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Gear Loop

Climbing gym · Berkeley, United States

Berkeley Ironworks grades, explained

Berkeley Ironworks opened in spring 2000 at 800 Potter Street in Berkeley. Touchstone lists 14,000 sq ft of climbing terrain, including a 45-foot lead wall and 2,500 sq ft of bouldering, with slabs, overhangs, dihedrals and crack systems, plus a large fitness area. Members can also use the Team Training Center across the street, a members-only space with training boards.

Gym websiteDirectionsDay pass $35 · hours and prices below

Bouldering grades

Each boulder problem is set in one hold colour and has a start tag with a single suggested V-grade. Touchstone uses this at every gym except Hyperion.

The gym grades in V-scale directly. Here is the range gyms usually set, in Font:

V-scaleFont
VB3
V04B–4B+
V15A–5B
V25B–5C
V35C+–6A+
V46A+–6B+
V56C–6C+
V66C+–7A
V77A+–7B
V87B–7B+
V97C
V107C+
V118A
V128A+

Look up any grade in V-scale

Rope climbing grades

Top-rope and lead routes are labelled with a Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) grade at the start of the route.

The gym grades in YDS directly. Here is the range gyms usually set, in French:

YDSFrench
5.64a–4b
5.74b–4c
5.84c+–5a+
5.95b–5c
5.105c–6b+
5.116b+–7a+
5.127a+–7c
5.137c+–8b
5.148b+–9a

Look up any grade in YDS

Touchstone Climbing grades the same way at all 17 of its gyms. All Touchstone Climbing gyms and grades

From the gym's own grading guide. Gyms reset and regrade often, and grades vary between setters, so treat this as a guide and check the boards when you visit.

Visiting Berkeley Ironworks

Address
800 Potter Street, Berkeley, CA 94710, United StatesGoogle MapsApple MapsOpenStreetMap
Booking
Walk in: no booking neededOpen to the public with no appointment needed. Sign the waiver online before you arrive.
Prices
Day pass · adult$35
Day pass · child12 and under$30
Day pass · concessionAccess to Climbing rate; needs a current California EBT/Medi-Cal card and photo ID$15
Off-peak entry · adultWeekdays before 3 pm, excluding holidays$30
10-visit pass · adultGood at all Touchstone gyms; expires after 1 year; waives the membership initiation fee$300
Monthly · adult1-month pass, valid for 30 days from purchase$130
Shoe hire$4
Harness hire$2
Day pass $35, or $30 on weekdays before 3 pm (not on holidays). Ongoing membership is $120/month plus a $100 initiation fee, with discounts for students, seniors, teachers, military and juniors.All prices on the gym's site
Opening hours
Mon–Fri06:00–22:00
Sat–Sun10:00–19:00
Members-only hours on Saturday and Sunday, 9:00-10:00, before the gym opens to everyone.Hours on the gym's site
First visit
What to know before your first visit
Phone
+1 510-981-9900
Photos
InstagramPhotos on Google Maps

Hours and prices from the gym's own website, checked 3 October 2026. They change, so check before you go.

Is this page accurate and helpful?

Convert any gradeAll gyms

Other Touchstone Climbing gyms

All 17 Touchstone Climbing gyms

More gyms in United States

All 2 climbing gyms in Berkeley

Sources

  1. Touchstone: Berkeley Ironworks home (address, hours, phone, stats)
  2. Touchstone: About Berkeley Ironworks
  3. Touchstone: Ironworks first timers
  4. Touchstone Climbing: Routesetting Approach
  5. Touchstone blog: Sweat SF - everything you need to know about Mission Cliffs (2014-12-19)

Checked 3 October 2026. Gear Loop isn't affiliated with Berkeley Ironworks.