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Yamnuska Rock Climbing and Hiking is Closed Again

Hikers, climbers and trail-runners won't get to use Yamnuska for at least five weeks

For at least five weeks, Yamnuska will be off limits to climbers due to spring-like conditions on the trail. The mountain was closed in 2021 because of trail upgrades, which included moving the hiker’s trail and installing steps on the steeper sections.

Effective Date: March 31, 2022, until further notice.
Where: Yamnuska Area in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park.
Why: Mild temperatures have created unfavourable conditions on Mount Yamnuska. To protect the environment and conserve the landscape, Yamnuska Trail and the Yamnuska Climbing Area will be closed until further notice. We expect this temporary closure will be in place for approximately five weeks; however, the trails and area will be reassessed weekly.

Yamnuska is one of Canada’s most popular multi-pitch rock climbing areas and was the cliff where technical climbing was introduced to the Canadian Rockies with Grillmair Chimneys back in the early 1950s. There are now dozens of classic routes from 5.6 to 5.14.

The original 34 rock climbs were documented in a guidebook by Urs Kallen and have gone on to become the must-tick list for all hardcore Yamnuska climbers. Modern classics include Pony Express 5.10b, Devil’s Right Hand 5.11c and Blue Jeans 5.13.

Read about Yamnuska and The Chief, another of Canada’s iconic mountains for hiking and rock climbing, here. For a story about some of Yamnuska’s history by legendary Calgary rock climber Andy Genereux see here.

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