Canadian Rockies Rock Climbing
Canada / Alberta & British Columbia / Canadian Rockies
Multi-pitch or single-pitch sport and alpine rock climbs
Private guiding 2-day minimum
May – October climbing
While the Canadian Rockies have a great reputation for world-class ice climbing, skiing, and mountaineering, the rock climbing has been undeservedly underrated. Over the last decade, new climbs at all levels of difficulty (including many in the easier grades) have been established on the big limestone walls around Canmore and Banff. In addition, many of the old classics have been re-equipped with new bolts and bolted anchors. There are literally thousands of single-pitch sport routes and hundreds of multi-pitch sport and trad routes between Canmore and Jasper.
We offer climbing courses, climbing camps, and custom climbing trips. Our beginners’ course will have you following moderate routes and leading sport climbs. You will learn everything you need to know about climbing multi-pitch routes safely and efficiently. Our advanced level courses will get you leading moderate routes and building safe anchors using self-placed climbing protection (i.e. ‘trad gear’).
On our climbing camps, the guide acts more like a coach: helping to choose the best route for a given day and skill level of the participants; sharing tips on route-finding, leading, and belaying; and accompanying the climbers to ensure a safe, fun, and successful day. Having a guide in your group assures optimal use of your vacation time/days off and peace of mind should the going get rough.
Long climbs in alpine surroundings and quick access from the towns of Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper, combined with relatively short approaches reminds one of the Dolomites – only without the crowds! This becomes even truer if you add in an excursion to the remote, four-wheel-drive-access Ghost River Range on the outskirts of Banff National Park. The limestone climbs here truly match the quality of Europe’s finest.
2026 Pricing
from$550CAD + 5% GST
HIGHLIGHTS
- Best limestone climbs north of Mexico
- Back of the Lake quartzite – trad and sport
- Sport routes up to 20 pitches
- Yamnuska: 9-pitch trad routes
- Awesome scenery
- Only 1¼ hours drive from Calgary Airport
DIFFICULTY
- Novice to Expert
- Climbing Intro Days
Canadian Rockies Rock Climbing Itinerary
Routes
Given the abundance of rock climbs throughout the Canadian Rockies, we can adjust the itinerary during our climbing week to the preferred challenge level of our clients and to the weather. The following are just some of the routes that we can choose from:
Around Canmore:
- Mt. Yamnuska (aka. The Yam): various routes from 5.5 to 5.hard, up to 9 pitches, mixed protection
- McGillivray Slabs, Mt. McGillivray: various routes from 5.6 to 5.10c, up to 9 pitches, some bolted, some trad
- Kid Goat and Nanny Goat, Goat Mountain: various routes in the 5.6 to 5.10a range, up to 9 pitches, some bolted, some trad
- EEOR (East End Of Rundle): various routes in the 5.6 to 5.10 range, up to 13 pitches, some bolted, some trad
- The Ghost River Valley: various routes in the 5.7 to 5.10 range, up to 13 pitches, mixed protection
- Ha Ling Peak: various routes from 5.8 to 5.10d, up to 13 pitches, some bolted, some trad
