Our reporters comb the country for inspiring stories. You're welcome to use them just follow our usage guidelines.

Need a story?

At the CTC, our job is promoting Canada to the world. We are pleased to provide media all copyrights to reproduce the stories and story ideas published here.

We welcome you to use these story ideas as inspiration for your own stories about Canada. The CTC owns all rights worldwide. (Our images are also royalty-free and available for editorial print, broadcast and electronic use.)

If you choose to reproduce these texts for editorial use only, please include the author’s byline and “courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission.” If you cut, edit or modify the text in any way, please include this note: “The text has been modified from the original.”

Please contact us if you would like to reproduce one of our media centre stories, and let us know how and where you will use this story. Thank you.

Rock climbing in Canada—a list

Try the route not taken: see Canada from a granite rock-wall face. You could spend an entire lifetime exploring our peaks, cliffs and boulders.

by Masa Takei 17 September 2010

Climbing rock, whether it be boulders or big walls, alpine peaks or sea cliffs, or a small, locals’ crag tucked away in the forest, is an excellent excuse to visit some wondrous corners of this country. There are many lifetimes’ worth of climbing in Canada, even in just the established areas, and much more still untapped. Here’s a small selection of climbing areas by region:
The West
Squamish, BC – less than an hour north of Vancouver, the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada” also has one of its most well-known climbing destinations. Choose from over 1,500 routes, including the classic Grand Wall on “the Chief” and some of Canada’s most coveted ascents.  www.hellobc.com/
 
Canmore, AB – home of The Alpine Club of Canada and located just outside of Banff National Park, this town has easy access to climbing that ranges from steep limestone cliffs to one of the longest, multi-pitch sport routes in North America.  www.travelalberta.com
 
Central Canada
Thunder Bay, ON – situated on Lake Superior, this city is surrounded by climbing areas, some as close as 15 minutes away. Adventurous climbing on the tallest walls in Ontario (250 m or 820 ft) can be found in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.  www.ontariotravel.net
 
Val David, QC – one of the longest established climbing areas in Canada, about an hour out of Montréal, has more than 500 routes.  www.bonjourquebec.com
 
The Maritimes
Paces Lake, NS – a popular climbing spot, on steep quartzite and private land near Halifax..  www.novascotia.com
 
Welsford Cliffs, NB – 300 routes outside a Canadian Forces Base, meaning a pass is required to climb here. The only other concern is the goats.  www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca
The North
The Cirque of the Unclimbables, NWT – an expedition to get to, but worth the trip. Meadows give way to a vertical sea of granite. Lotus Flower Tower is one of Roper and Steck’s Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.  www.spectacularnwt.com
 
The Rock Gardens, YT – Not all climbing in the north need be a major undertaking. Just off the Alaska Highway outside of Whitehorse, this heavily used area offers a ready supply of bouldering and routes.  www.travelyukon.com

Print
Usage guidelines

We welcome you to use these story ideas as inspiration for your own stories about Canada. The CTC owns all rights worldwide. (Our images are also royalty-free and available for editorial print, broadcast and electronic use.) If you choose to reproduce these texts for editorial use only, please include the author's byline and "courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission." If you cut, edit or modify the text in any way, please include this note: "The text has been modified from the original." Thank you.

Tags:
Prince Edward Island, Credit - Mandatory Tourism PEI/John Sylvester - Background Image