The Smoke Bluffs are the most popular climbing area around Squamish. Lots of relatively short climbs (a large number can be easily top-roped), the variety of climbing, and the ease of access all contribute to this, making the Bluffs a diffcult place to find a park on a fine summer weekend. There are more than enough climbs to go around however, and a day spent at the Bluffs can be as easy or difficult as you want.

From Squamish, the Bluffs are the prominent series of crags just east of town. You can get there by turning right at the traffic lights on highway 99 about 1 km south of Squamish, going past the hospital on your right, turning right and following the road until you reach the bluffs. There have been spots for parking cleared off the road, and parking here will put you nearly at the base of the Neat And Cool area. Note: These carparks are currently closed. Don’t use them! Alternatively, turn right of highway 99 at the lights in Squamish (at the intersection with a McDonalds), following the road for 1 km, and turning right into the cleared parking area. This puts you at the north end of the Bluffs, near the base of Boulder Gully.

Some care should be taken when climbing around the Bluffs, due to the fact that residential development is very close to the crags at some points. Please don’t annoy the house-holders, and clean up after yourself. Also, beware of parking in the streets around hospital hill (southern end of the bluffs). This area is residential parking only, and besides annoying the residents, I saw the police methodically giving tickets to every car on the street one day last summer…

Climbing Areas

• Burgers and Fries
• Neat and Cool
• Penny Lane