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Canwell Crag Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Canwell Crag

L › R R › L A › Z

	3 Bears T,TR 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
	Gunshot S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Pilot Car T,TR 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Power Outage T,TR 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Richardson Washout T,TR 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R

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Elevation:	3,595 ft	1,096 m
GPS:	63.34659, -145.69185 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	271 total · 15/month
Shared By:	Grant Wilson on Jun 2, 2023
Admins:	L Von Dommelheimer Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

Canwell crag hosts some of the most easily road accessible, albeit short crack climbing routes in Alaska. This is some of the finest schist along the Richardson Highway. It is quite similar to the Falls and Donelly creek rock. All of the climbs follows prominent cracks. Because the rock is intact, minimal cleaning was done. Several of the routes have gear that should be placed with extra attention because of wet rock/moss. What didn't get cleaned will likely improve with more traffic. The climbs that have been done range from 5.7 to 5.10. These climbs are engaging and will require a multitude of crack techniques.
Because the crag is located in the shade of Canwell peak, it does not melt out until late spring or mid summer. The preferred time to climb at Canwell crag is in the fall, or when the blueberries are the best.

Getting There

Drive halfway through Red Rock Canyon until rounding the corner by the large red debris pile that gets closest to the road. There are several pullouts after this point which would all make fine parking spots. From the parking, look east towards the rim of the canyon for a prominent ridge that comes to the canyon floor with minimal bushwhacking (50ft or less). Hike the prominent ridge to the rim of the canyon. From the west rim, hike east across the tundra plateau to the east rim. Now standing on the eastern edge of the plateau, you will see the alpine lake below Canwell peak. The crags are situated just south (closer to Canwell peak) at the top of the plateau. Total approach 30min.