Terrace-Thornhill Boulder Project
We have teamed up with Terrace Peaks Gymnastics Club in Thornhill to install a bouldering wall in the gym. This much anticipated project is becoming a reality thanks to the incredible work by our volunteers and supporters. We now have over $25,000 toward our ~$130,000 goal.
The bouldering wall will be 35 feet 6 inches wide and 15 feet high, designed to support children’s programs and competition training. It will also be capable of hosting official climbing competitions, with support from Sport Climbing BC, the provincial governing body. This will be the first climbing wall in the region to offer regular public access.
Target completion date for May 2026
Highlights
Public drop-in several days a week
providing accessible climbing opportunities for community members of all ages and experience levels.
First climbing competition centre north of Kelowna
spark a new era of outdoor sport excellence in the Northwest
First climbing gym in the region
35’ linear and full 15’ high boulder wall
Structured kids climbing programs and competitive training tracks
inspire young athletes, nurture their potential, and support their progression to higher levels
A Strong Foundation to Build On
Located only minutes from the Terrace Peaks Gymnastics facility is a climbing mecca at Copper Mountain. The climbing area includes hundreds of multi-pitch trad (‘traditional’) routes on granodiorite. Trad climbing involves use of your own gear for protection placed in a crack, as opposed to sport climbing that involves bolted protection on the wall. At the base of Copper Mountain are the extensive Copper Boulder Field that measures more than 1.5 km long. There is also one beginner and kid-friendly top-rope area called ‘Candy Box.’
Bouldering is a social and accessible form of climbing that requires minimal gear and no ropes, making it ideal for new climbers and youth. Parents can take turns climbing, and kids can stay engaged with shorter, approachable routes. Climbers gather in groups at the boulders using mats and teamwork to stay safe. The Skeena Climbing Society’s annual bouldering competition is a popular summer social event in the region.
Copper Mountain is a unique community anchor that drives skill development, promotes athleticism, enhances community wellness and socializing. The presence of in-town extensive high-quality trad climbing and bouldering is a unique and rare component of the area, riveled only by the ‘climbing capital of Canada’ in Squamish. To support this thriving mountain
and athletic culture, an indoor climbing facility is the next step. It provides a critical entry point for newcomers who might not yet be ready for the demands of outdoor climbing.
Without a dedicated climbing facility, Terrace’s climbing community has built the sport into their homes. At least 14 home bouldering gyms now exist across the region, providing a combined 2,567 square feet of climbing terrain. These gyms are almost three times
the size required for a commercial gym in BC, which is about 900 square feet. The average size is 185 square feet with the largest at 550 square feet, bigger than the proposed Terrace Peaks wall. These gyms represent a significant investment, costing an estimated $42,000 for construction, holds, and mats, and occupying living space valued at roughly $205,360.This grassroots effort shows the community’s passion but also reveals a clear need. Climbers are using personal time, money, and space to keep climbing accessible despite no public facility. A dedicated, public gym would meet demand and bring this thriving DYI culture into a shared space.
The roped climbing wall at Caledonia Secondary School was built in 2012 through a community fundraiser led by teachers and students. Since then, it has become a valuable resource used by physical education programs at Caledonia and other local schools, as well as the Caledonia Climbing Club. Outside of school hours, the Skeena Climbing Society hosts a public climbing night every Thursday from 8 to 10 pm during the school year.
In the spring of 2025, the Skeena Climbing Society, supported by the City of Terrace, launched the first-ever daytime Kids Climb event. This two-session pilot project was designed to assess both the level of interest and feasibility of offering climbing opportunities and structured programs for children in the Terrace region. The pilot was met with overwhelming interest. Each event attracted over 50 children, with families traveling not only from the Terrace area but also from Kitimat. Over 50 total volunteer hours were contributed, primarily to provide belay support for the young climbers. Five climbing ropes were staffed by adult volunteers, and lineups formed at each route throughout the four-hour duration of the events.
Competition Potential
Sport Climbing BC is the sanction provincial organization for climbing and is very excited to support the project:
“We believe this would be a significant contribution for sports opportunities for youth and adults in the north... A future expansion on the initial project which support roped climbing will also be necessary to provide events in all three competitive disciplines –adding Lead and Speed climbing to Bouldering.”
– Jesse Taplin, Exec. Director
Sport Climbing BC