Main Bouldering Area

MAIN BOULDERING AREA

Crystal Crescent is home to a fair amount of novice to intermediate bouldering along a well groomed picturesque hike. The approach is long for the quality of climbing, but this is definitely a case of the journey being more important than the destination. Once you get to the warm-up areas, all other areas are easily found by scrambling along the rocky coast.

Beware, some of the named climbs here were developed very early in Halifax Bouldering and wouldn't be considered boulder problems by modern standards.

Problems 56
14 2 0 36 %
V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V13

Grades V0 - V10

Seasons

Low grades, evening shade and ocean breeze make this one of the best summer destinations.

Drive 35 min
Approach 1400 m, 26 mins

Sandy Landing Area

1. Smear And Step Up SDS V0 star

Start matched on the side pull jug, and climb up nice ledges. Hold tight and rise above! 🌟

2. Just Another Slopey Traverse V3 star

Start matched on the far right of the horizontal crack. Traverse right to left and topout before the corner. Get horizontal and explore! 📏

3. Harder Slopey Traverse V2 star

Ironic name. Easier of the two traverses. Traverse the crack left to right then topout the crack. Enjoy the journey and stay smooth! 🎢

4. Hand Jam Crack SDS V0 star

Start sitting and climb crack. Stay low and conquer the ascent!

5. Wretched Crack V4 star

Reach high for the bad vertical seams and topout. Gross. Push through the struggle and find success! 🦾

6. Cracked V3 star

Straight up the thin crack and face. Lots of broken flakes, this probably has gotten harder over the years. Embrace the challenge and adapt! 🦾

7. A Little Horney SDS V0 star

Climb the double arêtes and face at the end of the wall. Find harmony in the duality and rise above! 🌟

8. A Lot Horney SDS V1 star

Climb the arête on good holds. Trust your grip and ascend with confidence!

Lowball Wall

The low-ball wall begins directly behind the Sandy landing area

9. High Ball Crux V4 star

Start matched on the good sidepull. Hard crimping with tricky, balancy moves! Embrace the challenge and find equilibrium! ⚖️

10. Nice Crack V1 star

Climb the wide crack. Was probably a nice climb in the past, but the tree is very much part of the experience now. Adapt and make the most of the situation! 🌳

11. Rice Cracker V1 star

Climb the arching crack. Great highstep topout! Reach new heights and celebrate your success! 🎉

12. Skateboard V0 star

Climb the low angle slab in the grooved section of wall. Maintain your focus and enjoy the flow! 🛤️

13. Figured Out V0 star

Start matched in high crack and topout. Climb high and conquer the ascent! 🌄

14. Figure Four Thing SDS V4 star

Start on big holds under mini roof. Cool punchy opening move, followed by easy topout. Be bold and finish strong! 💪

15. The Fin SDS V0 star

Start matched at the far right and traverse the lip right to left. Unique feature, but poor quality climb. Appreciate the novelty and learn from the experience! 🌈

16. Slap This V4 star

Running start to slopey lip topout. Below the reasonable standards for a boulder problem. Included for historical purposes. Reflect on the past and grow! 🕰️

17. Cavewoman V0 star

Climb the flake from standing. Trust your abilities and reach for success! 🦋

18. Caveman SDS V0 star

Start sitting under mini roof, and awkward climb up blocky features. Embrace the awkwardness and find your way up! ⛰️

19. Baby Steps V-Scramble star

Climb the blocky features. Cool features and convenient down climb. Enjoy the variety and move with ease! 🧩

20. 5.9 In Joshua Tree V0 star

Climb the low ball, very low angle slab from standing. Not great. Find joy in the simplicity and keep moving! 🌱

21. Walkin' The Dog V0 star

Literally climbing the ground. Below the reasonable standards for a boulder problem. Included for historical purposes. Remember the past and look forward! 📜

22. Undercling Project V-Project star

Traverse the undercling. The fall looks deadly. Stay focused and navigate the danger with precision! ⚠️

23. Wide Crack V0 star

Wedge your whole body in this giant crack and chimney out. Kinda fun. Embrace the unique challenge and have a blast! 🌪️

24. The Great Greasy Green Limpopo River V0 star

Reach for the jug and topout. Stretch your limits and celebrate the ascent! 🎊

25. The Elephant's Child SDS V0 star

Climb the short corner. Embrace the brevity and enjoy the climb! ⌛

26. The Benevolent Elephant V3 star

Start on the large ledge and climb the face. Fun balancey mantle. Find your balance and enjoy the journey! ⚖️

Aquaman Area

This tiny wall is found just below the far end of the lowball wall towards the ocean.

27. Wetsuit SDS V1 star

Sit start below a left-leaning crack about 15 feet right of Aquaman. Get low and embrace the angle! 🌊

28. Aquaman SDS V5 star

Candidate for NS worst rock climb. The grade depends on how well you adhere to them:

Start on the seam and traverse left, until you encounter the horizontal crack. You can climb up the crack, but not too high, and arbitrarily avoid topping out the natural seam. Instead, traverse the lip, but not too high on the lip cause it gets easier the higher up you go, and that's cheating, so stay as low as you can until you hit the jug. Keep traversing the lip, and avoid topping out again, and instead down climb to the middle seam. The upper lip at this point is out, even though both options are V0 lip traverses. Do the lower and more awkward V0 traverse 3 feet off the ground with no foot holds. You could have exited at any point, but you can now legally topout at the far corner.

