All Locations > International > N America > Canada > Nova Scotia

Gnar Wall Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Gnar Wall

Gnar Wall, The 3 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	88 ft	27 m
GPS:	44.47704, -63.70536 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	2,806 total · 45/month
Shared By:	Nick Taylor on Oct 14, 2019
Admins:	Will Bland, Greg Hughes Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Know the Gnar!

For the adventurous among us, this wall can be found at the SE end of Whale Cove Lake (behind Crow's Nest) in Terence Bay.

The west face is dominated by an eye catching (and disappointingly blank) overhang above a 4th class slab, with a tiered section of mixed quality climbing to the south. The southern face features the tallest section of quality climbing on a slabby face which rises out of the lake.

-SW facing wall gets lots of sun.
-Dries quickly.
-Bug season is the pits! (late spring/early summer)

Cliff top can be accessed at the right end of The Gnar Wall for top rope setup.

Find the Gnar!

TRAIL ACCESS:

Hike as for Crow's Nest. At the final turn south, instead of hiking the final hill to the top of Crow's Nest, follow an old ATV trail to your left and hike east across a short marshy section to a small, exposed rock wall. Follow these broken/ledge-y sections of rock North to the SE tip of Whale Cove Lake. Keep to the base of these faces and follow the edge of the lake until you arrive at a large slab rising from the lake. You have arrived at The Gnar Wall.

To set up a top rope, cliff top access is located uphill to the right (East) over some 3rd class ledges (4th class if you don't walk very far!)

BOAT ACCESS:

From gov't wharf in Terence Bay, paddle 1.15 km as for Crow's Nest, aiming just right of Cat Island. Veer left into a narrow, sheltered cove and paddle for shore, to the right of a large boulder. Once ashore, look for a square, yellow portage sign nailed to a tree in the forest on the left. Hike 150m uphill, through the woods, to access Whale Cove Lake. Hug the right shoreline around the bend and paddle 0.5km toward the granite outcrop at the far end of the lake near a large, 'pyramid' boulder protruding from the water. You made it!

WINTER ACCESS:

If the lakes are frozen there is an alternate route that saves a lot of energy.

Remember to check the thickness of the ice BEFORE you trust it with your safety (and your fancy gear!)

Lots of ice walking! (~1.5km) Take your spikes/crampons/creepers to save your legs and time!

Hike as for Crow's Nest. At Quarry Lake head for the far side past the large rock outcrop to the west. As you near the far side of the lake, look for a small yellow portage sign and a well defined ATV trail. Follow the trail uphill. Take your first left, ignore the second left, and continue to the edge of Whale Cove Lake. Head for the opposite shore (narrowest section of a large peninsula) to find a short, wide path that accesses the southern part of the lake. Exit the narrow cove on the right side and continue to the exposed cliffs at the southern tip of the lake next to a small 'pyramid' sticking out of the water near

Alternately: At the edge of Whale Cove Lake, cross to the opposite shore and follow it SW around the entire peninsula, past 'The Kitchen' until you can see the overhang of Gnar Wall at the far end of the lake.