The North Texas Outdoor Pursuit Center

2:30 in the afternoon and my «safety instructor» is grumpy and complaining he needs coffee…
So we were off to a bit of a rocky start.
He was fairly friendly and likeable, but it still didn’t set a good precedent.
On top of that, they screwed up the scheduling and didn’t have the employee that I was going to hire to belay for me.
I had called the week before and told them I would traveling to the Dallas area, and would be on my own and would need someone to belay for me since the taller walls don’t work for the autobelay setup.
I said I could come either Monday, Tuesday OR Wednesday — whichever was better for THEM to have the needed staff on hand. They said Wednesday would definitely be the best day to come in.
Great. So after driving to Irving Sunday, I went to the climbing silos in Carrolton on Wednesday– only to be told they didn’t have the staff they were supposed to. The instructor ended up sticking my with a couple that had shown up around the same time I did. It was OK, but I still felt like a 3^rd wheel, and didn’t get to do everything I wanted to do.
There was also the fact that the girl in the group failed the safety inspection 3 times before my different climbs. WTH? Luckily, her boyfriend took over the belaying duties.
LOCK YOUR CARABINER AND DOUBLE CHECK WHOMEVER IS BELAYING FOR YOU.
TRUST, BUT VERIFY!
I understand how things work in small businesses– especially businesses that revolve around certain non-​mainstream ports that I like. It ended up being a decent experience… but it also could have just as easily have ended up going bad and ruining my experience– especially after I had to spend 30+ minutes on unfamiliar Dallas freeways/​tollways/​turnpikes to get there.
NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF: The ropes and harnesses were brand new that week.
I was going to rent the climbing shoes, but the instructor said stiff soled tennis shoes were just fine until you got to really difficult routes (that newbs aren’t going to be climbing anyway).
The front room has a lot of bouldering options and probably a good 15−20+ feet of height. I wanted to try the set up that they have hanging from the ceiling that requires you to jump from the wall and grab the hanging hand-​holds in midair, but unfortunately, that was one of the things I didn’t get to try.
The have several different silos that you can climb in, and each silo has 5 or 6 different routes that you can try. The routes all vary in degree of difficulty — but aren’t arranged in sequential order of difficulty. So that means your 1^st route recommended for newbs is in silo #2, and then your second route is in silo #3. No biggie, just something to be aware of. Matter of fact, if you look around or ask, there is a recommended set of routes for new climbers that start off with an easy 30 – 40 foot climb, and then progress to a 120 ft climb with slightly harder routes up the wall. But I noticed some groups would just all go into the same silo and would then climb whatever routes happened to be there. They were all first time climbers and were mostly just out for a fun afternoon and weren’t really interested in pursuing rock climbing as a hobby.
To be honest, you guys are EXTREMELY FORTUNATE to have a facility like this close to you. I have to drive for 3 – 6 HOURS to find a facility that has anything better than 15 foot tall bouldering set ups.

It seems like they have Groupon deals that are almost 50% off for 2 people.
HELLUVA DEAL!!!
This is a great place for an afternoon of fun, or getting serious about your climbing skills. They also have options for learn how to top rope if you’re looking for something even more advanced.
PRO TIP: You’ll want a chalk bag for when you’re 30 feet up a wall and THEN your hands get sweaty.
PRO TIP 2: As other have mentioned, take your own gloves. Gloves that have had 100 sets of sweaty hands in them for hours are usually nasty. At least spend $ 5 or $ 10 at Walmart or Harbor Freight.
This is definitely a unique place that’s worth a visit. I’m looking forward to getting up there again soon. The more friends you take, the more fun you’ll have!

This place is A-​OK! We came here on a Sunday, right when they opened at 12pm. I recommend getting the Groupon they currently have available – for $ 19 you get a full day of climbing for two people, including basic training (a $ 46 value). We filled out waivers and were given harnesses, and then taken to basic training with one other couple.
Training was fine, although it seemed like it was the last thing our instructor wanted to be doing with his day. Everything he told us was followed by a sigh of frustration if we didn’t immediately understand or do it perfectly the first time. We felt pressured to do it quickly and get on with it. We practiced a few times in their practice room until we were comfortable climbing and belaying each other. We got the impression that this place is not for newbies, and they would much rather have experienced climbers as clientele.
After we got the hang of the process, we spent some time climbing in the grain silos. Lots of fun, and much more challenging than the practice room. All other staff members we came into contact with were very helpful and nice to us, so maybe that one guy was just having a bad day. We will certainly be back the next time we feel like climbing, and maybe since we won’t need instruction we will have a better time.

