Climbing & Bouldering Wall

The Mt. Mendota Climbing & Bouldering Wall supports bouldering, top roping, and sport climbing. The Bouldering Wall is 13 feet tall and the Climbing Wall is 32 feet tall, for a combined 1,900 square feet and 8 lanes of climbing surface. Climbing is free for all members during regular hours, and all gear including shoes and harnesses is free for all members as well! No experience is needed to participate. We’ll have staff to help out anyone who’d like to climb.

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Bop to the Top

Mt. Mendota is located on level 3 of the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center.

Hours of Operation

December 20 – May 10

Day of the Week	Hours
Monday - Thursday	Noon - 10pm
Friday - Sunday	Noon - 8pm

Adjusted Hours

Date	Hours
December 19	Noon - 6pm
December 20 - 25	CLOSED
December 26 - 30	Noon - 6pm
December 31 - January 1	CLOSED
January 2 - 19	Noon - 6pm
January 24 - 25	CLOSED
March 2	Noon - 7pm
March 6 - 15	CLOSED
March 27	Noon - 6pm
March 28 - April 5	CLOSED
April 6	Noon - 7pm
May 1 - 8	Noon - 6pm
May 9 - 10	CLOSED

Check back later for summer 2026 hours.

Check back soon for fall 2026 hours.

Kilter Board

The Kilter Board is open!

The Kilter Board is a state of the art piece of climbing equipment meant for climbing strength and technique training. Check out this video on how to use it!

How does it work?

With a Kilter Board’s light-up holds and adjustable pitch, you’ll have access to well over 100k unique climbs contributed by people all over the global climbing community, from your average everyday gym-goers to professional, celebrity climbers.
Connect to the board with the Android or iOS app, set your climbing grade preferences, and search the catalog for a climb you want to train!
Your “problem” (what we call climbing paths in the discipline of bouldering) will be marked with LED-illuminated climbing holds which are color coordinated to denote starts and finishes, as well as which holds you can use for both hands and feet or those intended only as feet.
Once you select your problem on the app, use the control panel to adjust the angle of the board.
You are allowed to use liquid chalk on the Kilter Board. All other forms of chalk are prohibited.

When can I use it?

It is available for use anytime the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center is open. Look at the climbing wall hours listed about for when staff are at the wall for help with operating instruction and questions.

What do the colors mean?

Green: Place your hands here to start. Don’t reach for anything else until both feet are off the ground. You are also allowed to step on these when necessary.
Yellow: You may use these only for your feet. You may also use shoe friction against the black surface of the board itself.
Blue: These may be used for your hands or for your feet.
Pink: These indicate the final hold(s) of the climb. Reach these using only the holds in the climb, per their rules, to complete the problem.

Have more questions?

Ask a Mt. Mendota staff member for assistance at any time. If Mt. Mendota is closed, find a Rec Well staff member for help!

Climbing Clinics

Climbing clinics are single day instructional programs focused on specific climbing skills and techniques. Clinics are perfect for any climber looking to improve their climbing experience or build new skills.

Image of climbing staff giving instruction to a member.

Lead Climbing Clinic

This clinic will teach you what you need to know in order to indoor lead climb and lead belay at Mt. Mendota. Participants must be Top Rope Belay certified at Mt. Mendota and be able to comfortably climb a grade of at least 5.9.

Price:
Student: $10
Non-student Member: $20

Time: 9am – Noon

Dates:

February 13
March 20
April 17

Member looking up at Mt. Mendota Climbing wall at Bakke

Top Rope Belay Clinic

Our trained staff will teach you everything you need to know about belaying. No experience or gear required.

Price:
Student: $5
Non-student Member: $10

Time: 10:30am – Noon

Dates:

February 27 (registration closes February 25)
March 25 (registration closes March 23)
April 24 (registration closes April 22)

Climbing Events

Climbing wall events are a great way to meet other climbers, learn new techniques, and challenge yourself in a fun and supportive environment. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced climber, there’s an event out there for you!

A climber is assisted by a staff member.

First Time Climb

Begin your climbing journey on Active Badger Day! This free event will feature several climbing instructors who are ready to teach you what you want to know! Register for a free, one-hour session. Registration opens on February 15.

Time: 7:30 – 9:30pm

Date: March 5

PEAK Climbing Night

Play 12 player PEAK, a game about a group of boy scouts climbing a mountain. Then, head on up to Mount Mendota and learn to climb IRL! All instruction and equipment are provided and no prior experience is required to participate. See you on the summit!

Time: 5 – 7pm

Date: March 5

Mt. Mendota Madness Climbing Competition

Test your climbing skills against other UW-Madison climbers.

Femme+ and Open divisions.
Brackets for recreational, intermediate, and advanced climbers
All skill levels are encouraged to participate.
All participants must purchase an Intramural Sports Pass and register through FusionPlay in order to participate.
T-shirt, stickers, and gear rentals are included with registration.
Register February 22 – March 12

Time: 9:30am – 4pm

Dates: March 14 & 15

FAQs

How much does it cost?

It is 100 percent free to all students and members! This includes all rental gear like climbing shoes and harnesses.

Do I need to make a reservation?

No! We have open rec hours within the Bakke’s regular hours of operation. During these times, members are free to come in and climb as much as they want.

What type of climbing is available?

Mt. Mendota has a 13-foot bouldering wall as well as a 32-foot top rope/lead climbing wall. There are 3 auto belays and 5 ropes for top rope climbing.

Is chalk allowed?

Mt. Mendota: All forms of chalk are allowed at Mt. Mendota.

Kilter Board: Liquid Chalk is allowed. All other forms of chalk are prohibited.

Do I need to know how to climb to participate?

No! We have trained staff members to belay, coach, and encourage you up the wall. Check out our available educational programs and clinics if you want to learn more!

Are you hiring?

We are not currently hiring for the climbing wall. If you are interested in working, reach out to patrick.rowe@wisc.edu with questions or check our student jobs page for more information.