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Elevation: 9,000 ft
GPS: 51.3006, -115.9301
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Shared By: Hans Bauck on Dec 2, 2007
Admins: Dave Rone, Tom Jones, Richard Rose

Description Suggest change

A landmark in the Bow Valley with it's distinctive shape, Castle Mountain (2766m) is located just north of Castle Junction, about midway between Banff and Lake Louise where Highway 93 intersects the Trans-Canada highway. Amenities at Castle Junction include a campground and a hostel, as well as a small store which sells some basic groceries.

A distinctive ledge system on Castle Mountain, called Goat plateau, splits the upper and lower cliffs. A tiny and novel hut on Goat plateau provides quick access to the climbs on the upper cliffs. See the alpine club for reservations.

At the southeast end of the upper cliffs is an isolated tower, named Eisenhower Tower.

Though there are many climbing routes on Castle Mountain,by far the most popular are Brewer Buttress and the south east face of Eisenhower Tower, both on the upper cliffs. I recommend purchasing the excellent guidebook Bow Valley Rock for additional beta on rock-climbing routes in the Banff/Lake Louise area, including routes on Castle Mountain.

I have found the limestone on Castle Mountain to be some of the best I've climbed on in the Canadian Rockies, though it can still be loose and crumbly in spots.

Getting There Suggest change

Depending on the route chosen, there are two approaches to the upper cliffs.

The Hut approach

From Castle Junction go west on Highway 1A for a few km to reach the trailhead for the Castle Mountain fire lookout. Follow the trail to the lookout (1-2 hours) and then pick up a smaller trail that crosses the gully (east) before heading steeply uphill to the headwall.

Look for a diagonal break in the headwall (small cairn). Some steep scrambling for 30 feet or so leads to an easier climbers trail. If you are doing anything hard you are off route.

Above the break, follow the trail to the hut. Total time is about 3 hrs from the trailhead.

The Rockbound Lake approach

Begin at the Rockbound Lake trailhead, located about 100m east of Castle Junction on Highway 1A.

Follow the Rockbound lake trail for about 1-1.5 hours, gaining about 580m, to where a climber's trail branches to the left. This trail is marked with a small cairn, and is located after the Rockbound Lake trail has leveled off.

Follow the climber's trail through the trees, easy at first. The trail will open up and get steeper as you reach cliff bands. Eventually the trail will become very exposed as it leads from right to left along a narrow ledge system. A cairn marks the beginning of a scrambling section.

Climb up a steep wall, improbable looking considering this is only the approach. This leads to a steep gully. Climb the gully and the right wall of the gully to the top of the cliff band. This scrambling section is very exposed and beginning of it is probably class 3 or even class 4.

From the top of the cliff band, a trail leads to the base of Eisenhower Tower.

Total time is about 2-2.5 hrs from the trailhead.

6 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Castle Mountain

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 20
South East Face of Eisenhower Tower
Trad, Alpine
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
 33
Brewer Buttress
Trad, Alpine 13 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 15
Ultra-Brewers
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
South East Face of Eisenhow…
 20
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, Alpine
Brewer Buttress
 33
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 Trad, Alpine 13 pitches
Ultra-Brewers
 15
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
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