- Heart Mountain: various routes in the 5.6 to 5.9 range, up to 17 pitches, some bolted, some trad
- More Cowbell, Delta Wall: 10 pitches, bolted, 5.7
- Slabby McSlabface, Mt. Baldy: 4 pitches, bolted, 5.5
- Joy, Mt. Indefatigable: 10 pitches, trad, 5.6
Around Banff:
- Rundlehorn, Mt. Rundle: 11 pitches, bolted, 5.5
- Tunnel Mountain climbs: various routes from 5.4 to 5.10d, up to 8 pitches, some bolted, some trad
- Plutonian Shores, Sulphur Mountain: 8 pitches, bolted, 5.9
- Mt. Cory: various routes from 5.7 to 5.10b, up to 10 pitches, some bolted, some trad
- Cascade Mountain: various routes in the 5.5 to 5.8 range, up to 7 pitches, some bolted, some trad (eg. Wheat Kings, Mothers Day Buttress, Valleyview)
Around Lake Louise:
- Takakkaw Falls: 12 pitches, 5.7, trad
- Saddle Mountain: various quartzite routes starting at 5.10b, 4 pitches, mixed protection
- Back of the Lake, Lake Louise: one- and two-pitch quartzite routes from 5.6 to 5.hard, some bolted, some trad
- Grand Sentinel: 4 pitches quartzite, 5.8, trad
- Apollo, Mt. Hector: 10 pitches, 5.9, mixed protection
- Achilles Spire, Mt. Andromache: 13 pitches, 5.8, bolted
Around Jasper:
- Hidden Valley, near Roche Miette Tower: up to 4 pitches in the 5.4 to 5.9 range, mixed protection
- Roger’s Lunch Buffet, Ashlar Ridge: 8 pitches, 5.10a/b, bolted
- Reynold’s Wrap, Syncline Ridge: 3 pitches, 5.10a/b, trad
- Cloud Nine, Syncline Ridge: 4 pitches, 5.9, bolted
- Dune Wall, Mt. Edith Cavell:
- Guides Route, Morro Peak: 12 pitches, 5.7, mixed protection
- Hands in My Pocket, Arch Wall: 5 pitches, 5.8, bolted
- Cadot Crack, Medicine Lake: 15 pitches, 5.7/8, trad
Curriculum
For our courses, we strongly believe in the “Learning by Doing” concept as well as in small group sizes. Expect lots of climbing!
Rock Climbing Beginners’ Course
- Follow single and multi-pitch routes, lead (or mock-lead) bolted sport climbs
- Knots, rock climbing technique, belay technique, communication, rappelling, cleaning anchors, introduction to the placement of removable climbing protection (i.e. nuts and cams), hazard evaluation, and risk management
Rock Climbing Advanced Course
- Lead moderate multi-pitch climbs on gear safely and efficiently, lead sport climbs
- Review of beginner’s course contents plus: advanced climbing technique, placement of removable protection (i.e. cams and nuts), building safe belay stations/anchors, basic self-rescue techniques, route selection, and trip planning
Rock Climbing Camp
- A combination of any of the above contents, advancing at a rate in accordance with your personal skill level and preferences
Canadian Rockies Rock Climbing Gear List
Canadian Rockies Rock Climbing Equipment List as Downloadable .PDF
Please download a PDF copy to use as a checklist when preparing for your trip.
There are more than half a dozen excellent sports shops in Canmore, Banff, and Jasper, including a top-notch second-hand shop in Canmore. If you need clothing, footwear, or gear for the trip, come a day early and shop to your heart’s desire. You’ll have the added benefit of starting to acclimatize if you are from sea-level – the elevation of the mountain towns is between 1,060 m / 3,500 ft and 1,600 m / 5,250 m.
Technical Equipment
Bring the following, or rent or buy the items from a shop in Calgary, Canmore, Banff or Jasper:
- Rock climbing shoes
- Sturdy approach shoe or light trekking boot
- Running shoe or light approach shoe for easier approaches (optional)
- Lightweight, collapsible ski poles (optional, but recommended)
- Climbing backpack (25-30 litres) with rain cover specific to the pack
- Leather belay/rappel gloves (optional)
Bring the following, buy it in Calgary/Banff/Canmore/ Jasper, or ask us for a quote to supply the items:
- Climbing helmet
- Climbing harness with gear loops
- 6 quickdraws
- Minimum of four non-locking carabiners
- Two or three locking carabiners
- Larger pear-shaped locking carabiner for Munter Hitch
- Four shoulder-length slings
- Two double shoulder-length slings or one 5-metre length of 7 or 8 mm Prusik cordelette
- Two Prusik cordelettes: 5-6 mm diameter, 3.5-meter length
- Tuber-style belay/rappel device or Figure 8
- Single rope (9.5-10 mm diameter, 50-60 m length) or double ropes (8-9 mm diameter, 50-60 m length) per climbing team
- One set of wired nuts (stoppers) per climbing team
- One set of camming devices per climbing team (i.e. 7 or 8 cams up to 3-inches)
Clothing
Please dress for the weather. We recommend the ‘layering system’: Bring light, technical clothing that doesn’t take much space in your backpack and dries quickly when sweaty or wet. Layers must be put on and taken off quickly as weather conditions change during the day. Merino wool is a nice material for base layers and t-shirts because it is comfortable, warm, and it does not retain odours even after many days of use. Examples:
- Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Lightweight wind and water-resistant over pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Lightweight synthetic trekking pants or zip-offs
- Medium weight Primaloft jacket with hood
- Medium weight fleece sweater
- Synthetic or wool base layers – top and bottom
- Synthetic shorts and t-shirt
- Quick-drying sports bra
- 2-3 pairs of good quality trekking socks
- Warm hat that covers your ears
- Lightweight synthetic or wool gloves
- Sun hat, preferably with a wide rim
- Spare socks and underwear
- Bandana or Buff*
Around town
- Casual clothing, comfortable footwear, swimsuit – everything you need to be comfortable in and around town.
- Toiletries
Hut Overnights (if included in the program)
- Light summer sleeping bag
- Spare socks and underwear
- Down vest or light insulated jacket (optional)
- Light hut slippers (optional)
- Toiletries and small towel (keep to a bare minimum – the hut has limited washing facilities and no showers)
- Earplugs (optional, but recommended)
- Alpine Club card (if you hold a membership)
Other Items
- Your favourite lunch items and hiking snacks – candy bars, dried fruit, nuts, etc.
Sunglasses with high UV protection - Sunscreen and lip protection with high SPF
- Small container bug spray or cream
- One-litre water bottle
- Personal first aid kit and other needs (eg. blister kit, prescription medicine, anti-inflammatory, contact lenses, prescription glasses, hand sanitizer etc.)
- Pocket knife (optional)
- Camera, spare batteries (optional)
- Maps, GPS, altimeter watch (optional)
- Hand sanitizer or sanitary hand wipes (small personal amount)
Trip Details
Meeting Point
Banff or Canmore, Alberta either a)on the evening before the official start of the course or b)on the morning of the first climbing day. We gladly assist you in arranging lodging and airport transfers from and to Calgary International (1.25 hrs).
Or for private/custom trips – meet guide on the morning of your climb to discuss itinerary, mountains conditions and equipment.
Climate, Weather, Temperatures
Although common saying is, it can snow in Banff any month of the year, temperatures in summer are usually between 15C and 30C. The continental climate at the Eastern slope of the Rockies makes for mostly dry weather.
Medical/Rescue and Trip Cancellation Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of a travel insurance package that does cover adventure travel. Common policies sold by travel agents or policies included in your credit card contract tend to exclude “mountaineering” if you read through the fine print. We recommend an adventure travel policy on our website at http://ontopmountaineering.com/travel-insurance/ which our clients had good experiences with in the past. *NEW: we now recommend including covid-19/pandemic coverage with your insurance policy.
Can I Do It?
1) Beginner Course
Requires good physical fitness for spending an active days in the mountains and you should not be afraid of heights. Previous hiking and indoor climbing experience advantageous. Objective: Follow multi-pitch climbs, lead sport climbs.
2) Advanced Course
See under 1) plus outdoor climbing experience following routes up to grade 5.8 . Objective: Lead multi-pitch climbs on gear self sufficiently.
3) Climbing Camp
See under 1) and 2) plus ability to safely lead up to grade 5.6 (V-) on multi-pitch climbs. If you sign up as a rope team of two, at least one of the partners must be a competent leader. Your guide will coach you on the climbs, helps you set up safe belays, assures route finding and steps in, if the going gets tough.
