Description:

ƛ̓əpustoʔas is the Lik̓ʷala name for "place to climb up", and was kindly offered as a name for this cragging area by the local Ligwilda’xw people.

Just 20min north of Campbell River, these lovely andesite cliffs (hard, grainy basalt), offer climbs that are mostly near vertical or tilted a little bit either way. The majority are fully bolted lines, but there are some worthwhile gear lines too. There are over 30 pitches of climbing so far, from 5.6-5.12, with the majority being in the 5.9-5.11 range. There are many 2-pitch climbs, as the crags are each around 50m in height. They face SW, so are excellent Spring/Fall and cooler summer day cliffs.

Thanks to the Ligwilda’xw people; the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwiakah First Nations. We are grateful for the opportunity to recreate on your lands (the crags are located on "Crown" land). Thanks go out to the many climbers who have lent a hand in route work, trail work, sign-building, and route testing ;)

Directions / Travel Info:

These cliffs are accessed from the same parking lot as the CR lookout trail. To get to the lower crag (~10min) - park and start down the CR lookout trail. About 50m from the parking lot, stay right at the signed junction and descend to a creek crossing with some rock hopping. The trail is easy to follow from there. When it crosses the old logging road, pick it up again a touch to the left on the uphill side.

To get from the lower to the upper crag (another 10-12min) - follow the base of the lower crag to climber's right. The trail will bring you up to a steep draw with some 4x4 & rebar steps. After the draw, there's a handline up an easy but slightly exposed step. The trail is reasonably easy to follow from there up to an old logging road at the base of the upper crag. Follow it right, and the trail hits the cliff near the right end at the base of a couple corners, both of which have routes up them. There's a trail to the top (and to the "Sundeck") on climber's right, and a rough trail along the base to the left.