Discover Boulder Circuits at Northern Rocks
At Northern Rocks, our boulder circuits offer a fresh way to experience climbing, introducing an intuitive difficulty system designed to help you progress. Each circuit is a series of boulders grouped by relative difficulty. For example, within Circuit 2, you might find climbs that vary from “easy” to “hard,” which could overlap with an “easy” climb in Circuit 3. This crossover makes it easy to challenge yourself, explore different circuits, and gain confidence as you transition to higher levels.
Up for a Challenge?
Each circuit is filled with a variety of holds and movement styles. A great way to level up is to attempt every boulder in a circuit. Start by taking on Circuit 2—can you complete every climb? Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, try Circuit 3! Climbing every boulder within a circuit not only exposes you to new movement techniques and styles, but it also builds the skills you need to advance to the next level.
With our new grading system, every climb offers the perfect blend of fun and challenge. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced climber, the circuits at Northern Rocks are designed to help you grow in your climbing journey.
How Do Circuits Work?
Circuits assign a number to each problem, ranging from 1 to 8, with an additional “?” option for routes that could be any grade in the whole range. The number corresponds to the route’s overall level of challenge, giving you a huge variety of hold sets and movement styles across all levels. With number-based circuits, the possibilities are endless. We can set boulders at any grade, with any hold set, while focusing solely on the movement of the boulder and challenge of the route.
- Level 1-2: Perfect for beginners and those building confidence on the wall.
- Level 3-4: Intermediate challenges that require some technical skill.
- Level 5-6: Advanced problems for climbers looking to push their limits.
- Level 7-8: Elite routes designed for highly skilled climbers.
- ? Option: These boulders could be any circuit!
This system allows for a wide range of creative problem-solving, making every session more dynamic and exciting.
Benefits of Boulder Circuits
- More Variety: You’ll have access to a much wider variety of holds on boulder problems at every level.
- Flexibility: You can explore different movements and techniques on a wider variety of holds sets
- Easier Progression: Climbers can easily see how they’re advancing, with a clear path of progression from level to level.
- Creative Route Setting: Our setters are thrilled! They can design routes with any combination of holds, leading to more unique, interesting, and fun climbs.
What It Means for You
Circuits are designed to make climbing more inclusive and fun for everyone. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been climbing for years, this system offers something for all skill levels. Climbers will be able to challenge themselves at every level and try climbs using a wide variety of climbing holds and colours, while our coaches can provide more personalized recommendations based on your skill set.
We regularly reset sections of the gym with innovative routes that keep things fresh and exciting!
