Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park is one of the best places to climb in Canada. 66 crags and over 1000 climbs can be found in three main canyons.
Most climbs (around 65%) are sport routes but there are still opportunities for traditional climbing too.
The sheer variety and choice of routes in combination with the southern Okanagan’s warm climate make Skaha Bluffs a world-class climbing destination. I live 10km from Skaha’s entrance gate so I visit fairly often. Here’s everything you need to know.
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Backcountry necessities
- Always bring the 10 Essentials
- Know how to stay safe in the backcountry
- Remember to Leave No Trace to help keep the wilderness wild
- Understand how to avoid negative bear encounters
Skaha Bluffs essentials
- A guidebook – Skaha Climbing by Marc Bourdon (2018) or Skaha Rockclimbs by Howie Richardson (2013)
- A 60m or 70m rope. 60m is fine for the vast majority of climbs at Skaha
- 10 Quickdraws for most sport routes. 15-20 for big cliffs
- A leash for your dog, to protect the many rare animals and plants at the Bluffs
- Plenty of water (personally I like to take my own water in a Hydroflask to keep it super cold all day)
- Toilet paper
- A donation for the Skaha Bluffs Park Watch Society who help prevent thefts from the parking lot
Guidebooks and climbing equipment (shoes, harnesses, gear and more) can be purchased at Eskala Mountain Sports on Front Street in downtown Penticton. Say to store owner Claudia for me – she’s a good friend!
If you arrive in town on a Sunday (the only day Eskala closes) and need a guidebook, head to the Book Shop. They may have a second hand copy.
Excellent lessons and programs are provided by Skaha Rock Adventures, owned by the immensely knowledgeable and enthusiastic Russ Turner. Small group climbing tours and intro to climb courses are also offered by Hoodoo Adventures.
How to get to Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park
Skaha Bluffs is located just south of Penticton, BC, Canada. Penticton is about a 4.5 hour drive from Vancouver.
Provincial Park entrance
The main access point into Skaha Bluffs is the Provincial Park entrance on Smythe Drive on the eastern side of Skaha Lake (click for directions).
The turn into Smythe Drive is clearly signed on Eastside/Lakeside Road in both directions, though it is located on a bit of a tight corner so can come up fast. Follow Smythe Drive all the way to the end to reach the two parking lots.
The road becomes narrow and windy for the last kilometre so be sure to drive carefully and be prepared to make space for an approaching vehicle at any point. Parking is free. The only facilities are four outhouses. The gate opens at 7 am and closes at dusk.
Evergreen Drive
There is an alternative route into the Bluffs via a residential area to the north of the park. Using this entrance cuts down substantially on hiking time to the northern climbing areas such as Kids Cliff.
As of 2022, there is a dedicated parking lot at Skaha’s northern entrance (click for directions). It has space for around 100 vehicles. There is an outhouse and trash bin. The trail into the bluffs is marked by a cairn on the southern side of the parking lot.
When to climb at Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park
It is usually possible to climb at Skaha from March to October. Some local climbers make an early start in February and continue well into November, but it really depends on winter conditions and how hardy you are!
There is a BC Parks gate that prevents vehicle access to the parking lots in the winter months. The BC Parks page for Skaha Bluffs will provide updated details on when the gates officially open in the spring (usually March, but it is weather dependent).
Climbers who want to access the park before the gate opens should park well away from the entrance and avoid blocking any driveways.
The Painted Rock winery entrance often gets blocked by vehicles, which could endanger the future of public access to Bluffs so PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE.
The most popular months to climb at Skaha are April, May and September when other Canadian climbing destinations are either too wet or too cold.
The long weekends of Easter, Victoria Day and Labour Day at the busiest times to visit the Bluffs. The two parking lots will be full, there will be lineups for the most popular climbs and it’s just general pandemonium.
If you really can’t avoid visiting on these weekends, be sure to have patience, kindness and carpool where possible.
On busy days, climbers often park on the narrow road leading to the Bluffs. This can be exceptionally dangerous, considering that an ambulance needs to be able to pass through in an emergency. Think before you park!
Helpful to know:
- After a dose of rain, the Bluffs tend to dry out pretty quick. There can be torrential rain in the morning yet it can still be a great climbing afternoon. Keep in mind that it’s usually a little bit warmer at the Bluffs than in Penticton during the climbing season.
