Armenia’s First Climbing Guidebook
A grant project supporting access and route development
December 15, 2025
Rock climbing has deep roots in Armenia. Beginning in the 1960s, climbers trained through mountaineering clubs and university programs, developing skills on the country’s basalt cliffs and steep gorges. While climbing has long existed here, access to clear, shared information about routes and climbing areas has remained limited.
In 2025, The Global Climbing Initiative awarded a Community Grant to Boulderland Yerevan to improve access, safety, and documentation for climbers in and around Yerevan. The project included the creation of Armenia’s first comprehensive climbing guidebook, the development of new sport routes, and a community climbing festival to bring people together around outdoor climbing.
As part of the grant project, the Boulderland Yerevan team bolted 10 new sport routes across climbing areas near Yerevan and Hell Canyon. They also hosted a two-day outdoor climbing festival in Hell Canyon, which brought together approximately 60 participants. Many attendees climbed outdoors for the first time. The event included guided climbs, technique workshops, and gear demonstrations led by experienced local climbers and instructors, creating a safe and welcoming introduction to outdoor climbing.
A central outcome of the project is the new climbing guidebook, developed to make route information more accessible to both local climbers and visitors. The guidebook includes detailed photos, topos, access instructions, map coordinates, and practical insights for sport and trad climbing, and reflects Boulderland Yerevan’s commitment to inclusive representation within the climbing community. The guidebook is available for free in a digital format, with printed copies also produced for local distribution.
For Boulderland Yerevan, the project was envisioned to strengthen the local climbing community, support new climbers as they transition outdoors, and share knowledge that will help protect and sustain Armenia’s climbing areas over time.
Download the Armenia climbing guidebook for free here:
The Global Climbing Initiative is proud to support locally led projects like this one that invest in access, education, and long-term stewardship of climbing areas around the world. Click here to learn about applying for our Community Grants.
About the Guidebook
This guidebook was created by Boulderland Yerevan to support safe, accessible outdoor climbing in Armenia. It brings together historical context, practical route information, and documentation of recently developed climbing areas in and around Yerevan.
Inside the guidebook, you’ll find:
• A brief history of rock climbing in Armenia
• An overview of climbing in and around Yerevan
• Route information and sector descriptions for Shengavit and Davtashen, as well as info on new areas in development
• Clear photos, topos, access instructions, map coordinates, and route info for sport and trad climbers
The guidebook is available for free in a digital format and was developed with support from The Global Climbing Initiative through a Community Grant.