bicycle parking available (indoors and on-street corral) for those who bring #bikesonboard. As for the routes/ setting, Touchstone crammed as much as reasonably possible in a very tall building with a small footprint. Route setting appears to be very consistent across different setters across the gym. The facility is smaller than most in floor space but they've made good use of a downtown location.

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★ 4

This was a great gym to visit and seemed like an even better place to be a member. All around great gym, just a little less floor space than I'm used to. And, as always, expect the guys behind the counter to be climbers and not customer service professionals.

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★ 5

The urban legend/rumor that Touchstone had thrown up holds into the big steam pipe atop the building totally got my hopes up. I don't know why I was so excited about hopping into a dirty tube and getting black lung, but still. Definitely much much smaller than Mission Cliffs and the bouldering area is essentially the left wall while the right wall is toproping. I did like the upstairs gym area though; spacious and empty.

Just bouldered the last time I came. Fun and straight-forward V2s, and the kiddy wall had some ego-boosting routes on it too. Weird slope made me wonder about falling and face-sliding down the wall, but thankfully topped off without blood anywhere.

Surrounding neighborhood seems like it's in a transitory period and JUST about to get gentrified, but not quite there.

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★ 5

Convienently located. great bouldering. Good for a first date or some interesting meet ups.

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★ 5

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