To date, Mount Barney has attracted only a relatively small number of rock climbers, perhaps due to the long walk-in times and access difficulties. So far, local climbers have generally agreed that the peak should remain traditional only (no bolts). The spectacular East Face was first climbed in 1966, and over the years a number of other routes have been put up in the vicinity of Leaning Peak and Isolated Peak. More recently, bouldering (ground-level climbing) has become popular in Mount Barney Creek upstream from the Lower Portals camping area.