Okay, so if you are really into climbing or you are brand new at climbing and want to get serious about it as a hobby/​activity/​sport this is the gym for you.
Every single thing they do is geared towards teaching you how to rock climb real rocks in outdoor scenarios. You can even turn the lights off to practice using a headlamp.
There’s 5 different rooms/​silos to climb and they are very tall. They have walls out doors and a map/​learning room. If you buy the membership, it’s extremely affordable (but ALWAYS bring a buddy or meet someone there).
Most of the walls are pretty difficult, but there’s nothing like the feeling you get once you reach the top!

Indoor and outdoor walls for climbing (you’re actually climbing the old silos in downtown Carrollton). They have all the gear you’ll need and can even give you a brief intro course on how to gear up and belay.
Collin instructed us on how to tie knots, operate equipment (ATC, carabiner, etc), safety, the belay process etc. He was patient and warm the entire time… never once felt rushed. Don’t think of this as a structured class with 20 people; it’s very personable and done for each group… the length of the course varies depending on how much time you need to feel comfortable going up and/​or belaying.
The walls are scored according to their level of difficulty… they range from easy, to «omg where would I put my hands?» You’re free to roam about going from wall to wall, indoor to outdoor at your own pace and desire. I saw men that appeared to be pros (they had memberships… which are offered at a monthly rate), and I saw children who were enjoying the sport as well.
$ 15 gets you an all day pass plus an intro class (normally $ 8) on Wednesday. Shoes are $ 3 for a rental. They have different specials on different days. You can leave and come back with an all day pass (same day)…you’d still have access to both the indoor and outdoor areas. Gatorade is a buck fifty. Unlocked cubes for your belongings, water fountain, and an eye sore of a restroom. You will need a partner for this activity. You may be able to pair up with someone there but that can’t be guaranteed. Relaxed environment. Great work out and very cool/​fun. Give this place a whirl.

I hadn’t been climbing in about a decade but a friend found a Groupon deal so off we went. NTOPC (what a mouthful) has plenty of challenging and high vertical climbs. The routes are built inside several defunct grain silos.
While I’m not much of a climber, I am in decent shape and found that the green routes were all that I could handle. Since it was January, the walls were quite cold and my hands were numb by the time I reached top. I’ve heard summer can be more of a problem though because your hands get sweaty. I wouldn’t borrow their belaying gloves unless you want your hands to smell horrible afterward. And the shoes are pretty beat up and worn through at the big toe where you want to dig into the walls, but better than nothing. All the safety related items were all in fine shape so no worries there and they do give you training and practice with belaying before you start. Overall, I’d say it’s a good value for the money, especially if you can get the Groupon deal for two.

Been here many times, love it! Route 34 green is amazing, for all levels. After new management a few years ago, its incredibly safe feeling there, all new gear. I would give the staff 6 stars if I could!

Really great place to rock climb! They have some pretty high walls, but there is something for everyone there. The staff are also really helpful and take their time to teach you how to climb properly.
One small thing. The silos get VERY humid so if you sweat a lot, bring gloves as it can be pretty hard to climb otherwise.
Other than that the place is perfect.

This place is awesome. Really wanted to try rock climbing today and went to a place beforehand but it was on the expensive side. Unilocaled this place afterwards and decided to try it out. It was really reasonable. $ 15, $ 3 for shoes, and $ 8 for an introductory course which I recommend. The owner was super nice and threw in the shoes for free. Had really good instructions to make sure we are safe since I was a beginner. There are several cool places to climb. Did I mention that you get a free day pass to use for the next time you come back that doesn’t expire?! What a great deal!

This place was great. It was my wife and my first time climbing. Ben helped up learn the ropes and knots for the first 30 minutes to get comfortable. They have a lot of variety from beginner to advanced. Not crowded and lot of fun, can’t wait to go back

First climb. Our instructor was amazing. This place is just rad.

This place was pretty neat! It looked like it used to be some kind of tower and they renovated it and turned it into a rock climbing place. Apparently it used to be a grain tower? I used a groupon for two, so the price wasn’t bad.
Service: The staff was really nice, friendly, and helpful. I’ve climbed only a few times before, but it’s been a while, and I never had to belay anyone because the workers would do it at my old gym, so I had to learn everything, but they taught us everything and made sure we were comfortable with all of it and practiced a few times before moving on. Even then they would come check on us to see if we were doing okay and were safe. I think he tried to be very patient with us noobs, but I still kind of felt like we were a little bit of a bother to him, but maybe it was just me.
They had a list of the easy routes, but even some of them were challenging. It was pretty fun though! I saw a board with some outdoor adventures for different skill levels posted, too.
I must note that this place is not air conditioned, so dress accordingly. I would suggest a tank top, but even then you’ll probably be soaked by the time you leave. They do have a few fans to help circulate the air a bit.

