Vancouver Island Region Crag Climbing

VICTORIA AREA

At the balmy south end of Vancouver Island in the hills overlooking the provincial capital are clusters of basalt bluffs that offer some great climbing in secluded settings. Some of the main areas are Mt Wells, Sugarloaf, Fleming Beach and Glen Lake. Other climbing hot spots are East Sooke Park and the seaside bouldering at Fleming Beach.

Sendage.com lists 230 climbs and 230 boulder problems in the Greater Victoria Area.

Guidebooks

- Vancouver Island South Select Climber’s Guide
2022 by Allen Agopsowitz
Status - Available

- Vancouver Island South Climbing Guidebook
2022, Paul Morris, Adequate Guides
Status - Available

- Glen Lake Crag
by Seanathon Morphy (2019)

- Rock Climbs of Victoria
by Mark Freeborn (2008)
Status - unknown

Social - Victoria BC Climbing Friends, Glen Lake Crag, South Island Climbers Association

GULF ISLANDS

Mt Maxwell offers some adventurous climbing on an unusual conglomerate rock.

Guidebook - Saltspring Rockclimbs by Gus Oliveria
4th Edition, 2023, Gus Oliveira
ISBN 978-0-9813604-0-9

Social - Victoria BC Climbing Friends

DUNCAN - COWICHAN AREA

Duncan Boulders located east side of Mount Tzouhalem near the Maple Bay Marina. Over 250 problems on sandstone blocks are listed in the current guidebook but Sendage.com has 365.

Guidebook - The Duncan Bouldering Guide
2nd Edition, 2021
Seanathon Morphy and Greg Bauch
ISBN 978-1-9991652-1-5  

Social - Duncan Bouldering Commission

Samsun Narrows was one of the earliest crags developed on Vancouver Island with a climbing history going back into the 1980s or before.

- Vancouver Island South Select Climber’s Guide
2022 by Allen Agopsowitz
Status - Available

Online Beta - Samsun Narrows

NANAIMO AREA

The hills and shoreline surrounding Nanaimo have some excellent rock climbing and route development over 30 years has produced one of the best cragging areas in the south of Vancouver Island and the highest concentration of climbing routes in the Island region as a whole. The crags are split into several main areas: Mt Benson ~100 routes, Nanaimo River ~85 routes, Lantzville Foothills ~80 routes, Rutherford Ridge ~40 routeswith another dozen or so at several minor crags.

Guidebook - Nanaimo Crags
7th Edition, 2024, Ryan Kurytnik
ISBN 9780995220-1-8

Social - Nanaimo Climbers

HORNE LAKE

Most of Vancouver Island is made up of brown, volcanic basalt but at Horne Lake can be found one of the few limestone outcrops that are scattered along the island. The Horne Lake karst is a real taste of Euro-style limestone with superb, difficult sporty routes. The well-out-of-date 20 year old mini-guide lists about 50 routes.

The Horne Lake walls are on private property and the access is officially closed. Please pay attention to posted closures and local's advice on climbing here.

Online Beta - Horne Lake
Mini-Guide (PDF)

Social - Horne Lake Climbing

SUTTON PASS

There are two close by sets of boulders along Highway 4 west of Port Alberni. The original boulders are right by the road in a jumbled talus slope. The problems are great but the landings and situations leave a lot to be desired. But desire no more, just a few kilometres further up the road is a beautiful collection of granitic boulders in a pretty forested setting - Sutton Pass.

Access - From Port Alberni drive west on Highway 4 following signs for Tofino and Pacific Rim. 41km west of Alberni the road follows the bank of the Taylor River and the Sutton Boulders are impossible to miss on the open scree slope above the highway. For the Sutton Pass boulders continue up the steep hill to a pullout 1.5km beyond.

Online Beta - Sutton Boulders, Sutton Pass

COMOX VALLEY

Several good areas around the valley with the best being at Comox Lake and Constitution Hill. The climbs at Comox Lake have great access and nearby camping at the Comox Lake campground. Fun lakeside climbing on the typical island basalt. Constitution Hill has quality granite, some of the only low-elevation, accessible granite on the island. Current guidebook lists over 150 routes.

Access - Comox Lake Crags are found around the campground west of Cumberland at Comox Lake. The campground at the lake is called Cumberland Lake Park. Cumberland is approximately a 1 hour drive north of Nanaimo, and a 2.5 hour drive north of Victoria on the inland island Highway #19. Take Exit 117 to Cumberland and drive 3 km to Dunsmuir Avenue. Turn right and drive 4 blocks up this main avenue, at the end turn left and drive 4.4 km to Comox Lake and the campground. There are signs to Comox Lake from the Highway.

Layout - Mostly bolt-protected sport routes and TRAD, with bolted anchors and rappel stations. Good, well constructed and maintained trails.

Camping/Accommodation - Tent camping at the Comox Lake campground, hostel in nearby Cumberland.

Guidebook - Comox Valley Climbs
by John Waters
2022
ISBN 978-0-9734437-1-4

Social - Climb with me Comox Valley

QUADRA ISLAND

The rugged Discovery Islands are one of the most beautiful areas on the south coast of BC and have tonnes of adventure activities. Quadra Island is a mecca for outdoor activities with miles of excellent hiking and single-track mountain bike trails, world-class kayaking, diving and other water sports. including some amazing rock climbing. The most developed cragging area is around Chinese Mountains and Morte Lake on Quadra Island. There are over 275 routes on clean, solid volcanic basalt & andesite. Easy trail access, great views, an interesting variety of rock and a good selection of 2 and 3 pitch routes add up to a great climbing experience. Elsewhere around Quadra are some short but excellent granite shoreline crags.

