Keenlyside Boulders

Keenlyside Boulders is a hillside bouldering area above Hugh Keenleyside Dam in British Columbia’s West Kootenay. The area contains roughly 73 documented boulder problems on high-quality gneiss, with pockets, huecos, traverses, highballs, overhangs, slabs, and caves between some of the boulders.

Boulders and trails are spread above the road rather than confined to one compact sector. A large staging area above the dam provides the usual starting point; from there, follow the trails past the kiosk into the hillside. The area gets substantial sun but also has shaded options, and the commonly cited climbing season runs from March through November.

The Powerline sector is a particularly accessible sub-area, with 16 problems, almost no approach, soft mossy landings, and a broad spread of grades. Keenlyside Boulders is part of a sanctioned recreation setting and is connected with the local hiking and biking area; leave the climbing zones and trails as you find them.