Summary of Climbing Gyms in Chicago

There are two main climbing gyms frequented by U of C students: Climb On and Vertical Endeavors. While some consider climbing gym preference to be a simple matter of personal taste, the issue threatens to become grist for a heated feud resembling to the famed White Sox - Cubs rivalry:

Vertical Endeavors

Location: Warrenvile, IL
Public Transporation: No
Type: Top Rope, Lead and Bouldering
http://www.verticalendeavors.com

Climb On

Location: Homewood, IL
Public Transporation: Yes
Type: Top Rope, Lead and Bouldering
http://www.climbon.net

A third gym popular with U of C students, Hidden Peak, is more or less strictly bouldering. It is small, hot, smelly, and the scene is very hard-core:

Hidden Peak

Location: Chicago North Side
Public Transporation: Yes
Type: Bouldering
http://www.lakeshoreacademy.com/hiddenpeak.html

There are several more gyms in Chicago, mainly downtown and on the north side:

Fit Plex?

Location:La Salle & Division
http://www.multiplexclubs.com/fitplex/

Lake Shore Athletic Club?

Type: Top Rope (limited lead)
http://www.lsac.com/illinoiscenter/select.php?club=ic&area=climbingwall

Lincoln Park Athletic Club

Location: Chicago North Side
Public Transportation: Yes
Type: Top Rope (limited lead)
http://www.lpaconline.com/climbing.html

Evanston Athletic Club?

Location: Evanston
Public Transportation: Yes
Type: Top Rope (limited lead) Bouldering
http://www.eaconline.com/climbing.html

Indoor Summits?

Type: Top Rope
http://www.indoorsummits.com/

North Wall?

Type: Top Rope, Lead, Bouldering
http://www.climbnorthwall.com/nwgym/home/index.html

Finally, there is Upper Limits, a converted grain silo in Bloomington. Although it is a good 2 hours to get there, it has nice long routes and is all leadable:

Upper Limits?

Location: Bloomington, IL
Public Transporation: No
Type: Top Rope, Lead and Bouldering

Another excellent gym (possibly one of the best around) reachable within a 2 hour drive is Adventure Rock in Pewaukee, WI.

Adventure Rock?

Location: Pewaukee, WI
Public Transportation: No
Type: Top Rope, Lead and Bouldering
http://www.adventurerock.com

If you want to leave your personal opinion/comment about a gym, please follow the link to the gym. Resources > Climbing > Climbing Gyms