- Climbing in summer IS possible! Start early or late and be sure to take lots of sunscreen and water. Eastern and southern walls will be sunny in the morning but shaded in the afternoon; choose your destination as appropriate. Fern Gully, near Doctor’s Wall, is a great option for summer climbing as it stays cool all day.
Climbing recommendations at Skaha
With so many walls and routes, there are a lot of options for all types of climbers in the Bluffs. Here is just a taster of some of the best sport areas:
Novice (5.7-5.9)
Daycare, Upper Buttress, Red Tail, Go Anywhere, Grassy Glades
Intermediate (5.9-5.10d)
Kid’s Cliff, Fortress, Claim-it-all, Grassy Glades, Morning Glory
Experienced and Expert (5.11 and up)
Doctor’s, Great White, Fortress, Maternal
Good things to know about climbing at Skaha Bluffs
- Until 2009, climbers had to pay to park on a local farmer’s land and puff up dozens of steps. When the farmer decided to sell his property, local climbers (with the help of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, The Land Conservancy and MEC) successfully petitioned BC Parks to make Skaha Bluffs a Provincial Park. Access is a lot easier now!
- Six species of snakes can be found in the Bluffs, including the Western rattlesnake. More docile than its southern cousin, the Western rattlesnake is commonly seen moving between rocks or sunbathing. Leave them alone and they will usually leave you alone too!
- Russ Turner, of the aforementioned Skaha Rock Adventures, has been operating climbing lessons and programs in the Bluffs since 1993. He has created dozens and dozens of routes (particularly novice ones) in his free time and was instrumental in ensuring continued access to the park. If you arrive at Red Tail one day to find it full of Russ’ climbing students, please be respectful. There are plenty of other great places to climb at Skaha!
Where to stay when visiting Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park
With Penticton being a resort town, there is plenty of choice of hotels, motels, B&Bs and Airbnbs.
My personal favourite area to stay in Penticton is the Okanagan Lake side, as the town’s downtown area is super walkable. Accommodation on the Skaha Lake side is generally cheaper however.
Valley Star Motel – Great value, short drive from the Bluffs
Apple Tree Inn – Cheap and central to everything in Penticton
Slumber Lodge – Lakefront accommodation on the Okanagan side
Skaha Bluffs camping options
Many climbers choose to camp or sleep in their vehicles while visiting Skaha Bluffs (if I didn’t live here, I probably would too!)
Here are my top recommendations for places to camp around the area.
Private campgrounds
Banbury Green is most definitely the perennial favourite for visiting Skaha climbers. Located on the opposite side of Skaha Lake, Banbury Green offers waterside campsites and views of the Bluffs. Discounts for climbers are usually available in the spring (April/May). Reservations are recommended.
Lost Moose Campground offers unserviced, forested campsites about 25 minutes drive from Skaha Bluffs. There are cabins available too.
Read Next: 22+ of the Best Campgrounds in the Southern Okanagan
Provincial Parks
sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ (Okanagan Falls) Provincial Park is a 15-minute drive from the Bluffs. It offers the most ‘natural’ organised camping in the area. The park is open from late March until early October and has 25 sites. All sites can be reserved during the busier season (mid May to early September).
Skaha camping – free options
With Penticton being such a busy resort town, free camping options close to Skaha Bluffs are not plentiful. It is not possible to stay in the main parking lot overnight.
The best option is to drive east along Carmi Road (by the hospital), continue on as it becomes Beaver Dell Road and find somewhere to park off this gravel road. To ensure that that other people can do this for years to come, practice no trace principles and leave the area better than you found it (no campfires!)
Walmart apparently does not have an issue with overnight parking itself but the city bylaws apparently do not allow it. So parking there is at your own risk. A ticket may be issued.
Real Canadian Superstore is a definite no go for overnight parking, with large signs stating that it is not allowed.
Where to eat and drink in Penticton
Living in Penticton for 2.5+ years, I have a few recommendations for places to eat and drink.
Penticton has eight breweries, with four taprooms located downtown.
