This message has been issued in response to unauthorized route development which recently occurred at Kelso (a Conservation Halton Park), including a retro-bolt of Alan’s Layback (5.7 trad), as well as the establishment of additional sport climbs.

Conservation Halton (CH) is the land manager of Kelso, Mount Nemo, and Rattlesnake Point. The access plan established with the OAC and the climbing community requires CH authorization for any development or maintenance occurring in their parks – whether it be new route development, tree cutting, trail building, or retro-bolting of existing routes.

This recent route development at Kelso was done without authorization. CH has decided that these unauthorized routes will be removed and requested the OAC facilitate their removal. The bolts from Alan’s Layback and another new route have already been removed by volunteers.

The OAC and CH have an excellent working relationship that allows for the climbing we enjoy in their parks. It is very rare that land managers are as supportive of climbing as CH has been. When the OAC has discussions with land managers, we often reference our relationship with CH because of their tremendous support of the climbing community and strong partnership.

To maintain this access in Conservation Halton Parks, we must adhere to the terms of the access plan. That means if there is a desire to establish new routes, or a need to alter the environment and/or make any climbing hardware alterations, you must reach out to the OAC first. CH trusts the OAC’s judgment, and is more than happy to consider any reasonable proposal we present.

Early Bird Tickets for this year’s Beaver Valley Climbing Festival are here!

Come party with us August 14-16 and celebrate all that Ontario climbing has to offer! We’ll have overnight camping, yoga, dinner, music, vendors, and guided clinics — PLUS our famous raffle, full of so much gear you to win, you won’t know what to do with it!

This year’s BVCF is brought to you by the OAC in partnership with Patagonia — we’re so psyched to hang with you!

Early Bird tickets are available to Active Annual OAC Members until June 5th. Tickets open to the general public on Friday, June 5th at 7:00am. You’ll want to get yours before it sells out!

Need another incentive to get your ticket now? If you purchase an Early Bird ticket before June 5th, you’re automatically entered to win a Patagonia prize pack! The grand winner will receive: a Patagonia Black Hole pack, Terravia hip pack, Trad cap, AND a $25 gift card to spend Wild Rock Outfitters! One winner up will also receive a $25 gift card for Wild Rock Outfitters.

Not a member yet, but want to secure your spot before it sells out? Get your membership today and you can get your BVCF ticket right away!

The Spring Fling is a day spent contributing to crag maintenance and strengthening our relationship with Conservation Halton.  We’ll spend the morning picking up trash, celebrate our hard work with lunch, and then spend the afternoon climbing.  Register now to participate in this day of giving back to the climbing community!

Sunday, May 3rd, we’ll be picking up trash at two crags just like last year – Rattlesnake Point, and Mount Nemo!

Come join us in this day of giving back, meet some new climbing friends, and enjoy the sunshine!  This event is open to all ages — and yes, we can sign volunteer forms for anyone trying to log volunteer hours  Register now so we can get your name on the list and account for your free volunteer lunch!

The amendment to the Devil’s Glen Provincial Park Management Plan has officially been approved!

This is a major milestone — not just for climbing access, but for how outdoor recreation and conservation can work together. The updated plan includes policies to formally authorize and manage rock climbing in the park, creating a path forward for safe, sustainable access. This is a big step forward, and it sets an important precedent for climbing in provincial parks across Ontario.

This outcome reflects years of work and being a good partner with Ontario Parks, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Ontario Alliance of Climbers (OAC). It’s also a testament to the climbing community’s commitment to stewardship, safety, and respect for the environment.

We’re excited for what comes next! The OAC looks forward to continuing to work alongside Ontario Parks to support implementation — through education, stewardship, and responsible use.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, supported, and stayed engaged throughout this process. Your actions have had a direct effect on climbing access in Ontario!

More details to come soon. You can read up on the decision details at the official ERO page.

Fresh off the presses – the 2026 Ontario Crags Calendar has arrived! Featuring local climbers photographed by local photographers, the OAC calendar is a tribute to everything Ontario climbing has to offer.  With a mix of climbers, crags, and disciplines featured, this is our annual fundraiser and celebration of climbing across the province!

Calendars can be obtained for a donation of $25, plus the cost of shipping via Canada Post*.  All proceeds from calendar sales go toward promoting, advocating for, and maintaining open access all across the province.

Get your copy now before they sell out! 

Want to save on shipping costs?  Pick up a copy at any of the following Ontario locations:

Basecamp Climbing – Bloor West and Queen West locations

Boulderz Climbing Centre – Etobicoke, Junction, and Mississauga locations

Climbers Corner

Climb Smart Shop

The Core Climbing Gym

The Guelph Grotto

Ontario Gear Co

Toprock Climbing

True North Climbing

Fill out our 2025 Climber Survey NOW!

