Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 1,112 ft
GPS: 48.26489, -92.48838
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 156,137 total · 780/month
Shared By: jeffengel on Oct 6, 2007 · Updates
Admins: K Ice, Kris Gorny

Description Suggest change

You may know of Crane Lake as the gateway to Voyageurs National Park, the BWCAW and Quetico Provincial Park, but it is also the gateway to some great single pitch climbing, all on good granite. Some of it is covered with lichen, but there is quite a bit that is very clean. There is bouldering, sport climbing, top roping and trad routes. There is still plenty of undeveloped potential available.

Much of the climbing here is accessed by water, so a boat or a canoe is a good thing to have.

Much of the established climbing is actually in Canada and is accessed by first clearing Canadian customs at the port of entry on Sandpoint Lake, which is the next lake north of Crane Lake. You can get to the climbing areas on the Canadian side of the border without clearing customs. To do that you have to first obtain a Remote Area Boarder Crossing Permit (RABC). With an RABC permit you can travel within 5 miles of the border without clearing customs. See the following web site to obtain an RABC permit. They take about 2 months to get. (See the link below for updates on the RABC program due to COVID-19.) cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpas…

here is a link to a climbing film taking about the area and building some of the routes youtu.be/hvQzhLR84rE

Getting There Suggest change

To get to Crane Lake from Minneapolis/St Paul, take I-35 to Cloquet. At Cloquet take SR-33 to US -53. US -53 goes all the way to International falls. After passing through Virgina Minnesota you will eventually get to the town of Orr. At Orr turn east on CR - 23 to Crane lake. Its at the end of the road in about 28 miles.

See the beta picture for a satellite view of the crane lake area and all the climbing areas.

134 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: MN/Canada Border Areas Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at MN/Canada Border Areas

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 7
Pineapple Jazz
Sport, Alpine
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 9
Mermar
Sport, Alpine
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 7
Good Omann
Sport, Alpine
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 9
Poison Ivy
Sport, Alpine
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 8
Old Man Smoldering (OMS)
Sport, Alpine
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 7
Baby Come Home
Sport, Alpine
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13
 7
Jeff 10a
Sport, Alpine
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 9
Qisma (kiss-mah)
Sport, Alpine
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 9
Gargoyle
Sport, Alpine
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 5
Blueberry Fortress
Sport, Alpine
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 5
Popcorn
Sport, Alpine
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 6
Electric Stegosaurus
Sport, Alpine
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 4
Hotel Catahoula
Sport, Alpine
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 5
Reflections
Sport, Alpine
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 5
Cathedral
Sport, Alpine
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Pineapple Jazz Crane Lake Area > Government Bay
 7
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport, Alpine
Mermar Onishishin > Secret Lake
 9
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, Alpine
Good Omann Onishishin > Swamp Wall
 7
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, Alpine
Poison Ivy Onishishin > Secret Lake
 9
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport, Alpine
Old Man Smoldering (OMS) Onishishin > Secret Lake
 8
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport, Alpine
Baby Come Home Onishishin > Secret Lake
 7
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport, Alpine
Jeff 10a Onishishin > Secret Lake
 7
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13 Sport, Alpine
Qisma (kiss-mah) Onishishin > Secret Lake
 9
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport, Alpine
Gargoyle Onishishin > Jeff's World (Proper)
 9
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport, Alpine
Blueberry Fortress Crane Lake Area > Government Bay
 5
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport, Alpine
Popcorn Onishishin > Secret Lake
 5
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
Electric Stegosaurus Onishishin > Swamp Wall
 6
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
Hotel Catahoula Onishishin > Secret Lake
 4
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
Reflections Onishishin > Secret Lake
 5
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport, Alpine
Cathedral Onishishin > Jeff's World (Proper)
 5
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Sport, Alpine
More Classic Climbs in MN/Canada Border Areas »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading