How to Build a Kids Rock Climbing Wall

A rock climbing wall made for your kids is a great way to keep them active and interested in the outdoors. If you already have vertical wall space outside the addition of a rock climbing wall can be easier than you think.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pieces of plywood
• decking screws
• 8 2x4's 8 foot long
• assorted handholds
• handhold hardware
• UV Guard
• drill with bits
• skill saw

Instructions

1. 

   The most important thing to consider before building a rock climbing wall for your kids is their ability to climb. Your wall should be built with the child's age and skill in mind. Adding room for expansion, or adding a harder course adjacent to the main wall, will give your kids room to grow their skills and confidence level.

2. 

   Attaching a rock climbing wall for your kids on the garage could be a great way to save space in the yard and use the vertical wall space you already have. Building a rock climbing wall that would be simple to attach to the garage is easier than you may think,and can take only a few hours work to complete. The rock climbing wall does not have to be elaborate at first, remember this is a project that can grow with your children.

3. 

   Building a vertical rock climbing wall on an existing structure in my opinion is the easiest. Using four 2x4's make a box use decking screws to secure your corners. Inside the box use 2x4's every 2ft to brace the structure securing these boards with decking screws as well. Secure the new wall to your existing garage wall and cover with 2 sheets of plywood. Your children can be up and climbing in a day, leaving the rest of your weekend free for other projects.

4. For a simple free standing rock climbing wall: Cut two 2X4's at 4ft giving you four 4ft long boards. Cut another 2x4 so that you have two 16in boards and two 32in boards. Using deck screws join two 4ft pieces to the 16 inch center pieces. This rectangle assembly will give you your top. Repeat the process for your remaining boards to give you a bottom.

5. Your top and bottom pieces can now be joined together with the remain boards. Using two 2x4's repeat the 4foot cuts to make 4 boards. Attach these boards for upright posts on your bottom box. Attach them on the outside and inside of the 32 inch boards. to have a holding frame for the top box. Cut two more 2x4's at 4 foot and put an angle on them. These will be your angled boards that hold your decking. Secure them to the top and bottom box with decking screws. You should now have a 3D triangle of sorts. You can add the decking and the hardware to finish off your rock climbing walls.

6. 

   In the resources section I have included a detailed list of plans for other types of walls. You can get holds for beginners that are larger than standard rock climbing holds. Jug holds and Leaper holds are popular and easy for kids to climb with. These are put on with T nuts and bolts.

7. 

   Consider getting a starter set of rock climbing holds and mix in a few novelty pieces for great fun. Your rock climbing wall could be customized to your child's favorite theme with a few novelty rock holds in place.

8. 

   Don't forget the rope! Your children need a sturdy rope to hold on to when climbing gets tough. In my experience cotton ropes are easiest on little hands, you can get these ropes at any hardware or rock climbing supply store. For a twist consider installing a rock climbing wall in a child's bedroom or in another recreation room in the house.

Tips & Warnings

• Start simple and work your way to a more complex design.

• Design ways to move the wall during the assembly process this can make things easy if you later have a problem and need to move it.

• Build only what is appropriate for your child's age group and ability level.

Resources

• Three Ball Climbing
• Verticle Wall Plans
• Overhang Wall Plans
• Build A Homemade Pitching Machine