Destinations
Mission Cliffs Rock Climbing Center
Mission Cliffs Rock Climbing Center 2295 Harrison St San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 550-0515
Location
The Mission Cliffs website has good directions. It's probably best to drive to Mission Cliffs. You can get there on public transportation but it's a real pain in the ass. The closest BART stop is 16th and Mission from there you need to walk six long blocks (down 16th to Harrison, then down Harrison to 19th). If you are renting all of your equipment from Mission Cliffs then it's probably not too bad. If you are carrying all your gear, it's just too far and the streets are too crowded to make it practical.
What It's All About
Mission Cliffs is an indoor rock climbing gym. They have multiple walls to climb that range in difficulty from first timer courses up to pretty darn difficult. There are masses of courses (80 in all I think) and even a bouldering area. It's probably the closest you can get to actual rock climbing without ever going outside.
Why Should You Go
The weather in the City can be exteremly frustrating in the summer. Some days it just sucks to go outside. When those days arrive (or if you are a tourist and you are unlucky enough to be here during a cold spell) it's super cool to have an indoor rock climbing gym. Mission cliffs is massive. It has been constructed within a former werehouse that must be around 40,000 square feet, so even on a busy day you can pretty much expect no waiting.
The staff is friendly and knowledgable. If it's your first time, they will guide you through a safety course and teach you all the basics you need to know to get started. I think the basic course takes about 15 minutes.
Don't Forget
Go with a friend. Finding a climbing partner can be tough if you are by yourself...because most everyone comes with a friend. Remeber to bring trunks or a towel (whatever you are comfortable with) to relax in the sauna after your climb.
If you get hungry, right outside the door to Mission Cliffs is a taco stand that you won't soon forget. I have no idea how they produce such good stuff from a van, but they do. It's so good in fact, I go there to eat when I am not climbing.
Help! I Forgot Stuff
There ain't much near Mission Cliffs but luckily enough the gym has everything you could possibly need. They have a pro shop that sells everything you can imagine for indoor rock climbing.