Explore Squamish

Easy Top Ropes, Multi-Pitch Tests & Puzzling Bouldering Problems - All Here

Nestled at the end of one of the Pacific Coast’s deepest Fjords, Squamish is Canada's rock climbing mecca.

Climbers from around the world flock to the granite cliffs and bluffs overlooking Howe Sound to test their mettle on some of the most beautiful and accessible rock climbing in the world.


What makes Squamish climbing so special is how easy it is to access the crags. Most of the climbing is within a five minute walk to a ten minute drive of Downtown Squamish. The climbing community here is vibrant and progressive and there are lots of resources for anyone new to the sport or new to Squamish climbing.

Great local guide books, guide services and easy access for thousands of climbing routes make Squamish one of the premiere climbing destinations in the world.

Best spots for rock climbing and bouldering in Squamish

The Stawamus Chief

Most of the climbing in Squamish is centered around the Stawamus Chief. "The Chief", as it is known, is a massive granite monolith towering some 700 metres above Squamish and Howe Sound and has hundreds of climbing routes for every level of climber. The Chief is divided into a bunch of different areas from the long, slabby routes of The Apron, to the famous multi-pitch climbs of The Grand Wall to the routes on the north end of the Chief.
Popular climbs up the apron: Banana Peel (5.7), Calculus Crack (5.8) and Deidre (5.8).
Popular routes to the summit: The Squamish Butt Face (5.9), Angel's Crest (10b), Ultimate Everything (10b) and The Squamish Buttress (5.10c), 

Shannon Falls

Located just south and adjacent to the Chief along Highway 99 is Shannon Falls Provincial Park. This little park has some great shorter length multi-pitch climbs on the cliffs adjacent to the falls themselves. The views the massive Shannon Falls, The Chief and Howe Sound are spectacular.
Popular climbs in this zone include: Klahanie Crack (5.7), Skywalker (5.8), Hairpin (10a) and Centrefold (10b)

Murrin Provincial Park

Murrin Provincial Park is home to over 250 climbing routes, the vast majority of them being bolted sport routes. This small provincial park is about a five-minute drive south of downtown Squamish along the west side of Highway 99. It's a gorgeous park, dotted with old-growth forest and the dozens of cliffs and crags littering the park have a wide range of sport climbs for all ages and abilities. 
Popular sport climbs: Jugs, Not Drugs (5.8), Zoe (10a), Pleasant Pheasant (11a)
Popular trad climbs: The World's Toughest Milkman (5.8), A Little Testis (10b), Perspective (11a)

The Smoke Bluffs

Located just across the highway from downtown, The Bluffs offer some of the best climbing in Squamish. Home to hundreds of predominantly traditional climbing routes from easy 5.4's to 5.14 test pieces, The Bluffs are a great place to experience Squamish' world-famous granite. Easy to get to with mainly short approaches, the Bluffs are one of the reasons Squamish is such a great climbing destination.
Popular climbs in this zone: Laughing Crack (5.7), Penny Lane (5.9), Flying Circus (10a), Split Beaver (10b)

Chek Canyon

Just 15 minutes north of Squamish is one of the top sport climbing areas in all of BC. This area is home to some of Canada's hardest sport climbs but also has enough moderate grades to make it a worthy visit for any climber. The zone is well bolted and stick clips are not necessary to climb here. There is plenty of parking and lots of crags can be reached within a few minute walk of the upper parking lot. 
Popular climbs in this zone: Charlotte's Web (5.9), Master of My Domain (5.9), Centurion (10c), Creepy Crawlers (11a)

The Grand Wall Boulders

Nestled in the forest along the base of the Grand Wall of the Chief, the Grand Wall Boulders are the main bouldering area in Squamish. There are some fantastic boulder problems here, ranging from V0 to as hard as you want and the setting is spectacular. Beautiful forest and massive, granite boulders dotting the base of one of the largest cliffs in the country. Epic. 

Other Crags

There are many other crags in and around Squamish including Area 44, Rogue's Gallery, the backside of the Chief, the Slhanay and Seal Cove. 

See Also

Altus Mountain Guides

Canada West Mountain School

Escape Route

Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures

Valhalla Pure Outfitters

Ground Up Climbing Centre

Full Business Directory

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Rock Climbing