Salt Lake City is better known for its granite canyons and plastic-pulling gyms, but let’s be honest: Some days, you just want to throw down in the concrete jungle. Buildering — aka climbing on buildings — is the underground side of the sport, and SLC’s got a surprising number of gems if you know where to look.
We’ve rounded up 8 of the most climb-worthy building spots across the valley. Some are classic hangouts for local crushers. Others are hidden in plain sight. Either way, pack your ethics, keep it low-profile, and consider grabbing a pad at rentcrashpal.com — Salt Lake City buildering can be as spicy as any outdoor boulder problem.
Explore the Map of Salt Lake City Buildering
1. The World Map Wall
📍Church Office Building — Downtown SLC
This one’s legendary. The large relief map of the world is climbable (if you’re discreet and bold enough). It’s highball, it’s risky, and it’s straight out of a climbing film. The holds? Big features and subtle ridgelines with some long reaches.
⚠️ Warning: This one’s not exactly “legal.” Early/Late day missions only. Bring your cleanest shoes, don’t use chalk, move quick, and don’t blow it for everyone.
🧗♂️ 2. 5.11 Tactical Wall Salt Lake City
📍511 W 200 N, SLC
No joke — this spot outside the 5.11 Tactical store feels like it was designed for climbers. The paneling and corner features offer solid friction and creative routes. It’s a great spot for testing your technical skills or cruising through town.
💬 Word on the street is staff doesn’t may not be psyched if you climb this during open hours. Keep it respectful — don’t test it too hard. Park in the back and climb clean.
3. Concrete Alley Project
📍Backside of the 5.11 Building Plaza, near drive through, on a welding manufacture building
To the left of the same 5.11 building is a grungier, industrial corner wall with weird angles, exposed meters, and stacked textures. This is where you go if you’re trying to simulate some true grit — crimpy, awkward, and raw.
🧠 Beta: Bring a pad from CrashPal — there are pipes and curbs at the base that make falling sketchy.
4. Salt Lake Step-Up dyno Test Peice
📍Same 5.11 Retail Strip as above
Found in the same 5.11 area, these stacked stone columns beg to be climbed. Go straight up the middle. Think gym-style step-up dyno boulders made of faux rock. It’s hard but perfect.
🤳 Pro tip: Great spot to shoot videos— you’ll get weird looks, but it’s worth it.
5. Smiths Compression Route
📍432 S 500 E, SLC
Awesome compression route leading into a fun, dynamic jump! This buildering problem features unique, small drilled-circle footholds that add just enough friction to keep it exciting. Perfect balance between technique and power, making it an absolute classic. It’s also one of the most accessible and legal urban climbing spots in the city, so you can session it without worry.
💡 A must-try for any climber looking to test their skills or capture some impressive footage!
6. The “Golden Tooth” Highball Builder (Best of Salt Lake?)
📍Across the Street from Fairmont Park-Sugarhouse
Tall vertical slats + sloped footholds = a compression king line. The footwork here is everything. Great for working on trust and balance. This one is the best builder I’ve ever climbed, but be careful as its very tall and the downclimb is quite challenging.
🎒 Hit rentcrashpal.com before heading out — the hill landing is rough, pads are neccesary.
7. The Textured Tower (hard builder)
📍 Top of parking garage above FreshFip Pokè
One of the most interesting textures— looks impossible until you realize it has subtle ridges and an overhanging lip at the top. It’s basically a weird moonboard in disguise. Actually really hard and has a pg-13 version…
🧽 Paid parking if your there too long. I park outside and take elevator. Careful for security.
8. Tilted City Traverse
📍Galivan Center and Weechquootee Pl.
A crimpy, traversy little problem starting with narrow tiles on window traversion left and up a clean aesthetic wall. Fun for footwork, dynos, or just goofing around with friends. It’s got style!
😎 Add it to your night session tour. Bonus points for hitting multiple in one evening.
9. Redline
📍Reaveley Engineers
A hard pure pinch line, that might be easier barefoot? Who knows, but this thing is HARD core. Starts at the lowist dip of the pinchy C and traverses left all the way up. Its pretty slick so chalk is optional
😎 Add it to your night session tour. People work here and might get mad.
Salt Lake City Buildering
Urban climbing in Salt Lake City is more than a novelty — it’s a creative way to stay sharp, explore your environment, and see the city with a climber’s eye. From textured concrete walls to unexpected stone features, these buildering spots offer real training value and a serious dose of fun.
As always, keep it respectful, low-key, and legal. The goal is to climb, not cause problems — and we want to keep these spots accessible for everyone in the scene.
Before you head out, make sure you’re covered. A crash pad can be the difference between sketchy and safe. Rent yours at CrashPal — we’ve got affordable, local crash pad rentals ready when you are.
Climb smart, explore often, and tag us in your buildering sessions. 🧗♂️🏙️
Also comment below if you know of any more builders!