INCREDIBLE!!! My first climb. ever and I had a blast.
As an 11-​year Marine combat vet, I still found the climbs challenging, but fun. The staff was really knowledgeable, helpful, and provided a really good atmosphere. They were extremely patient and wouldn’t move on until you were 100% comfortable with the procedures. And even then, they made it a point to frequently check on you to see if you needed anything.
The facility is converted grain towers. So if you’re expecting a climate controlled environment, this probably isn’t the place for you. Dress in gym attire. I got a pretty good sweat going and it was GREAT!!! Will be back again!

My friend and I came here on a Groupon — $ 16 for two people, all day pass on Sunday. I hate being the one to ruin the five star streak this place has going on Unilocal,but that’s not to say we didn’t have a good time.
The good:
it’s a fun activity, even for those who haven’t done it before. the staff is relatively accessible and knowledgeable. love the sustainability ethos. cold water provided (although this, along with staff introducing their names in the beginning, should have been pointed out at the introduction).
Suggested improvements (take it for what it’s worth given that I’m a newbie at climbing):
better ventilation and air conditioning because after an hour, we were over soaked sponges
keep service quality high by capping the climbers to staff ratio (e.g. using a reservation system with walk-​ins welcomed but not guaranteed). we were given clear and easy to follow instructions, but the staff was obviously overwhelmed with the number of guests. there were also times when it felt like they were annoyed with having to deal with us newbies.
provide more accessible climbing routes for the height-​disadvantaged. there were a few routes (considered to be the easy ones for beginners) where we just couldn’t move beyond 3 – 4 feet up because the next spot wasn’t within reach.

I’ve come here twice now and loved it both times. The workers are awesome and very down to earth while also being really helpful. It’s not crowded either, which is nice because you end up feeling like you own the place hah. The price is also great. If anything, it could be maintained a bit better, but that’s not easy considering how large it is. Basically, get a groupon and a partner, and you’ll fall in love with the place

Amazing. Well kept secret. Owner is legit climber. Humble, knowledgeable, & just really good people! Great find. Families who don’t know about this place are really missing out. I’m excited for the kids & husband. We spent 3 hours being active & working as a team. We are buying the 2 day camp as Christmas presents! Definitely a great new addition to our weekend warrior repertoire! Go check it out.

I bought a Groupon for my kids to go here to climb. Little did I know that I would have to be involved, but I am so happy that it turned out this way!
The kids and I had a great time! I learned a lot from Chris, and I was then able to teach my kids a lot.
Chris explained to me that the goal of the facility is to train people to climb outdoors, so I learned how to tie the ropes and anchor myself. I I was the one guiding my kids, Chris only jumped in when I needed him (and this was without being asked, he is very observant.)
I noticed that they have several guided outdoor climbs planned in the near future for all skill levels. I am totally interested in going on one of these trips if it is as fun as the two hours we spent today!
I purchased a month long pass and I won’t be surprised if I am asked to head up there every day. :)

This place is a hidden gem of DFW! Everyone is so nice and friendly and the staff really knows what they’re doing. The walls offer a good variety too which makes it a good mix for beginners and more experienced climbers. I highly recommend this place and will be going back!

I love this place! I started rock climbing a few months ago and have been to several rock climbing gyms since then, and this is by far my favorite place. The staff is knowledgeable, really nice, and willing to teach you all about rock climbing if you show interest. Also, they have so many routes that the place rarely feels crowded, especially if you go during the week. If you are serious about rock climbing, this is definitely the place to go. I recently moved to California and have not found a place that is as awesome as this one or one that has staff that is as friendly and involved.
Since this place is built inside silos, it does tend to get a little hot during the summer. However, that is not reason not to go. Just make sure you dress accordingly and bring water. They have all the gear you could ever need for climbing and it’s pretty affordable.
They also offer awesome outdoor trips and you don’t have to be an experienced climber to attend. I attended one of these trips and was kind of nervous about, but ended up loving it! I’m pretty much obsessed with climbing because of this place.

This rock climbing gym is awesome! Ive never seen anything like it before. The staff are friendly and very helpful, especially if you’re a beginner. It has a lot of different routes you can try ranging in difficulty so you can always find something to challenge yourself. You can even do some of the routes in the dark with a head light! I definitely recommend this place!

Definitely check this place out! The staff is great and their prices are reasonable. It’s fun and an awesome workout at the same time!