This guide is for informational purposes only. The author does NOT encourage any illegal or dangerous activity. Always check local laws and regulations.
Know your limits - As with every climb, it’s best practice to level up with smaller structures before attempting the tallest crane in your city. You don’t want to end up stuck halfway, having run out of stamina, strength, or courage.
Check the weather - Avoid strong winds, rain, and snow. A cloudy night sky covering the moon could help you blend in, though. In lower temperatures there’s a higher chance the ladders will have a slippery layer of ice - bring gloves and proceed extremely carefully.
Don’t go alone - As with every urbex adventure, bring someone you can count on if things go south. Exploring is also much more fun with friends! (Don’t have urbex buddies? Join our Discord server.)
Always have a backup plan - For example, if weather conditions change or security shows up.
If you plan on climbing a taller crane, it might be a good idea to bring some water and possibly glucose tablets for refreshment.
Many cranes have a safety cage around their ladders. If you plan on bringing a backpack/bag, make sure you can carry it in front of you while climbing, so you don’t get stuck in the cage.
If you plan on climbing during the day or around sunrise/sunset, it could be worth taking a safety vest to appear as one of the workers on site. You can also bring a hard hat for the full “worker” impression and extra safety. Note, however, that if you get caught, it might be very difficult to explain why you were there, and workers may suspect you of stealing the hard hat.
If you live in a bigger town or a city, there should be a handful of cranes standing around just waiting to be conquered - but finding the right one is half the battle.
Visit the site during the day first to do your recon:
Check for possible entrances
See whether the crane is used on weekends
Check whether the crane or nearby buildings are well lit at night. Cranes that aren’t heavily illuminated are easier to approach, since there’s a smaller chance of being spotted from the ground.
While scouting, also look for cameras or motion sensors (some may be mounted inside the crane or aimed at the starting ladder). If so, plan how you could avoid them. See our article on this topic here.
Watch for a guard hut - a security guard could be staying there overnight.
Finally, map a few clear escape routes, and make sure the path through the construction site is safe to walk (watch out for holes, loose boards, or anything you could trip or fall into).
As mentioned at the beginning, the hazards of climbing a crane are not always what you’d expect. The crane itself is intended for regular climbing, and therefore among other urban structures, it is one of the safest to climb.
Not every crane has a single long ladder to the top. On many larger cranes, the ladders are angled and form something like a spiral staircase, making the ascent much easier - almost like crawling on all fours.
Angled ladder
Some cranes do have rest platforms every 10-20 meters, but not all.
If you need to take a break on a crane without platforms, you can place one foot on the ladder and the other against the safety cage. This allows you to hold a comfortable position while still keeping three points of contact at all times.
Resting position
Cranes are usually well lit at the base, but the higher you go, the less visible you become. Because of this, it’s often smart to climb the first section quickly and then slow down once you’re above the lights.
In some cases, cranes even have large advertising banners attached to their sides, which can conveniently shield you from view and hide the ladder behind them.
Advertising banner
At the very top you’ll reach the operator’s cabin, the counterweights, and the boom (the long horizontal arm).
The catwalks along the boom are very different from the rest of the crane - they’re not intended to be accessed by workers, and are therefore much more dangerous. They’re completely exposed and usually very windy. We highly recommend not stepping onto them unless you’re very confident in what you’re doing and conditions are good. If you do, we strongly recommend taking a safety harness.
If seen by security guards the best option is to talk your way out in a civil manner. On the other hand, security guards aren’t usually highly motivated to chase you at all costs. Running away might also be an option, but only if you’re quite sure you can make it - if you get caught, the penalties will be much worse. Also watch out for security guards with dogs.
If you’re at the top and a security guard approaches try hiding first. Again, guards aren’t usually motivated to do superhero stunts to catch you. If they’re not looking up or yelling, they’re most likely only there because you triggered an alarm or doing regular patrols.
If police arrive get down immediately! They might call firefighters to bring you down if you keep hiding, which can be much more problematic and in some cases costly.
One time, while climbing a crane, I noticed at ground level that I walked past an alarm that didn’t make any sound. I climbed up, took a few pictures, and got down fast (about 6 minutes in total). Ten seconds after I left the site, I saw a security guard arriving in his car. Luckily he didn’t spot me, but the lesson I learned was that not all alarms let you know when they’ve been triggered.
While crane climbs may not be as dangerous as, f.e., climbing an AM tower, they still demand planning, focus, and respect for the risks. But for those who make it, the view is unforgettable.
If you have questions, tips, or stories from your own crane climbs, feel free to reach out on our Discord or Instagram DMs.
