Climbing Wall FAQs

Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed without the use of ropes or harnesses. Boulderers use climbing shoes to secure footholds, chalk to keep their hands dry, and crash pads to cushion their falls.

Belaying goes with top rope climbing and is the practice of exerting friction on a climbing rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far.  A climbing partner called a belayer applies friction at the other end of the rope whenever the climber is not moving, and removes the friction from the rope whenever the climber needs more rope to continue climbing.

Maggie Daley Park offers belay checks so that you belay your friends or family via top rope climbing. Belayers must be a minimum of 18 years old. Maggie Daley Park also offers auto-belay services, which allow you to climb on your own without a human belayer.

Top rope climbing is a style of climbing in which a rope, used for the climber’s safety, runs from a belayer at the foot of a route through one or more carabineers connected to an anchor system at the top of the route and back down to the climber, attaching to the climber by means of a harness.

Climbers must be belay checked at Maggie Daley Park prior to climbing top rope

Auto-belaying is the practice of using an automatic belaying device in place of a human belayer. Maggie Daley Park’s auto-belays are the safest models in the industry and use magnetic braking technology to ensure a smooth stop to a climber’s fall.

Beginning May 22nd, 2026, the climbing wall will be open daily from 10am-7pm weather permitting.

Climbers should wear comfortable, athletic gear. Loose fitting clothing should be avoided. You will need to wear special climbing shoes to climb which we have available for rent. You are also required to wear a harness if you are top rope/auto belay climbing. All climbers need to wear a helmet. All equipment is available for rent.

You may bring your own climbing equipment, but Maggie Daley Park reserves the right to inspect your harness to ensure that it is safe.

No items may be carried with you as you climb. This is to prevent the risk of items falling to the ground or hitting someone below you as you are climbing. This includes cell phones, cameras, and other personal equipment.

Day lockers are available in the fieldhouse for a small rental fee to secure your personal belongings. $3 for a small locker and $5 for a large locker, rental is for up to 3 hours.

Credit card to pay for your climb/equipment rental, comfortable athletic clothing, and socks. Sunscreen is recommended, also have sunscreen available for sale inside the fieldhouse.

How long you climb is really a function of your fitness and interest, but the typical first time climber will climb for about 90 minutes including certification process. Note - climbing via the auto belays is limited to 30 minutes.

The belay check process for top rope climbing takes about 20-30 minutes. Must come with a partner.

To climb, you need to be belayed, which requires someone on the ground working with you. This requires either coming with a friend or relative who will belay you (they need to be belay checked my Maggie Daley Wall Staff as well) or using our auto-belay services (for an additional fee). 

Bouldering must be done with mats below you and a spotter to ensure that if/when you fall you have someone to make sure the crash pads are properly positioned and to help guide your fall.

We want to encourage people to climb and will do our best to partner those who are unaccompanied with others, but there is no guarantee. As a result, it is best to come with another person.

Each climber needs to have one waiver on file for the season. Upon check in, the rental desk cashier will confirm you have an up to date waiver on file and if so, you will not be required to submit another one unless the participant's health has changed since last visit.

For minors (under 18), the waiver needs to be executed by a parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian is not accompanying a minor, the parent or guardian may complete the waiver ahead of time on the website under the climbing wall tab. The minor must come to Maggie Daley Park and check in with the rental desk cashier to confirm they have a waiver on file. 

1. Check in at the fieldhouse.
2. Complete the waiver.
3. Choose what you would like to do - belay/top rope check, auto-belay climbing, bouldering, or top rope climbing (must be belay checked from Maggie Daley Park and come with a certified partner to belay for you)
4. Let us know what equipment size you need (shoes should be as tight to give you as much feel for the wall as possible).
5. Pay the appropriate fee.
6. Retrieve your rental equipment AND wristband.
   1. the color on your wristband indicates to our climbing wall attendants what you are authorized to do
7. Lock your personal equipment in a locker.
8. Proceed outside to the orientation table 
9. Get certified to climb if necessary 
10. If you are getting belay checked for top rope climbing, this will take place at the climbing wall on select days during scheduled times. Once checked and passed, you will receive your tag for top rope climbing. Then you will go to the Rental Desk for your card to be laminated and kept on file with us at the park. 

Maggie Daley Park climbing staff reserves the right to inspect your harness/shoes/helmet to make sure it meets our safety standards.

Someone who is getting a belay check for top rope climbing will only be allowed to climb after they have completed and passed their belay check.

Someone who is already checked as a climber/belayer and has their Maggie Daley Park top rope card may climb wherever the wall is open as indicated by the black climbing wall screens being removed from the wall. Please check in with the wall attendant in the area you want to climb before you start climbing.

If you have paid for the use of an auto-belay, please check in with the climbing wall attendant prior to climibng. Must also go through orientation prior to activity.

Initially, climbers may climb for as long as they like.

Depending on how busy the wall is, we may institute limits on how long people may climb to ensure that as many people have access to this facility as possible.

Price information is available here.

Size restriction: a climber must be able to fit comfortably in our harnesses, which means small children and larger adults may not be able to climb and / or use the auto-belays.

Age restriction: climbers must be at least 5 years old to climb or boulder, and at least 18 years old to belay.

Weight restriction: For top rope climbing, a belayer should weigh as much or more than the individual being belayed. Auto Belays have a 40 pound weight minimum, 300 pound weight maximum.

Top rope climbing: must have belay check completed and on file with Maggie Daley Park. When coming to top rope climb, must also come with another Maggie Daley Park belay checked climber to belay for one another. Wall Staff will not belay for a climber.

Rain, lightning and high winds all create negative climbing experiences. Given that this type of weather may develop without warning, wall managers will use their best judgment to determine when to close the wall.

If the wall is closed because of weather, no money will be returned.

Climbing shoes, a helmet, and a crash pad. Chalk bags are optional, but recommended. All equipment is available for rent at the fieldhouse.

Climbing shoes, helmet and a harness. Chalk bags are optional, but recommended. All equipment is available for rent at the fieldhouse.

You will be charged a $150 fee for the equipment.

We use disinfecting spray on helmets and shoes between each use.

Yes – however if you bring your own harness, we will need to inspect it to make sure it meets our safety standards. We also have individual items available for rent should one need, however, equipment is included in the standard daily fee. 

To ensure all climbers regardless of skill level are safe at all times. Helmets are required for all types of climbing regardless of skill level.

Plan for belay checks to take roughly 30 minutes. We offer top rope/belay checks only. 

Climbing is inherently a risky sport. To minimize the risk to you and those around you, we need to make sure that you understand the appropriate behavior and safety procedures expected at Maggie Daley Park.

We have no way of validating your belay check or confirming that safety procedures from another facility match our expectations.

We are happy to perform a belay check to test you, so that you can start climbing right away. Please check with our staff for details on this program.

It is good for the season. which is slated to end September 27th weather permitting. Please bring your belay check pass to the fieldhouse once it is given, we will maintain it on file for the duration of the season. We do require it to be renewed annually to ensure you still understand the safety procedures.

We’re excited to help you plan your next group event! For groups of 10 or more people, call us at 312.552.3000 or email climbingwall@maggiedaleypark.com and please fill out the Group Outing Form found on the main climbing wall page.