Ethics & Etiquette

Please read and adhere to the following guidelines. Area-specific guidelines are given below. A booklet of access information is available here.

  • Stay on trails and respect the infrastructure of bouldering areas

    Clean up and pack out all trash and garbage, including tape

    Do not cut down trees or vegetation

  • Do not have fires in any bouldering areas

    The only locations fires are permitted are in designated fire rings in the Boulderfields camp sites. Do not create your own fire ring

    Do not throw rocks off cliffs

    Use toilets if they are provided or remove all human and dog waste

  • Keep dogs on leash at all times

    Some bouldering areas do not allow dogs at all; please adhere to area-specific regulations

    Pack out your dog waste

  • Brush your tick marks

    Do not alter rock on previously established or new climbs (gluing, chipping)

    Do not alter areas on or around established boulders (digging out starts, moving rocks, cutting vegetation)

    If you stash pads, do not put them under established climbs, and keep them out of view; if they are seen by land managers, they may be removed

    Practice minimal sprawl when at boulders. Spreading gear and pads everywhere around a boulder is unnecessary, difficult for others to move around, and can damage vegetation

    Be aware of your sound footprint; not everyone appreciates your taste in music, loud voices, and many folks do not want beta sprayed at them

Areas With Access Issues

The areas listed here are areas that are well known or in the guide book and are now off limits for climbing. Please do not climb in these areas.

Where Date Reason
Winter Pig Hotel 2022 Land purchased by Nature Trust
Boulder on the Bench (BOB) 2018 Land purchased by Nature Trust
The Butcher Shop 2017 On WMA land, area temporarily closed for rehabilitaion due to fire damage

We are aware that many other Okanagan bouldering areas exist beyond what is mentioned below or in the current guidebook. Many of these areas are not widely promoted, despite historical bouldering development, and the reason for this is access sensitivity or lost access in these areas. Many of these areas fall within land owned by Nature Trust and the McTaggart-Cowan/nsək’ɬniw’t Wildlife Management Area. To see the extent of Nature Trust land ownership, or if you are unsure if a bouldering area falls within their property, you can use their property map tool for initial investigation. Again, to see the extent of land the WMA covers, you can use the conservation lands map or peruse the access restrictions map.

Bouldering Areas

The Okanagan Bouldering Society is aware that many other Okanagan bouldering areas exist beyond what is mentioned here or in the current guidebook. Many of these areas are not widely promoted, despite historical bouldering development, and the reason for this is access sensitivity or lost access in these areas. Please see above for more information.

Cougar CanyonEllison The RuinsPebble BeachThe BoulderfieldsThe SlayersThe SunstoneThe Chillhaus

Ellison Provincial Park

  • Dogs are not permitted at any Ellison bouldering areas

  • No fires outside campfire rings

 

Cougar Canyon

  • Dogs must be on leash at all times (Kalamalka Provincial Park rule)

  • No fires at anytime

  • New route and trail development is very sensitive and subject to fines (contact OBS for info if you’re thinking of new development)

  • Pads stashed visibly may be removed from Cougar Canyon and/or owners fined

 

The Ruins

  • Dogs must be on leash at all times

  • No fires

 

Pebble Beach

  • No dogs allowed through Pebble Beach Park access

  • Dogs must be on leash in all Pebble Beach bouldering areas (Goat’s Peak Regional Park rule)

  • No climbing or development on boulders or walls beyond what’s included in the guidebook (pictographs are present)

  • No fires

  • Sensitive Kokanee spawning grounds are located along the shoreline, do not create an impact along the shoreline

 

The Boulderfields

  • Dogs must be on leash at all times

  • No fires outside campfire rings

  • Pads should not be stashed under established boulders or in plain view of main trails

 

The Slayers

  • Dogs must be under control

  • No fires

  • The Slayers are part of the Carmi Trails Rec Site area and directly adjacent to Wildlife Conservation Land

 

The Sunstone

  • Dogs must be under control

  • No fires

  • The Sunstone is directly adjacent to Wildlife Conservation Land

 

The Chillhaus

  • Dogs must be on leash at all times (Skaha Provincial Park rule)

  • No fires

  • No climbing or route development outside the approved climbing area in Skaha management plan (if unsure, ask OBS)

  • The Chillhaus is located directly adjacent to the McTaggart-Cowan Wildlife Conservation Area, and is access sensitive