Northern British Columbia Climbing & Caving

Northern BC Mountaineering

The spectacular mountains, glaciers, and alpine wilderness of Northern BC offer numerous choices for those venturing off the beaten path. Explore the wilds from a European-style glacier chalet. Camp in stunning Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park. Or try a guided expedition to the Stikine Icecap.

Rock Climbing Near Terrace

Between Terrace and Prince Rupert, there are many easily accessible cliffs and bluffs with good climbing potential. Developed climbing spots around Terrace include Copper Mountain, whose 350-m/1,148-ft face offers some of the best local rock climbing; the popular and easily accessible Onion Lake, located between Terrace and Kitimat; and Tyee, a sporty crag with excellent routes on vertical and overhanging granite cliffs.

Caving in Northern BC

Northern British Columbia boasts some of the world’s deepest caves, plus many easily accessible caves. Fang Cave is the ninth-longest cave in Canada, while Bocock Peak Park has the ninth-deepest Canadian cave system. Kakwa Provincial Park burgeons with still-unexplored caves, and spectacular rock formations can be viewed underground at Monkman Provincial Park.

Fang Cave

Fang Cave is located in Evanoff Provincial Park in the Hart Ranges of the Canadian Rockies; Prince George is the nearest community. This cave is part of a diverse limestone complex that includes other caves such as Tooth Decave and Window on the West. The caves are accessible by a fork which continues along the ridge above the bowl.

Bocock Peak Provincial Park

Bocock Peak Provincial Park is located approximately 70km/43mi west of Hudson’s Hope. It contains three significant limestone cave systems, the deepest of which goes down 253m/830ft. There are no trail systems leading into these caves, so access is limited.

Kakwa Provincial Park

Many caves have formed in the limestone of Kakwa Provincial Park (approximately 70km/43mi north of McBride), often along contact lines with quartzite. Cave resurgences, where underground streams reappear at the surface, are prevalent in the Mount Sir Alexander and Mount Ida areas. These caves range from partially explored to unexplored to undiscovered. Extreme hazards exist in these recently glaciated cave systems, so they are best entered only with an experienced caving group.

Monkman Provincial Park

Cavers are in for a treat on the 4km/2.5mi Stone Corral Trail in Monkman Provincial Park south of Tumbler Ridge. This three-hour round-trip route leads hikers to amazing cave formations and vertical limestone cliffs. Bring a flashlight to explore the caves. Other sinkholes can be found in the high alpine areas of the park.

Climbing & Caving Safety

• Beginners should get basic climbing and belaying instruction in the safe and controlled environment of indoor climbing walls and continue training until they’re confident and ready for more challenging routes.
• All climbers and mountaineers – regardless of their level of expertise – must thoroughly understand all gear, safety and weather-related requirements (like avalanche safety) before setting out on an adventure. To avoid injury, get advice from local guides, clubs or associations before venturing out. Keep travel health insurance up to date and ensure there’s separate coverage for the chosen activity.
• When viewing caves, the fragile nature of these systems and the potential hazards must be recognized. Visitors should be aware of the numerous vertical openings and irregular terrain of surface karst. Inexperienced visitors wishing to view caves should consider joining a caving club.

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