Gargoyle Rock Climbing

From the West
Drive past Crowsnest Lake and Island Lake to a turnoff and parking lot a few meters before the “Welcome to BC” sign. Park here (49.6495, -114.6990). Walk or bike what starts out as a good gravel road that leaves the north west side of the parking lot. In about 400m the gravel dies and you follow a cart track for a half km. You then join back up to the main gravel road. Go straight (i.e. due east). It is about 4.3km from the parking lot, up over the pass, past the small pothole lake (Phillipps Lake) and to the power poles where the side canyon starts (48.6458, -114.6478). Don’t go down the big hill – you’ve gone too far. At the top of the hill there’s a ridge coming down from the right (south) and a quad trail leaving off to the left (north). This road is not supposed to be driven on.

From the East
Drive west of the town of Coleman. As you approach Crowsnest lake, the Peaks Campus is located on the left (south) side of highway 3. Instead of turning there, turn right on 26th street. This heads to a small collection of old homes known as the community of Sentinel. Ask permission at the house next to the gate to either park and walk, or drive through the gate. This is private property. The house owners are generally ok with climbers if they appear to be respectful. If they say no, then this approach is a no go. Follow the road back up into the pass for another 21.5km (20 to 30 minutes). At the top of the pass a narrow gully heads up Mt. Tecumseh on the right (north). It takes off directly in front of a large power relay tower.