Climbing gym · Berkeley, United States
The Oaks grades, explained
The Oaks opened in 2023 in the historic Oaks Theater on Solano Avenue in North Berkeley, Touchstone's second movie-theatre conversion. It is bouldering-only, with about 8,000 sq ft of climbing on 15-foot walls and 160+ problems, plus a fitness area. It hosts monthly movie screenings.
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-scale | Font |
|---|---|
| VB | 3 |
| V0 | 4B–4B+ |
| V1 | 5A–5B |
| V2 | 5B–5C |
| V3 | 5C+–6A+ |
| V4 | 6A+–6B+ |
| V5 | 6C–6C+ |
| V6 | 6C+–7A |
| V7 | 7A+–7B |
| V8 | 7B–7B+ |
| V9 | 7C |
| V10 | 7C+ |
| V11 | 8A |
| V12 | 8A+ |
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 The Oaks
- Address
- 1875 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707, 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 $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 siteDay 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 - Opening hours
Members-only hours on Saturday and Sunday, 9:00-10:00, before the gym opens to everyone.Hours on the gym's siteMon–Fri 08:00–22:00 Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00 - First visit
- What to know before your first visit
- Phone
- +1 341-946-9170
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?
Other Touchstone Climbing gyms
- Berkeley IronworksBerkeley · Bouldering · Ropes
- Verdigo BouldersBurbank · Bouldering
- Diablo Rock GymConcord · Bouldering · Ropes
- Cliffs of IdCulver City · Bouldering · Ropes
- MetalMarkFresno · Bouldering · Ropes
- Hollywood BouldersLos Angeles · Bouldering
More gyms in United States
- Bouldering Project SpringdaleAustin · Bouldering
- Bouldering Project WestgateAustin · Bouldering
- The Spot BoulderBoulder · Bouldering
- The Spot DenverDenver · Bouldering
Sources
- Touchstone: The Oaks home (address, hours, phone, stats)
- Touchstone: About The Oaks
- Touchstone Climbing: Routesetting Approach
- 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 The Oaks.