Description:

Of all the Bow Valley sport climbing areas, Prairie Creek is the closest to Calgary. Great area for steep, powerful climbing on limestone pockets. The cliff band is north facing, and the routes range from 7 to 18 meters in length. Difficulty ranges from 5.8 to 5.13, but most of the routes lie in the 5.11-12 range.

Directions / Travel Info:

From the Trans-Canada Highway, take exit 161 A onto Highway 22. Set your trip meter to zero and head south toward Bragg Creek. At 18km, reach a four-way intersection in the small town of Bragg Creek and turn left, continuing south on Highway 22. At 21.6km reach a T-intersection and turn right onto Highway 66 heading west. At 41km park in a pullout on the left side of the road.

From the parking lot, cross the road and follow a trail in the ditch that heads east toward a guardrail and Prairie Creek. From the creek, follow a well-worn trail upstream. After about 25 minutes of walking, a rocky lookout across from a large scree slope will appear. From the base of the hill beyond the lookout, continue walking for about 320 meters to a faint fork in the trail (it occasionally has a cairn). Follow the climber's trail left into the forest for 250 meters and cross Prairie Creek to reach the forest below the cliff band. A short, steep uphill grind leads to the base of the wall.
(taken from "Bow Valley Sport" 2011 edition)