Our annual survey was launched earlier this month to help us learn more about the Ontario climbing community. The more we know about you as a climber, the better we can represent you!

Complete the survey by midnight on November 30th to be entered into a draw to win a free OAC T-shirt

2025 Bolt Fund Recap

This year we launched the OAC Bolt Fund to help offset the expense of maintaining existing routes. We received applications for reimbursement for gear on 71 routes across Ontario!

We’d like to send a big thank you to Crux Capital Corporation, who stepped up to fully fund our inaugural year of the Bolt Fund. Thank you to both Crux Capital and the routesetters who have put in the work to keep us safe

AGM Summary

The 2025 OAC AGM was held on November 5th. With OAC members joining from across the province, we held our elections for the Board of Directors. Congratulations to Mike Penney, Jeremy Fortier, and Jessica Best on being re-elected!

We also provided a recap on what we’ve been up to this year, and had guest speakers provide climbing access updates from across the province.

Miss the AGM? You can watch the full recording below.

You can access our financial report here:

Enjoy the coming winter season!

We’ve got our fingers crossed for a good ice season

Until then, keep your eyes peeled for the launch of our 2026 Ontario Crags Calendar We’ll have it in time for holiday gifting!

Most importantly, please remember that the addition of any permanent climbing hardware, creation of new routes, or modification of existing routes (or altering of/tampering with existing hardware) is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of CH. Should you have recommendations on routes or hardware installation, please contact the Ontario Alliance of Climbers (OAC) so that we can contact our partners at CH and discuss potential changes. Existing worn-out hardware which poses a safety risk may either be replaced or maintained, but new bolting on managed land requires land manager permission. You can report bad bolts online through our Report a Bad Bolt page, and we will ensure that this information reaches the appropriate people.

We address this matter following the discovery of recently added hardware that were installed without proper permissions. These actions can lead to the creation of unmanageable and possibly unsafe routes that could be detrimental to the environment and our climbing community.

CH is a valued partner to the climbing community and one of our best models for relationships with land managers. CH openly supports rock climbing at some of their parks — including many crags you’re familiar with such as Mount Nemo, Kelso, Rattlesnake Point, Bottle Glass and Buffalo Crag.

As good ambassadors for the outdoors, please climb responsibly and respect the land and its managers. CH works hard to protect these spaces for everyone’s enjoyment. Climbers can help by staying on established trails and climbing routes, minimizing their impact. CH staff are responsible for trail maintenance and site care. If you see a fallen tree or other vegetation hazard, please let us know so that we can request that it be addressed.

Thank you for helping protect access, preserve the environment, and keep our community safe!

Help us understand the Ontario climbing community by telling us about yourself, where you climb, and what your hopes are for Ontario climbing access. The survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

Complete the survey by midnight on November 30th to be entered into a draw to win a free OAC T-shirt!

This is a great opportunity to ask questions about our organization and to share input on our future direction. We’ll also be holding the election for board membership, talking about recent developments, and speaking about what’s on the horizon.

Details for the virtual meeting will be announced October 22nd via official email to all OAC members.

If you would like to run as a candidate for the board of directors, please submit your bio to info@ontarioallianceofclimbers.ca by end of day October 15th in order to have your bio included with the formal meeting announcement. You may also submit your name for the election during the meeting on November 5th.

Hope to see you all there!

The Ontario Crags Calendar aims to celebrate and highlight the wide variety of climbing that Ontario has to offer. We want to showcase everything from as many different crags, seasons, and climbers as possible — ICE, SPORT, TRAD and BOULDERING are all honoured here.  Let’s celebrate the diversity of our province and our community!  Valid photo submissions must have LANDSCAPE orientation (i.e. horizontal), and be of climbers at Ontario crags only (of course!).  In order to meet print standards, full size images must be clear and at least 8.5″x11″ at 300 dpi.

Submissions do not need to be dated from this year, but they DO need to showcase your love for Ontario climbing.  So make the most of this tail end of the season, or take some time to venture down memory lane and rediscover some forgotten gems!

The Crags Calendar helps us raise awareness and funds in support of Ontario access.  Please consider donating a photo!  Send your best shots to submissions@ontarioallianceofclimbers.ca by SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19TH for a chance to be featured.  Chosen entrants will receive a free copy of the calendar, credit complete with name and website, and a little slice of local fame 

Please see additional rules of submission here: