I Visited All Eleven Hangar 18 Climbing Locations – Here’s a Quick Review of Each One!

I will spare you a long-winded story about how I got into climbing and jump right into a review of each location I’ve been to. Please note that I (5’3″ female) climb mostly V3-V4s – I can do most V3s, some of the easier V4s, and only a small handful of the easiest V5s. For top rope, I’m a solid 5.10+ and can go up to 5.11s. I’m better at technique-based problems that challenge balance and flexibility over strength. It is based off of my own skill level that I’ll rank the difficulties for each location.

Arcadia

Address: 305 N Santa Anita Ave, Arcadia, CA 91006

Parking: Good sized parking lot

Size: 7000 sq ft. Appears small at first but has a wide-open space towards the back.

Type: Bouldering and auto-belays.

Difficulty: Quite hard! I was surprised at how hard the routes were given I’ve been climbing for a year. I think this place is about half to one grade higher than some of the easier locations. Not beginner friendly.

Ceiling Fan: Yes

Overall: I didn’t try out the auto-belays but they looked pretty fun, especially with the slanted walls. Short auto-belay routes, but tall bouldering routes. I thought there were a lot of “intermediate” problems from V2-V4, but all were tougher than other locations.

Hawthorne (South Bay)

Address: 4926 Rosecrans Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250

Parking: Decent sized lot.

Size: 12,000 sq ft. Pretty large size with plenty of routes.

Type: Bouldering, top rope with auto belays, and lead climbing.

Difficulty: The setters are making things gradually harder over time! About half a grade harder than Long Beach, but still tons of problems that are doable. I can do most V3s here and a number of easier V4s, though slowly I’m finding all V3s becoming harder and it’s knocking my ego down.

Ceiling fan: No

Overall: The top rope is great! So much variety, and one wall is slightly slanted so that you can focus on technique. This is most well-balanced gym with the type of bouldering and top rope problems, and includes a small fitness area and Kilter board.

Long Beach

Address: 2599 E Willow St, Signal Hill, CA 90755

Parking: Small parking lot that gets packed in the evenings after work.

Size: 12,000 sq ft. Feels small but is not the smallest location.

Type: Bouldering and top rope with auto belays

Difficulty: Easiest out of all the locations I’ve been to. I can do all V3s and the highest number of V4s here. I’ve completed 2 V5s at the time of writing this post 🙂

Ceiling fan: No

Overall: My home base and probably the most beginner-friendly location. One particular wall has a majority of the technique-based problems, and the others vary in strength. Top rope leaves some to be desired but it will do! There’s also a Kilter board and fitness area.

Mission Viejo

Address: 23812 Via Fabricante, Ste. A4, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Parking: Decent sized lot with designated spots for Hangar 18, but I’m fairly certain you’re able to park in neighboring spots.

Size: 7000 sq ft. Felt like the smallest Hangar 18 location.

Type: Bouldering only

Difficulty: A wide range of beginner-intermediate friendly routes! There’s a good mix of harder variations of a single grade and easier ones.

Ceiling Fan: No

Overall: This was the final location I visited and it didn’t leave much of an impression.

Orange

Address: 1547 W Struck Ave Suite A, Orange, CA 92867

Parking: Difficult to find within the lot. Lot usually full with aggressive “no Hangar 18” signs painted everywhere else. There’s a map posted on the door to show alternative parking spots.

Size: 9000 sq ft. This location is one of Hangar 18’s largest.

Type: Bouldering only

Difficulty: They use color-coded tags instead of the usual V’s, and I find the difficulty around the same as Upland or Rancho Cucamonga, maybe a bit harder. I can complete most red tags here, which are the equivalent of V2-V4.

Ceiling fan: No

Overall: Since this is a bouldering-only gym, there’s a wider variety. There’s a huge center and back corner for overhangs, and one smaller wall dedicated to technique-based problems (my favorite)! Sometimes this gym will feature competition or partner problems.

Rancho Cucamonga

Address: 9004 Hyssop Dr, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

Parking: Plenty of space in the lot.

Size: Decent size compared to others.

Type: Bouldering only

Difficulty: One of the harder location I’ve been to. Less beginner-friendly in my opinion, but I went back recently after gaining more experience and I’d rate this easier than San Clemente but a tad harder than Upland and Hawthorne. I can do most V3s here.

Ceiling fan: Yes

Overall: A good variety! Got me consistently sweaty the last time I went – will be back soon.

Riverside

Address: 6935 Arlington Ave, Riverside, CA 92503

Parking: Decent sized lot but can I see it filling up during peak hours.

Size: 13,000 sq ft. Good open space and is the largest facility. Bouldering is limited to just the free-standing boulder in the middle.

Type: Bouldering, top rope with auto belays, and lead climbing.

Difficulty: Pretty hard! Some of these V1s aren’t beginner-friendly, and I found limited V2s and V3s. There are plenty of problems V4+ so better for more advanced climbers. I was able to complete a fun 5.10+ auto belay though!

Ceiling fan: Yes

Overall: Almost all sections for bouldering are sloped, with very few routes geared for technique. I found the V2-V3s to be limited and difficult. There’s more amenities here with a fitness room, a lounge area near the bathrooms, and even a lounge area at the top of the free-standing boulder!

Riverside (East)

Address: 2111 Iowa Ave Suite A, Riverside, CA 92507

Parking: Nice lot, but can be difficult to find. Enter the address into your Maps app and the building is towards the back.

Size: On the smaller size but still a good variety of intermediate routes.

Type: Bouldering and auto belays. No top rope.

Difficulty: Harder than average! The V2s were on the harder side, and most routes are inclined. Good for intermediate to advanced climbers. I thought the V1s would be difficult for beginners.

Ceiling Fan: Yes

Overall: I would probably frequent this location the least as it’s further than the other Riverside location plus it’s smaller. There’s a second level where there’s some gym equipment, a Kilter board, and where you can top out on some problems.

San Clemente

Address: 1031 Calle Trepadora Unit A, San Clemente, CA 92673

Parking: Small parking lot but pretty suburban area

Size: Second to smallest location,

Type: Bouldering only

Difficulty: Probably the hardest location, but I went when I was still kind of new to climbing. I struggled to complete a V1 here a few months into training, but was able to do other V2’s. The overhangs here make me sweat just looking at them.

Ceiling fan: No to the giant fan, but yes to some smaller ones

Overall: Other Hangar 18 locations can get warm without AC and even with the fan on, but since this is at a seaside city, it was pretty cold inside. It’s among the smallest location. Will need to return as I’ve progressed in my grade.

Upland

Address: 256 E Stowell St, Upland, CA 91786

Parking: Small lot but suburban area makes parking easy to find.

Size: 12,000 sq ft. Good size with a section in the back.

Type: Bouldering, top rope with auto belays, and lead climbing

Difficulty: A bit harder than the Hawthorne location potentially equal in difficulty. I can do nearly all V3s and recently completed a V4.

Ceiling fan: No

Overall: This is my second home base so it’s been nice being able to switch routes up between here and Long Beach.

Victorville (High Desert)

Address: 15315 Cholame Rd, Unit D, Victorville, CA 92392

Parking: Small lot but suburban area.

Size: 7000 sq ft. On the smaller side.

Type: Bouldering and autobelays, no top rope.

Difficulty: Rivals Hawthorne and Upland. Plenty of intermediate routes and I was able to do a V4 here!

Ceiling fan: No

Overall: Tons of problems! A good variety despite smaller real estate. The mats seem relatively new compared to other locations.

Overall

My verdict (easiest to hardest): Long Beach, Hawthorne, Upland, Victorville, Rancho Cucamonga, Mission Viejo, Orange, Riverside, Riverside (East), Arcadia, San Clemente.