- Cannery Brewing is my favourite for both atmosphere and beer quality. The nachos are the best in town
- Neighbourhood is the busiest brewery in the downtown area, with a large dog-friendly patio and up to 18 beers on top
- Highway 97 is directly located across from Cannery Brewing and often has music on weekend evenings
- Yellow Dog Brewing is the newest taproom and has a sports bar vibe
- Abandoned Rail is situated right on the KVR Trail on the Naramata Bench, an ideal stop if you feel like a bike ride
- Tin Whistle is the oldest brewery in Penticton and should be a priority if you like dark beer
- The Barley Mill is a casual brewpub located on the same side of town as the Bluffs, great if you’re looking for a quick beer
The best quick and dirty food in town can be found at the Jeffer’s Fryzz truck on Nanaimo Ave. Jeffer has been serving poutine in Penticton for over 30 years…..and I can assure you, it’s the best anywhere in Western Canada.
A long time favourite of climbers is Il Vecchio Delicatessen for large and filling sandwiches.
Feeling fancy? Kin & Folk is a super modern spot with contemporary Asian fusion dishes and creative cocktails. Elma is another great pick – this beautiful lakefront restaurant serves Turkish inspired food, made with local ingredients.
Vegetarian and vegan climbers will love Stillfood Bistro, a plant-based coffee bar and bistro on Front Street. They have amazing brunches.
Penticton Indian Cuisine has excellent dinner specials if you’re craving Indian food. Lachi is another go to.
For coffee, try the Prague Cafe on Marina Way (there’s outside seating just above the beach!) or modern Wayne & Freda on Winnipeg St.
There are numerous good options for sushi in Penticton. My top picks are Sushi Genki for quality takeout sushi, Sushi KOJO for choice and friendly service and Ginza for an elevated dining experience. Katsu Heaven is another favourite of mine.
What to do in Penticton when not climbing at Skaha Bluffs
Being located in the southern Okanagan (and so close to Penticton in particular), there is SO much to do in the local area when you’re not climbing.
- Penticton has a number of great hiking trails, some featuring waterfalls others railway trestles. And you don’t have to go far from downtown to find them!
- A top activity for a lot of people visiting the area is to go wine touring. There’s even a winery just on the doorstep of the Bluffs – Painted Rock. The Naramata Bench, just to the northeast of Penticton, has over 40 wineries on one 15km stretch of road. Guided bus tours are popular or you can try a walking wine tour
- Penticton is one of the few towns in the world to be located between two lakes. This offers a huge choice in water related activities (swimming, paddling, parasailing, boating, waterskiing and more) plus plenty of beaches to sunbathe on. There’s even a nudist beach at Three Mile
- Floating the Channel between the two lakes is a must do in the summer and an awesome way to relax after a few days of climbing. You can rent tubes at Coyote Cruises on Riverside Drive
- Looking for more ideas? Click here for 70+ more recommendations and suggestions of things to do in the southern Okanagan
Are you planning a climbing trip to Skaha Bluffs?
Check out these other Okanagan Valley posts next:
Hiking McIntyre Bluff, Okanagan Falls
50+ Things to Do in Osoyoos and Oliver
A Local’s Guide to the Best Okanagan Valley Wineries
11 Fast and Fun Hikes in Penticton
Hiking the Myra Canyon Trestles near Kelowna
30+ Awesome Things to Do in Vernon
Rattlesnake Island, British Columbia: Small Island, Dramatic History
One half of the Canadian/British couple behind Off Track Travel, Gemma is happiest when hiking on the trail or planning the next big travel adventure. JR and Gemma are currently based in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Consider buying us a coffee if you have find any of our guides helpful!
Super helpful, thanks!
Do you allow memorial benches in the area? My late husband was a climber for years and this would be a perfect tribute to him.
Hi MaryAnne,
That sounds like a lovely idea. It would be best to contact Kaloya Contracting Ltd who operate the park to ask. Their email address is info@campokanagan.com and phone number 250-766-7972. Kaloya operate a number of different parks in the Okanagan so be sure to specify which park.
Hi there, great post! I’m climbing with my two children (5.9 – 5.10 capable). Do you know of any specific climbs where one is able to hike up to set a top anchor from above? I’m a 6’4 big fella and my girls are still too small to lead belay me.
We had success at elusive edge, but wondering if there are others?
Appreciate it!
Hi there,
I’d head to Go Anywhere if I were you. There are some 5.10s there with at least one 5.9. The top of the cliff is accessible via the gully on the south side. Apologies for the late reply (been travelling) – I hope this is still helpful for your trip.