Tangle Falls is an ice climbing crag on the Icefields Parkway north of the Icefields Center. Yes, that is the road right in front of the climbing area. This is one of the most easily accessed ice climbing areas I’ve visited. The photo above was taken on February 20, 2024.
Beta:
- WI2 and WI3 single pitch
- short approach, put on your crampons at the car
- tree anchor at the top of our climb
- I’ve read that you can hike around and set up top ropes
- descent: we rappelled
The Approach
The climb is located north of the Icefields Centre on the Icefields Parkway. Coming from the Icefields Centre, it is past the Skywalk on the left, just over the top of a big hill. Park at a pullout with an outhouse and garbage cans on the west side of the road.
Put on crampons at the car and cross the road. A trail starts through the trees on the right side of the photo above. The trail can be icy so crampons are helpful. A short ramble through the trees takes you to the main ice to the left or go right to the smaller curtain.
The Climbs
The are many nice lines here, WI2 and WI3. The smaller curtain on the right has more moderate WI2 climbing. We climbed on the right side of the main curtain and there was an easy-to-access tree anchor at the top. We then set a directional ice screw to climb more difficult lines on top rope.
Tangle Falls is great for a casual day with the quick, easy approach and lots of room for multiple parties. The easy climbing and potential to set top ropes make it great for beginners.
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