Cities/Chicago/Avondale

Features & Amenities

  • 26,000 square feet of climbing terrain up to 60 ft tall
  • Roped climbing (auto belay, top rope, and lead climbing) and bouldering
  • Over 90 unique routes and 100 unique boulders ranging from beginner to expert level
  • Dedicated yoga studio hosting 20+ classes per week
  • 10 cardio machines, 4,000+ pounds of free weights, & functional training equipment
  • Climbing training with campus boards, hang boards, and hydraulic system walls
  • Locker rooms with showers
  • Workspace with free WiFi

Regular Hours

  • Monday-Friday: 6:00 am – 11:00 PM
  • Saturday-Sunday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm

Special Hours

We are open the following special hours for holidays:

  • Memorial Day: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • July 4th: CLOSED
  • Labor Day: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • Thanksgiving Day: CLOSED
  • Day After Thanksgiving: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm (weekend hours)
  • December 24th: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • December 25th: CLOSED
  • December 31st: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • January 1st: CLOSED

We may adjust our hours on rare occasions for special events and competitions, but otherwise, we’re open for our Regular Hours!

GETTING THERE

By Car

Parking is free and plentiful. We are located right off the 90/94 Kennedy Expressway. Take the Kimball Ave exit (45B) from either Westbound or Eastbound traffic. Head north on Kimball, then take a right on W. Addison and a right on N. Spaulding. Head down Spaulding toward the dead-end – you won’t be able to miss us from there. We’re also easily accessible from Elston, Addison, and Kedzie if you’re coming from one of the surrounding neighborhoods.

By Public Transit

We are a short walk from the Addison Blue Line stop. When you get off, walk east on Addison for .5 miles, then turn right and head down N. Spaulding.

By Bike

Elston, Kedzie, and Kimball all have established bike lanes, and we have plenty of protected bike parking for you when you arrive.

Routesetting

We use KAYA to provide a mobile guidebook for all FA locations where you can log your climbs, give setting feedback, share beta videos, and connect with other FA climbers. Click below to download the KAYA app and check out the latest set at FA Avondale.

Avondale on KAYA

Dan Emrie

Dan Emrie

Head Routesetter, First Ascent Avondale

Dan has been climbing for 11 years, and setting for about 8. You’ll find his routes and boulders scattered across all the Chicago gyms. He is notorious for his love of slippery slopers and has guidebook-esque knowledge of the Holy Boulders, and his favorite place to climb is Jackson Falls.

Fun Fact: Dan runs. A lot.

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