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Elevation: 6,275 ft 1,913 m
GPS: 49.51071, -117.8352
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Rukas Fodor on Apr 4, 2025 · Updates
Admins: Rukas Fodor, Mark Roberts, Kate Lynn, Braden Batsford, Mauricio Herrera Cuadra
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Description Suggest change

Everything west of Creston, east of Castelgar, north of the border and south of New Denver.

Getting There Suggest change

Highway 3 from Grand Forks in the west and Creston to the east or Highway 6 in from the north and south.

There is an airport in Castlegar, but be careful in the fall/winter as bad weather can cancel flights with predictable regularity.

Access Society

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The Association of West Kootenay Rock Climbers (TAWKROC) is the regional access society. They work with local parties to advocate for long-term access to outdoor recreation areas. They support route development and hardware improvements through an annual reimbursement program. To check out PDF topos, sign the waiver or become a member go to [TAWKROC( tawkroc.org/membership/)]. They also own two properties open to the public in Castlegar ( mountainproject.com/area/11…) ( mountainproject.com/area/10…) please sign the waiver at waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5e….  

1,336 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: West Kootenay Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at West Kootenay

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 21
● Megawatts
Sport 8 pitches
W Kootenay > Castlegar > Megawatts
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 8
● Ambrosia
Trad 5 pitches
W Kootenay > … > Koch Creek > Ambrosia
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 18
● Sunshine Crack
Trad
W Kootenay > … > Kinnaird Bluffs > Open Book Wall
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a PG13
 77
● South Ridge
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
W Kootenay > … > Valhalla Mountains > Mt Gimli
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 13
● Hail Mary
Trad 3 pitches
W Kootenay > … > Kinnaird Bluffs > Hail Mary Wall
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 9
● Black Magic
Sport
W Kootenay > … > Waterline > Corners
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 14
● Maniacs
Sport
W Kootenay > … > Arrow Lake > Zebra Wall
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 8
● Prenuptials
Sport
W Kootenay > … > Waterline > Ravens Wall
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 9
● Grade Inflation
Sport
W Kootenay > … > Mt Sentinel > Grad Wall
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 17
● The Mercenaries
Sport
W Kootenay > … > Arrow Lake > Zebra Wall
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 15
● Lieutenant
Sport
W Kootenay > … > Waterline > Ravens Wall
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 10
● Erratica
Sport
W Kootenay > … > Slocan Lake Blu… > Tunnel Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 9
● Super Grover
Sport
W Kootenay > … > Waterline > Ravens Wall
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Megawatts W Kootenay > Castlegar > Megawatts
 21
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport 8 pitches
● Ambrosia W Kootenay > … > Koch Creek > Ambrosia
 8
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 5 pitches
● Sunshine Crack W Kootenay > … > Kinnaird Bluffs > Open Book Wall
 18
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● South Ridge W Kootenay > … > Valhalla Mountains > Mt Gimli
 77
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a PG13 Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
● Hail Mary W Kootenay > … > Kinnaird Bluffs > Hail Mary Wall
 13
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad 3 pitches
● Black Magic W Kootenay > … > Waterline > Corners
 9
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
● Maniacs W Kootenay > … > Arrow Lake > Zebra Wall
 14
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Prenuptials W Kootenay > … > Waterline > Ravens Wall
 8
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Grade Inflation W Kootenay > … > Mt Sentinel > Grad Wall
 9
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● The Mercenaries W Kootenay > … > Arrow Lake > Zebra Wall
 17
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Lieutenant W Kootenay > … > Waterline > Ravens Wall
 15
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Erratica W Kootenay > … > Slocan Lake Blu… > Tunnel Wall
 10
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Super Grover W Kootenay > … > Waterline > Ravens Wall
 9
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
More Classic Climbs in West Kootenay »

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Photos

Chips Crag Topo Photo. Aqua -Out Of Sight. Yellow -Finger Locking Good. Red line -Krinkle Cut. Purple -Salt & Pepper. Orange -Honey Dijon. Grey -Chocolate Chips. Green -Nach-yo Chips. Blue -Backyard BBQ. Brown -Cheesies.
Chips Crag Topo Photo. Aqua -Out Of Sight. Yell…
 3

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