Caving & Climbing
The spectacular scenery and exhilartion of climbing and caving in Alberta's Canadian Rockies attract enthusiasts from around the world. From the tips of our majestic ranges to the labyrinth of chambers deep within their cores, the allure is irresistible. Do your mountaineering independently or let Alberta's world-class guides show you the ropes and show off the scenery.
Caving
The caves of the Canadian Rockies are unique in that most are located at alpine levels, with entrances at or above the treeline. Many of the traverses involve steep vertical components, requiring extensive use of technical alpine climbing equipment. Because of the altitude, most Alberta caves tend to be quite cold (4 C/39 F). It is not unusual to find ice in the entranceways 10 months out of 12. The harsh environment and level of difficulty involved in negotiating these caves make them an exciting and challenging experience for those seasoned in spelunking.
Permission to access Alberta cave systems must be obtained from the Alberta Speleological Society. This group supports guidelines prepared by the Canadian Cave Conservancy to ensure caving guides provide their customers with a safe and environmentally friendly experience. Visit their site to find out about cave locations and conditions. Book a guided expedition, rent technical equipment or simply learn more about the rules and requirements for safe caving.
Beginner Level
There are only a few caves in the Rockies that have passages suitable for novice cavers. Grotto Mountain near Canmore is a good spelunking location for physically fit beginners and is accessible with an experienced guide.
Intermediate/Expert Level
Because the majority of Alberta caves are found at high elevations and often in difficult terrain, basic survival and technical climbing training along with a high degree of physical fitness are essential.
Spots for Spelunking
- Cadomin Caves: southwest of Edson in Whitehorse Wildlands Provincial Park: almost 2,800 m (9,150 ft) in length
- Canmore Caverns & nearby Rat’s Nest Cave: Canmore area
- Castleguard Cave at Castleguard Mountain: longest in Canada at 16.2 km (10 mi), best in winter, often flooded in summer
- Ice Cave at Plateau Mountain
- Crowsnest Pass area: 14 chambers, including Yorkshire Pot, the second longest, deepest cave in Canada.
Alpine Climbing
Some of the world’s most challenging Canadian ice climbing, rock climbing and alpine climbing adventures are found in Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country and Waterton Lakes National Park.
The Rockies are made up almost entirely of sedimentary rock—layers and layers of limestones, dolomites, argillites, shales and silicas, including quartzite. Unlike granite, sedimentary rock varies widely in quality—from solid and dependable to loose and hazardous—making mountaineering in western Canada unpredictable, which is part of the allure. But considerable skill is required, especially when traversing the unavoidable areas of loose chipshale found on most alpine climbing routes.
In Banff National Park, the best climbing quality is on the thick-layered limestones (as found on the lower cliffs of Mount Rundle) and dolomites (Castle Mountain). Climbing the gorgeous quartzites of the main continental divide ranges is a one-of-a-kind experience.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable climbing encounter, the majority of informed climbers hire qualified guides through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG).
Skill Schools
There are many outlets in Alberta that teach western mountaineering skills—alpine climbing (rock, snow, ice, glaciers), sportrock, spelunking and more. See Additional Resources below for links.
Famous Faces in Alberta's Canadian National Parks
Whether you are a seasoned alpine mountaineer, sportrock climber or into the popular “scrambling”—easier, non-technical mountaineering—your choices are endless. Famous favourites include:
- Bear’s Hump (Waterton)
- Cascade Mountain: Mother’s Day Buttress (Banff)
- Castle Mountain (Banff)
- Mount Athabasca (Jasper)
- Mount Blakiston (Waterton)
- Mount Edith (Banff)
- Mount Fairview (Lake Louise)
- Mount Louis (Banff)
- Mount Rundle (Banff)
- Temple Mountain (Banff)
- Wasootch Slabs (Kananaskis)
- Weeping Wall (Jasper)
- Yamnuska (Banff Adjacent)
Indoor Climbing
Indoor climbing is a great way to train and get in shape for your outdoor adventure in Alberta. Get started with a program designed to enhance flexibility, balance and coordination.
Additional Resources
