Skaha Bluffs is a very popular semi-desert climbing area that is an ecological wonder. Its warm sunny climate and natural beauty is home to more threatened species and habitats than anywhere else in Canada. As if this were not enough, Skaha, in terms of terrain, climate and the climbing itself, is so unlike Squamish and the Rockies it exerts a magnetic draw on people from both directions. It also bears the distinction of having more climbs (700+) accessed from its single parking centre than any other in Canada: a very sociable atmosphere.
Going climbing means hiking for 20–40 minutes across a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and narrow valleys, past small crags and large crags, thickets of trees, and grasslands with glorious viewscapes of Skaha Lake and the hills. The Skaha Loop Trail encircles the area and most of the climbing described is close to it. The Lopp Trail also makes for a very enjoyable hike. Keep your eyes out for snakes and ears for the birds.
The Climbing. The crags are mostly single-pitch up to 30m but there are many up to 50m, and some two-pitch climbs. Several deep narrow valleys run on a parallel north-south axis across the Skaha landscape and tend to have prominent west and east faces. This lends itself to morning-here, afternoon-there strategies.