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Seal Cove

International > N America > Canada > British Columbia > Squamish
Warning Access Issue: Camping DetailsDrop down

Description

The climbing here is good, but the setting is spectacular, though you may have to contend with trains. The crag itself sits just above Howe Sound. Hanging belays at high tide are not to be missed. Seals and otters frequent the cove as well. Out the traverse, best to belay the second from the top and rap back in from the tree. Two ropes may be needed otherwise, with the real possibilty of dropping them in the water.

Getting There

About 10 KM from Squamish, and 2km. south of Murrin Park park in the wide pullout with the mining information sign. Walk up the road towards Squamish wide until across from the Welcome to Squamish sign. It is possible to stay left of the road barrier for safety. Drop down to your left following flagging tape down and right to the old road, and follow this to the crag, which is below and left. Rappel with one rope on the slings on the tree. It is a stretch, but possible. It is possible to follow the road and flagging tape up to the railroad tracks and cross these above the crag, but avoid walking on the tracks. The climbs on the right of the slab must be accessed by doing the traverse first.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 1
● Navy Seals
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 14
● Whanu
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 29
● Bubble Buddy
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 20
● Bikini Bottom
Trad
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 46
● Lost Horizon
Trad, Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 17
● The Next Generation
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 11
● Future and a Hope
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 1
● The Humpback
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 13
● Barknuckles
Trad 2 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 70
● Sole Mate
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 9
● Diamond Seas
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 33
● Swept Away
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 43
● Seal Cove Traverse
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 1
● Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
Trad, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 2
● Beware the Tides of March
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Navy Seals
 1
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
● Whanu
 14
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, TR
● Bubble Buddy
 29
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Bikini Bottom
 20
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Lost Horizon
 46
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad, Sport
● The Next Generation
 17
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
● Future and a Hope
 11
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● The Humpback
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
● Barknuckles
 13
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 2 pitches
● Sole Mate
 70
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Diamond Seas
 9
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Swept Away
 33
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Seal Cove Traverse
 43
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
 1
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, TR
● Beware the Tides of March
 2
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Some Seal Cove routes
[Hide Photo] Some Seal Cove routes
Dam McCool on the Seal Cove Traverse
[Hide Photo] Dam McCool on the Seal Cove Traverse
Scenery at Seal Cove
[Hide Photo] Scenery at Seal Cove
Not a shitty spot.
[Hide Photo] Not a shitty spot.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Rob D
Queens, NY
[Hide Comment] The walk in approach is currently much clearer than the rappel route. To find the trail, look just after the green side on the north side of dynamite alley. Short steep trail leads to talus field and after a short talus hop you will find the trail down to the base of the climbs. Jul 22, 2019
Nolan Slade
Hamilton, ON
[Hide Comment] Having climbed here many times throughout the past couple years, I’d like to share a note on the approach. I highly recommend taking the first entrance to the wash, rather than going the way that Bourdon’s 2012 select guidebook describes. Park at the lot (in the northern-most spot you can find), then take the first obvious turnoff to your left, before the large rock outcrop framing Hwy 99. You’ll go down through some boulders immediately, and then walk on flat ground for a while and pass some beautiful hidden camp spots. Keep going and take another obvious left to descend towards the top of the cove, where you can rappel on climber’s left with a single rope. This approach takes half the time and is safer. Plus, you can leave your stuff up top rather than have to haul it back up once you’re done for the day. Nov 1, 2019