Private Guiding
As for any of our private guiding weeks, we enjoy optimal flexibility! The Canadian Rockies offer all you can dream of, regardless if you are a beginner in alpine rock or you have been climbing for decades and want to trade leads with your guide.
Climbing Grade Conversion
| Climbing: French | UK | Austr. | UIAA | North America |
| 1-2 | HVD | 8-9 | I-II | 5.2-3 |
| 2-3 | MS | 10-12 | III | 5.4-5 |
| 4 | S | 13- | IV | 5.6 |
| 4+ | VS | 13+ | V- | 5.7 |
| 5a | HVS | 14 | V | 5.8 |
| 5b | 15 | V+ | 5.9 | |
| 6a | E1 5b | 19 | VI+ | 5.10a |
| 6a+ | E2 5c | 19/20 | VI+/VII- | 5.10b |
| 6b | 20 | VII | 5.10c | |
| 6b+ | E3 5c | 21 | VII+ | 5.10d |
| 6c | 21/22 | VII+/VIII- | 5.11a | |
| 6c+ | E4 6a | 22 | VIII- | 5.11b |
| 7a | 23 | VIII | 5.11c/d | |
| 7a+ | E5 6b | 24 | VIII/VIII+ | 5.12a |
| 7b | 25 | VIII+ | 5.12b | |
| 7b+ | E6 6b | 26 | IX- | 5.12c |
| 7c | 27 | IX | 5.12d | |
| 7c+ | 28 | IX/IX+ | 5.13a | |
| 8a | E7 6c | 29 | IX+ | 5.13b |
| 8a+ | 30 | X- | 5.13c | |
| 8b | E8 7a | 31 | x | 5.13d |
| 8b+ | 32 | X/X+ | 5.14a | |
| 8c | E9 7b | 33 | X+ | 5.14b |
| 8c+ | 34 | XI- | 5.14c | |
| 9a | E10 7c | 35 | XI | 5.14d/5.15 |
2026 PRICES
1 person: CA$550
Group of 2: CA$650 ($325/person)
Group of 3: CA$720 ($240/person)
Group of 4: CA$740 ($185/person)
Group of 5: CA$830 ($166/person)
All prices + 5% GST
Above rates are for average rock climbing days lasting 8 hours or less door to door from Canmore or Banff.
Premiums apply for longer trips or climbs rated 5.11 or harder.
Additional are guide driving expenses (unless site is close to Banff or Canmore or guests can provide transport to the rock climbing location), rental of technical equipment if necessary.
In high season (July and August) we may add a single day surcharge of 10% to the above rates. No surcharges are applied to any durations of 2 days and longer.
CUSTOM TRIP DEPARTURES
Custom trips, custom courses, private guiding of any duration.
Any time May to November
GROUP TRIP SIZE
2-5 Clients: 1 Guide
TRIP INCLUSIONS
Included:
- Guiding/instruction by an ACMG certified mountain, rock or assistant guide
- Guide expenses (not including transport)
- Equipment use (harness, helmet, climbing hardware, ropes)
We will gladly quote you all-inclusive prices with lodging and air port pick up / drop off in Calgary or we can assist you in making reservations for the lodging and transport option of your choice.
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Lodging
- Food and beverages
- Transportation and parking/road tolls for participants
- Guide transportation (additional cost unless site is close to Banff or Canmore or guests can provide transport to the rock climbing location)
- Insurance
- Anything not mentioned above
Premium for longer days: The guide rate is for a regular climbing day of about 8 hours car to car. Should the weather and your preference/skill level be suitable for longer days (> 8 hrs or more than 10 pitches) please ask us for a quote for any longer days 10 pitches or more or climbs 5.11 and up.
Add-Ons
We’d be happy to provide you with a quote for a package including hotel/hut lodging, overnight guide’s rate, transportation, meal plan, and technical equipment rental. Please inquire with one of our team members.
