Parks with the best playgrounds for climbers
Looking for the best playgrounds for climbers? Our favorite playgrounds for older kids who love to climb include tall climbing structures, exciting play features and plenty of space for adventures.
Parks with the best playgrounds for climbers
Pleasant Park
3400 Pleasant Plains Road, Apex
The 92-acre park features a jaw-dropping playground with impressive climbing structures and a giant, 35-foot-tall slide older kids will adore.
It also features six multi-purpose fields, tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts and an "Enchanted Forest" with nine inclusive play villages for kids of multiple ages and abilities.
Pullen Park
520 Ashe Ave., Raleigh
Your big kid has probably outgrown the kiddie boats, but a carousel, real train and boat rentals make this park an exciting destination for kids of all ages. Tickets are $2 per ride and can be purchased online. Even big kids will love exploring the bright red caboose in the playground area, which is also a fantastic photo opportunity.
If your child loves to explore, the Pullen Park playground features a large ropes climbing structure, and there are plenty of picnic areas for teenage hangouts and places to read on the grassy lawn that overlooks the park.
Barwell Road Park
5857 Barwell Park Drive, Raleigh
The highlight of this park big kids and adults will love is the Panthers Play 60 challenge course, which opened in 2021 and has been described as a Ninja Warrior-meets NFL experience. The course takes kids (and adults if you want!) through a series of 11 different obstacles — from ninja steps to a traverse wall and u-turn ramp.
There is also a 40-yard dash with timer and synthetic turf surface. Looking for classic play? There is a play structure for ages 2-5 years and another for 5-12 years with tall slides older kids will love.
North Cary Park
1100 Norwell Blvd., Cary
This park made the list for its natural climbing boulders, located near the playground behind the large shelter and bathrooms. There are no stepping stones here; climbers will have to figure out how to reach the top using just their hands and feet.
Jack Smith Park
9725 Penny Road, Cary
This is another Cary park kids will love for its massive climbing wall (this one does have stepping stones). There's also a rock garden for toddlers and much smaller climbers who may envy their older siblings. This park also has whirligigs, a splash pad, a dog park, a great playground and more.
Clayton Municipal Park
325 McCullers Drive, Clayton
A huge climbing structure with different climbing elements makes this a great place for climbers! The park also has a track for exercise (with great visibility of the playground), a splashpad, basketball courts and a large grassy field.
Related content
- New park with gigantic slide opens in Apex
- Take the Kids: New Panthers-themed playground, challenge course offers something for all ages
- Guide to parks with the best playgrounds in the Triangle
- Guide to parks with accessible playgrounds in the Triangle
- Slide, swing, play: Parks with the best playgrounds for toddlers
- Climb, jump, play: Parks with the best playgrounds for big kids
