Crest Creek climbing area is a collection of 19 crags surrounding Crest Lake and running to the west of it. All are within easy walking distance of the parking lot, but there is a gravel road running through the area which provides even better access. The highway has narrow shoulders unsuitable for parking. Pathways are excellent, and enhanced with stairs in many places for top access.
Crest Creek lies at the west edge of Strathcona Provincial Park on highway 28. It's a little better than an hour's drive out of Campbell River on the Gold River Highway. There are developed campgrounds in Strathcona Provincial Park [Buttle Lake campground] and motels and restaurants in Gold River, half an hour's drive west of the climbing area.
The drive up the new Island Highway as far as Courtenay is really fast. Can't wait for the Courtenay-Campbell River section to open. It's going to make access to this area much faster from point's south.
BC parks has developed Crest Creek climbing area under consultation with the local climbing community. Take care of the area. Stay on the paths and staging areas and follow posted regulations to ensure the continued enthusiasm by BC Parks for this awesome climbing area.
Route and trail work/development is reviewed annually, usually each spring by BC Parks and a group comprised mostly of local climbers from the Heathens Mountaineering Club.
contact: Nootka Area Supervisor, Brent Blackmun at BC Parks, Strathcona District (250) 337-2406 Brent.Blackmun@gems3.gov.bc.ca
The map is a poorly framed picture of the dirty trail guide in the parking lot[excuse the quality]. There are washrooms and a picnic table. The gravel road marked on the map, that runs up to 1) crag X & 2) black crag is overgrown, trenched, and is a foot path.