Embrace the challenge and follow the rules for a unique experience! 🎭

29. Out Of Alcove SDS V0 star

Climb the tiny lowball jug crack. Below the reasonable standards for a boulder problem. Included for historical purposes. Reflect on the past and keep moving! 📜

30. Heel Hook Traverse SDS V0 star

Left to right traverse on the middle crack. Below the reasonable standards for a boulder problem. Included for historical purposes. Learn from history and grow! 🌱

The Cellar Area

The cellar area is a seaside crevasse found just a few meters past Stealth Pants towards the ocean. **Only climbable at low tide.**

31. Suicidal Tendencies V3 star

Start on a flat triangular hold at about 4 ft off the ground. Reach high and embrace the ascent! 📐

32. The Left Stuff V0 star

Layback the crack on the left end of the big wall. Lean into the challenge and climb with grace! 🎢

33. Good Morning, Mr. Graham V0 star

Climb the low-angle boulder at the far left end of the cellar. Enjoy the flow and appreciate the journey! 🏞️

34. The Whiner V0 star

Get out of the cellar by whining up the short vertical wall to the right of Good Morning, Mr. Graham. A one move wonder. Embrace the brevity and make the most of it! 🌪️

35. Spanky's Ladder V0 star

If you stand facing Suicidal Tendencies, this problem is directly behind you. Short but fun. Enjoy the climb and have a blast! 💥

Use of Weapons Wall

Between the cellar and the extra protection area is the bold overhanging project wall. The only V-Hard established at Crystal Crescent.

37. Sense Amid Madness SDS V8 star

Start matched on the good low edge, do technical moves up overhanging face to set up for big move to the lip. Push your limits and conquer the challenge! 🥇 (FA David Quinn 2020)

36. Use of Weapons SDS V10 star

Left hand small crimp, right hand sloper side pull. Hard start, gain the crimp rail, massive move to the impossibly blank top! Halifax's hardest dyno. Reach for the sky and make history! 🚀 (FA David Quinn 2020)

Extra Protection Area

To find the extra protection area, just scramble along the coast about 100 meters past The Cellar Area. You can't miss it.

38. Extra Protection V0 star

Climb the low angle crack in the dome. Pleasant, with secure hands and feet. Enjoy the tranquility and cherish the moment! 🕊️

39a. Tribe Of Two Sheiks - Right V0 star

Climb the slab to the left of Extra Protection. Low angle with a scary fall. Multiple options exist. Avoid the vertical crack systems on the left and right for full slab scare factor. Face your fears and find your balance! 😱

39b. Tribe Of Two Sheiks - Left V0 star

40. Stop That V0 star

Below the reasonable standards for a boulder problem. Included for historical purposes. Reflect on the past and look to the future! ⏳

41. Flake Thing SDS V0 star

Below the reasonable standards for a boulder problem. Included for historical purposes. Learn from history and move forward! 🌄

42. Cassidy's 10 Star Arête SDS V1 star

Climb the short arête. The name is meant to be ironic. Embrace the irony and make the most of the climb! 🎭

43. The No Rope Problem V0 star

Climb the short face / corner. Relish the simplicity and enjoy the ascent! 🌼

Piddle Puddle Paddle Area

Follow the Coast 20 meters around the corner from the main Extra Protection Area and you will arrive at this small wall. Easiest identified by hiking the trail until the Big Boulder. Facing the Big Boulder, the Piddle Puddle area is just behind you on a short wall along the coast.

44. Slopey Crack SDS V0 star

Sit start below the crack on the ocean-side of the boulder. Connect with nature as you climb and listen to the waves crashing! 🌊

45. Slopey Traverse V0 star

Lip traverse the tiny boulder. Below the reasonable standards for a boulder problem. Included for historical purposes. Embrace the journey and keep moving! 📚

46. Piddle SDS V1 star

Start with hands in the horizontal crack and climb up the short featured face. Enjoy the interesting holds and relish the ascent! 🌟

47. Puddle V2 star

Climb up the unique side pull feature. Cool climb, spoiled by the dank puddle that never dries. Rise above the challenges and enjoy the movement! 💧

48. Quagmire V2 star

Start matched on the good crimp flake and climb the vertical seam. Engage your strength and conquer the route! 💪

49. Paddle V-Scramble star

A cool wall, with unique rock formation. This is a scramble, climb shoes not required. Enjoy the adventure and marvel at the scenery! 🏞️

The Big Boulder Area

The last bouldering area before the long approach to Imax. The main trail takes you right by this area, you can't miss it. Climbing here is high quality.

50. Floppin' In The Breeze SDS V5 star

Start in the horizontal crack and climb the short face using side pull crimps. Terrible name, decent climb. Tricky! Embrace the challenge and have fun! 🎢

51. The Right Side Of Mr. Big V0 star

Climb the right side of the main face and enjoy the good holds the whole way up. Trust your grip and celebrate the ascent! 🎉

52. Dermal Destruction V3 star

Climb up the center of the steep slab. Jug from The Right Side of Mr. Big is out. Essentially choose your own difficult - contrived but enjoyable. Find your own path and embrace the climb!

53. Big Arête V0 star

Start on the left side of the main face. Climb up and move further left onto the arête to top out. Great holds and a high finish! Revel in the challenge and savor the view! 🏆

54. Big Stop SDS V3 star

Crux start on small crimps low on the arête, to pleasant flowing on great holds and high topout! Test your limits and enjoy the flow! 💨

55. The Wrong Side Of Mr. Big V1 star

Start matched on the high ledge near the left arête and climb up the front of the boulder. Beware - tops out over a difficult to pad boulder pile. Navigate carefully and conquer the route! ⚠️