Access - by ferry from Campbell River to Quathiaski Cove (10 minutes) and then drive West Road to Hyacinthe Bay Road and pull out at the signposted trailhead (15 minutes)

Layout - Mostly moderate, bolt-protected sport routes with bolted anchors and rappel stations. On average some of the longer sport routes in the Vancouver Island region. Basic paths connect the crags to major hiking trails, signs make navigation to most of the crags fairly straightforward. The guidebook has detailed descriptions and GPS waypoints which also help locate the crags.

Camping/Accommodation - Tent camping at Heriot Bay Inn, Taku Resort, We Wai Kai Campsite. Many other accommodation options see online>

Guidebook - Quadra Island Rock Climbs
by Philip Stone (2024 edition)
Status - in print and available

Social - Quadra Island Climbers

Online Beta - Quadra Island Rock Climbing, New Routes

CREST CREEK

With around 250 free routes and 50 aid climbs Crest Creek is one of Vancouver Islands best developed sport climbing areas and a must visit for any climber on Vancouver Island. The rock is the prevalent coarse Karmutsen basalt with great friction, few continuous cracks but fun and varied bolt protected face climbing.

Access - Crest Creek Crags are located in Strathcona Provincial Park 60km west of Campbell River. From the junction on the Inland Island Highway head west on Highway 28 toward Gold River. The crags are clearly signposted about 40 minutes drive from Campbell River.

Layout - Mostly bolt-protected sport and mixed-pro routes with bolted anchors and rappel stations. Some purely TRAD routes. Excellent trail network serve the crags with manicured staging areas. Well-signed from highway, parking lots, picnic areas and outhouse-toilets.

Camping/Accommodation - No camping permitted at crags. Closest tent camping at nearby Heber River Recreation site just a kilometre to the west off Highway 28, Buttle Narrows BC Parks site, Lions Campsite Gold River or at Strathcona Park Lodge. Motel accommodation at Gold River and Strathcona Park Lodge.

Guidebook - Crest Creek Rock Climbs
(2017) by Chris Barner & Ahren Rankin
Status - first edition in print and available.

Social - Crest Creek Climbing Area

MARBLEROCK CANYON

Not to be confused with the provincial park of the same name north of Whistler-Pemberton, this Marblerock Canyon is located on the west side of Buttle Lake in Strathcona Park. A high 350m limestone wall runs over 1.5km up the south-facing side of this remote, wilderness valley.

Access - Marblerock Canyon is reached by boat across Buttle Lake. From Campbell River drive west on Highway 28 and keep straight down the Buttle Lake Parkway at the Buttle Narrows junction. From a pullout 22km along Buttle Lake park and put in a canoe or kayak and cross to the north side of the creek outlet. An easy, unmarked hike leads up the valley to the base of the walls (2 hours from road).

Layout - This is a wilderness conservation zone there are no bolts and all the routes involve adventurous trad climbing.

Camping/Accommodation - There is an idyllic basecamp site by Marblerock Creek below the walls. On the creek outlet delta is a BC Parks Marine Campsite.

Guidebook - Island Alpine Climbing
by Philip Stone
Status - first edition in print and available

Social - Vancouver Island Climbing and Mountaineering

TENNENT LAKE - MT MYRA

There is not much low elevation granite on Vancouver Island but this area is well worth the effort to hike up into the alpine for the clean rock and beautiful ambiance. Thousands of small and larger granite outcrops are scattered for miles along the high alpine ridges between Mt Myra and Mt Thelwood. Possibel to climb in a strenuous day trip but an ideal destination for a weekend campout.

Access - Tennent Lake is reached on the Mt Myra trail from the Myra Falls mine site at the very south end of the Buttle Lake Parkway in Strathcona Park. Drive west from Campbell River on Highway 28 and keep straight at the Buttle Narrows junction all the way south to the mine site. Drive all the way through the mine to the trailhead and parking. Hike down the gravel Powerhouse Road to the trail and hike up to the meadows at Tennent Lake.

Layout - A remote backcountry location with no bolts or other infrastructure. Lots of granite cracks for trad protected climbs and endless bouldering.

Camping/Accommodation - Wilderness camping at Tennent Lake and in the meadows above.

Guidebook - Island Alpine Climbing
by Philip Stone
Status - first edition in print and available

Social - Vancouver Island Climbing and Mountaineering

NOMASH VALLEY

The Nomash Valley has some of the rare low elevation granite found on Vancouver Island although it is not easy to reach with a long drive out to the remote coastal community of Zeballos. Long multi-pitch slab routes with the nearby splendour of the alpine Haihte Range.

Access - A long drive up the Island Highway 19 to the Zeballos junction and then along the gravel Zeballos Forest Service Road. Just outside the small community of Zeballos turn east onto the Nomash Main logging road and follow it to a parking place at Nathan Creek where the roads ends at a removed bridge. From here hike in to the small side valley

Layout - Mostly bolt-protected slabby sport routes with bolted anchors and rappel stations.

Camping/Accommodation - Camping possible at the end of the Nomash Main road or hike in further to a site closer to the Nomash Slab.

Guidebook - Island Alpine Climbing
by Philip Stone
Status - first edition in print and available

Social - Vancouver Island Climbing and Mountaineering

NORTH ISLAND

There are a number of crags steadily being developed in the North of Cancouver Island including at Bouza Cove, Keogh Lake and Bonanza Lake.

Social - North Island Climbing Crew