Calgary Has New Outdoor Granite Boulders
They were installed in a famous park near downtown and they have dozens of problems to climb for free
Calgary is close to some of the best rock, alpine and ice climbing in the world, which is why the city is home to thousands of climbers. Despite being close to the mountains and crags of the Canadian Rockies, not everyone who wants to climb can escape the city. So it’s great news that there are now some close-to-downtown outdoor boulders where climbers can session.
The free-to-use blocs are found at Millennium Park and were installed thanks to OnSite, a wall manufacturer based in Montreal. The natural rocks range from 3.5 metres up to 4.3 metres and weigh up to 27 metric tonnes. They were installed in 2023 and have become popular among local climbers.
“We continuously look for ways to make our parks attractive and accessible to all, and the location of these new boulders will allow the growing community of climbers to practice their skills in a beautiful outdoor setting without needing to drive outside of the city,” said project manager Britney Woods in a press release. “We see great value in upgrading our park features, and we’re very excited about this new amenity within one of our most central parks.”
There are around 60 problems that range from V0 up to V-hard, and they were set by veteran climbers and gym owners Josh Muller and Sonnie Trotter, among other climbers. “My friends and I have been really enjoying the sets and try to come down once a week,” said Melissa Park.
Francis Larose, the owner of OnSite, has worked with climbing gyms around North America to build dozens of climbing walls. “Most outdoor climbing structures are peppered with random holds, which often don’t create particularly interesting or challenging climbing,” said Larose. OnSite has worked with other cities in Canada, including Montreal where, in 2019, they helped build Parc Urban. The two boulders, Rio and Taillibert, have 30 problems up to V9.
“We wanted this park to feel more like a conventional outdoor climbing experience,” said Larose. “That’s why we felt it was important to provide established problems so that climbers could challenge themselves the way they would at traditional climbing or bouldering areas.”
Climbers have to bring their own pads and gear and follow the rules set out for users. Also at Millennium Park is North America’s largest skatepark. If you’re in Calgary for work or a visit, be sure to check out these great new boulders. Find all of the topo info here.
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