Climbing Near Elliot Lake, Ontario

Granary Lake is a beautiful lake in Algoma with two excellent longer ice flows, several shorter routes, and great potential for rock climbing. Granary Lake is located in Algoma north of Blind River, midway between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. From Sudbury travel west on Hwy 17 (the Trans-Canada) towards Sault Ste. Marie to Blind River (approximately 160 km). From Blind River head north on Hwy 557, and keep going straight onto Granary Lake Rd when Highway 557 makes a sharp turn to the left (west) about 3 km north of town. Follow Granary Lake Rd. to its end and park at the side of the road (another 15 km). Follow the snowmobile tracks (which usually go down the last driveway) to the lake and head across the lake to the big cliffs on the north shore. It’s about a 15 min walk to the cliffs.

A nice large cliff looking out over the North Channel. This is a top managed site. The lake comes right up to the base of the cliff, so there is no way to belay from the base. Set up a top rope anchor from the bolts on top, and then belay from the top. We sea kayaked there from Greenway Island. I think you can access it by boat, and maybe bushwhack in from the road, but I don't know of any trails.

The Basswood bloc sits alone next to the road on the river side of the road right by the spray painted bush nookie rock. The boulder has a great variety of climbs with good quality quartz. Classics include The Whittler - V6 and Slapping the Basswood - V7. Grades range from V0-V10 on the boulder with a few unfinished projects including a mega cool line up the egg shaped side of the boulder that will require some serious climbing. The Basswood boulder is located below the bush nookie graffiti boulder (yellow “x”), sitting between the river and the road. Follow the notch located by the red arrow in the image.