The Edge Halfmoon

huge place. great for kids and challenging area for experts. plenty of parking. $ 18 per person including equipment. not 5 stars because staff are extremely uninterested in client service. some are rude and others act like teenagers on their phones.

Possibly the only rock climbing gym near the Capital region that I know of. While smaller than what I’m used to (hehe), there’s something for everyone.
Coming from the SF area in Cali, where there are a ton of huge rock climbing gyms which include the Planet Granite and Touchstone companies, finding The Edge is like finding your long-​lost girlfriend. There’s bouldering, top roping, lead climbing, even something similar to bungie jumping for the kids. While for me the lack in the quantity of problems (and even the frequency of new sets might feel slow) is a little disappointing, it is definitely a relief to discover.
The entrance might be hard to find (especially during the winter), but look for blue landmark signs on the side of the road and drive through a narrow road to find treehouses on the horizon and a big warehouse at the end.
From time of writing (2÷28÷15), $ 95 for a 10-​day punch card (for 10 visits) and I believe $ 10 for a day pass. Expect to pay $ 4 – 6 extra for climbing shoes/​harness!
The weekends are usually packed with new visitors and kids, but the bouldering area seems to be sectioned off for members (and 10-​day punch carders) only so that’s cool. I hope to see more gyms like these opening up soon!

Love this place. The Edge just got closer to indoor climbing nirvana –now offering fresh coffee and eats now available at their café! Great place for experienced climbers and beginners alike. Has a raised observation deck with ample seats for those who can’t or won’t climb and just want to watch. The highest walls are about 47′. Good assortment of route difficulties. Awesome top-​out boldering. Climbers visiting for first time: remember to bring in your own ATC or GriGri because ropes have NO belay devices installed. If you don’t have your own, you have to rent one.
The only reason I give it 4 (not 5) stars is because of the awful street signage. It’s very small, very hard to see, even when you’re on same side as their entrance – southbound side of Rt 9. The place cannot be seen from the road. If you’re driving on 9 South, coming from Clifton Park or higher, their driveway is just past the Walmart center on opposite side of road. Get in right lane & go slow. Sorry but I can’t give any advice for finding their driveway if you’re coming from the south on northbound 9.

Update on The Edge — They brought back the tape on their routes. I have to admit it makes a great difference.
Started talking with a few of the staff and I realized that a few sour apples ruined my first couple of experiences there.
Glad I can upgrade this review.

This place is great! I grew up climbing at G.R.A.B. And A.I.R., as well as some other places only a few times, but this place is nice.
It has a clean feel to it, and there’s a lot of walls to keep one occupied. Plus the big rock, definitely recommend.

This is a great place. The staff are really friendly and helpful, and will get you started even if it’s your first time. The prices are great for everything, including rented gear. (Harness, shoes, chalk bag)
The climbing, though, is obviously the most important part. The quality of the climbs and the bouldering wall is exceptional. They are both fun and challenging for any skill level.
I recommend it to anyone interested in climbing.

Great size for a rock climbing gym had a great time. Rented shoes a harness and a chalk bag for my time there. I would definitely get a membership if I lived closer to the Capitol district. I was impressed by the various hardness levels of the platforms and climbs.
Also had a bouldering area and an experienced area
I will definitely come back and with plenty of friends! Would be great for a party!

Best place for rock climbers in the Albany area, easy.
The staff who run the place are super chill and incredibly willing to teach newcomers the basics to get them off of the ground and onto the walls. They are really friendly and try to get to know you as a person and not just as a customer. Pricing on gear and passes is super reasonable. Coming from CA (Planet Granite) and the DC area (Earth Treks), I know how expensive day passes can get (upwards of $ 20 if you’re not a student), so I appreciate their accessible prices ($ 10 student day pass) which make the 25 minute drive from Albany more than worth it.
Finding the place can be a little tricky, just look for the blue sign, it’s south of Walmart on the 9. Wind past someone’s woodsy house on your right and you’ll see a ropes course also on your right and the incognito gym will be on your left. Parking is simple, a huge lot out front with plenty of spaces.
The walls are high and the routes are many. They even have two auto-​belayers set up if you can’t find a partner for top-​roping. Lead climbers will enjoy their setup in the rear where they have a bunch of climbs which are definitely challenging and creative. You can bring your own rope, rent one of theirs, or just borrow one if you’re a member.
Bouldering is really cool here. Their structure is top-​out style but they also have routes which end prior to the top lip. They have plenty of different-​angled faces that will suit all levels of skill. They also have a small campus board and wooden hangboard in the back.
Their routes change on a regular basis and are generally well-​maintained. Their setters are really strong but they do set stuff for beginners and are quite creative, too. They even hold bouldering competitions and will keep those up for people to try after the event.
Bathrooms are kept clean and have a shower you can use. I can’t speak for the men’s side, but the women’s side even has lotions and other amenities which are a nice touch. Gear you bring in is stored in communal cubbies.
The Edge doubles as a Christian youth activity center, which, 1) may lead to confusion on your credit card bill since it says something along those lines as the business name and 2) means there are a lot of kids who can be there for group activities. They try to really emphasize a family-​friendly atmosphere, so screamers may have to censor their vocabulary if they can’t finish a frustrating route.
I’ve been to AIR in Albany, and I like them for their caving maze, but for me, higher walls are pretty important. The Edge is much more like the gyms I’ve been used to in terms of the variety and the route-​setting.
Lastly, I really like their e-​newsletter because they share tips on where to also climb outdoors which is fantastic for newcomers to the area looking for a weekend retreat. They also have special events which really sound exciting to attend. This year, they’re having a 1,000 foot challenge on New Year’s Eve/​Day where you get something awesome if you climb that height? Pretty nifty :)

As a first time climber (second time as of last night), I really like this place. The first time I visited, they were very good about making sure I knew exactly what I was doing. Love the monkeys on the ropes to teach you how to belay! :D There’s a great bouldering area too that I tried out last night. Prices are reasonable ($ 20 for a day pass and gear) and there’s a good variety of walls to fit different skill levels.