Members of the Haliburton Highlands Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are looking for possible witnesses to a rock-climbing accident that occurred at Bear Mountain.
On Sunday September 27, 2026, at approximately 1:45 pm, officers from the Haliburton Highlands OPP detachment were dispatched to a report of a climber that had been injured while descending Bear Mountain, a popular hiking and climbing area located on Bear Lake in the Algonquin Highlands Township.
Upon arrival, officers were informed that two members of a group of climbers had completed their climb and were in the process of descending when one of them was struck by a falling rock. The climber lost consciousness and had to be assisted down by other members of their group. A 911 call was placed and as the area is a water-access only area,
Fire Rescue launched a boat to take police and EMS to the scene. The climber was transported to the vessel where they were taken to a pre-arranged landing area so that ORNGE Air could transport them to a Toronto area trauma centre.
Police believe there were more hikers/climbers in the area at the time of the accident and are looking to speak with anyone who may have witnessed this incident. If you were in the area at the time and have not yet spoken to police, please contact the Haliburton Highlands OPP and reference occurrence number E261404611.
Police urge the public to call in tips on this case, or others, to the Haliburton Highlands OPP at the non-emergency line 1-888-310-1122 or to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
