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Elevation: 5,004 ft 1,525 m
GPS: 51.17749, -115.55278
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 77,752 total · 421/month
Shared By: Jordan Ramey on Jun 5, 2011 · Updates
Admins: Dave Rone, Tom Jones, Richard Rose, Rhys Beaudry

Description Suggest change

Tunnel mountain is located practically in the town of Banff. The east side of the mountain provides sport, multipitch sport, and multipitch trad  climbing opportunities. The west side of the mountain sports a maintained tourist trail to the top with several overlooks, only one of which really shows the climbing area well.

Getting There Suggest change

From the Trans Canada:

Take the Banff exit and head towards Banff on Banff ave. Drive south 1 km and take the Tunnel Mountain Rd for 5.5 km. Take a left onto Tunnel Mountain Dr and go about 200 m. Park by a winter closer gate and some trashcans next to a wide open field (an underground reservoir).

To Gooseberry area:

Head across the open field towards the cliff and locate the large manhole cover (sorta hidden behind bushes. Pick up the trail and follow it SW. At the first Y, take a right, then angle right at the second Y. At an intersection, keep heading straight for the cliff. When you reach the base skirt south (climbers left) along the base until you find an obvious beat down spot where the climb starts in a 5.6 groove. Most notable, there is a heart shape carved in the rock just right of the route and the route itself has "GB" carved at the start. Kinda lame, but it makes finding it easy.

To Black Band area:

Park at the Banff Surprise Corner viewpoint parking lot on google maps. From the trail at the back of the parking lot, descend a short section of stairs before turning onto a well-worn path that leads downhill through the trees. Follow the Hoodoo trail down to a bend in the Bow river, walk around the bend where there is a slight fork in the trail and head left. Within a short distance there should be a climbers trail which heads left up a beaten trail to the right of the scree slope. Follow it for a few short minutes to the base of the wall. There is no need to walk through the scree slope!

100 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Tunnel Mountain Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Tunnel Mountain

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 26
Dancing Sasquatch
Sport 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 44
Le Soulier
Sport 4 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 85
Gooseberry
Trad 7 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 19
The Dirtbag
Sport 4 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 6
Domino
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 9
Beach Bum
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 17
The Doe
Sport 8 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 10
Field of Dreams
Sport 9 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 20
Riel Rebellion
Sport 7 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 6
Sunburn
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b A0
 39
Ballista
Sport, Aid 8 pitches
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 23
Tonka (the Gift)
Sport 8 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 48
Riverrun
Sport 9 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 6
Point Break
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 6
The Surfer
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Dancing Sasquatch Black Band
 26
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Sport 3 pitches
Le Soulier Black Band
 44
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport 4 pitches
Gooseberry Scoop
 85
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 7 pitches
The Dirtbag Black Band
 19
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport 4 pitches
Domino Black Band
 6
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Beach Bum Wave
 9
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
The Doe Scoop
 17
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport 8 pitches
Field of Dreams Scoop
 10
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport 9 pitches
Riel Rebellion Scoop
 20
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport 7 pitches
Sunburn Black Band
 6
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Ballista Scoop
 39
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b A0 Sport, Aid 8 pitches
Tonka (the Gift) Scoop
 23
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport 8 pitches
Riverrun Scoop
 48
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport 9 pitches
Point Break Wave
 6
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
The Surfer Wave
 6
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Tunnel Mountain »

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