Rock climbing is fun, exhilarating & challenging for all levels…

Rock Climbing is the exhilarating pursuit of scaling steep featured rock walls with your own hands. It is a very rewarding activity offering many challenges for the newly intrigued or the experience climbers with specific goals. Join us for the ultimate Rock Climbing adventure and learn to safely manage your fear of height while developing your technique and abilities with our experienced guides.

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Professional Rock Climbing Guides

Summit Mountain Guides offers a professional guiding service with fully certified Rock, Alpine and Mountain guides (ACMG / IFMGA). Climbing with a certified guide provides you with the highest industry expertise and safety standards. At Summit Mountain Guides our experienced guides take pleasure in helping you achieve your mountain adventure and goals. We specialize in designing trips to suits your needs and experience. By leaving all the logistics to the experts, you will maximize your leanings and climbing!

Rock Climbing Adventures

Every summer, Summit Mountain Guides offers various Rock Climbing programs in the Nelson & Castlegar area, Western Canada and in the European Alps. We offer adventurous beginner to advanced single-day or multi-day rock climbing programs. Whether you are interested in trying it out for the first time, developing more advanced skills or experience a classic multi-pitch rock climb, we have a program that suits your needs. Browse our programs and contact us with your questions or to design a custom trips. We look forward to guiding your vertical adventure…

Rock Climbing Courses

Rock Climbing with summit mountain guides

After School Youth Rock

A fun after school program for youth ages 12 and up to build skills and confidence. A Nelson based program available in Spring and Fall.

Intro to Rock Climbing

A beginner program for families, groups and individuals wishing to safely learn the basics of outdoor rock climbing. 1 or 2 day programs available.

Rock Transition

A one day course focused on basic safety for outdoor top-rope climbing practices with an introduction to lead and multi-pitch climbing standards.

Advanced Rock Skills

Our line of advanced rock climbing training programs include skills like; lead climbing, advanced movement skills, traditional gear & anchors, multi-pitch climbing systems, aid climbing, rock rescue & more.

Rock Climbing Trips

Nelson & Castlegar Rock

Located in South-Eastern British Columbia, The vibrant communities of Nelson & Castlegar are home to some of the finest rock climbing the BC interior. Their geographical locations give quick access to fantastic rock climbing in the Purcells, Monashees and Selkirk mountains. The area, home of the famous Valhalla provincial park, offers an interesting variety of sound rock types ranging from granite, gneiss to limestone. The climbing here is remote and offers many quality single and multi-pitch rock climbs far from the crowds.

Valhalla Alpine Rock

Located in the heart of the southern Selkirk’s in south-eastern British Columbia, Valhalla Provincial Park is home to some of the finest alpine rock climbing in Western Canada. The Mulvey Group, near the southern end of the park, provides a fantastic collection of rugged granitic spires boasting many classic alpine rock climbs.

Custom Alpine Rock

Organizing custom alpine rock trips is one of our specialty. The world is blessed with hundreds of quality alpine rock destinations. We have many years of experience organizing and carrying out successful alpine rock climbing trips in remote locations of Canada and around the world.

Skaha & other BC Rock Climbing

British Columbia is blessed with a diverse variety of ecosystems along with a fascinating Geology; this has sculpted many attractive cliffs awaiting the keen climbers. BC is peppered with quality bluffs and rock walls featuring various rock types, Skaha near Penticton in the Okanagan Valley is a fine example with fantastic sport and trad climbing on compact gneiss. Curious climbers visiting the West Coast area, the BC Interior, the Okanagan Valley, the Columbia and the Kootenay regions will be pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of rock climbing available.

Squamish Rock Climbing

Located on the West coast of Canada, along the Vancouver-Whistler corridor, the town of Squamish and the Squamish Chief is a rock climber’s paradise. “The Chief”, a 700m granite monolith, and its surrounding rock bluffs boast a fantastic density of granite slabs and crack climbs. The area is a traditional climber’s dream as it offers an incredible variety of long quality multi-pitch and single pitch crack climbs. Join us and discover this Canadian gem.

Canadian Rockies Rock Climbing

Famous for their well-preserved wilderness and natural beauty, the Canadian Rockies near Banff and Jasper National parks offer the highest concentration and variety of single and multi-pitch rock climbs in Canada. The limestone & quartzite rock walls surrounding the mountain communities of Canmore, Banff, Lake Lousie, and Jasper boast a life time of long quality climbs for yours to discover. Summit Mountain Guides offers day and multi-day guided rock climbing program in the Canadian Rockies from June through September.

Chamonix Alpine

The Chamonix valley is dominated by the majestic dome of Mont Blanc. It is surrounded by hundreds of easily accessible pointy granite spires providing world-renowned rock, ice, and mixed alpine routes. The village is charming and offers incredible vistas, cuisine along with a vibrant mountain culture.

Two hikers walking across a snowy landscape with a mountain peak in the background under a clear blue sky.

Kokanee Glacier Alpine

Nelson area in the Southern Selkirks offers some unique alpine and glacier objectives. Explore into Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park and discover aesthetic ridges and impressive views. Alpine routes can be done in a long day trip or built into multi-day programs using the Kokanee Glacier Chalet as a base.

A climber in a blue helmet and jacket ascends a rocky mountain ridge, with snow-capped peaks in the background under a clear sky.

Rogers Pass Alpine Rock

Renown for its deep powder ski touring, Rogers Pass also hosts some of the best alpine rock climbing and mountaineering in Canada. Located inside Glacier National Park, Rogers Pass is in the heart of the Selkirk mountains of Southeastern British Columbia. Join our 2 to 4 day guided beginner to advanced programs and discover the birthplace of North American mountaineering.

Bugaboo Alpine Rock

The Bugaboos of Western Canada are one of the world’s greatest alpine rock climbing centers. Located in the Purcell mountains of South-Eastern British Columbia they are a cluster of high and sheer granite spires situated inside the pristine Bugaboo Provincial Park. Join our 3 to 5 day guided program and discover some of the best traditional alpine rock climbing in Canada.

Gimli Peak-South ridge, III 5.10a

Rated III 5.10a, the South ridge of Gimli peak in Valhalla provincial park, is one of the best of its class anywhere in the world. This captivating 8 pitch alpine rock climb is wildly exposed, sustained but moderate. The climbing is varied and features steep cracks, grooves, chicken heads, and fingery walls. Join one of our Alpine guides and ascend this route in style and good company.