Access Fund is pleased to announce nearly $32,000 in new climbing conservation grants to climbing advocates around the country. Our 12 awardees will advance new projects in acquisitions, educational signage, a stewardship summit, climbing advocacy festival, and several large-scale stewardship projects.

Since 1991, Access Fund has awarded more than $1.6 million in Climbing Conservation Grants to support 495 projects in land conservation and climbing access. Our fall 2025 grantees include:

Cliffhanger Guides: 2nd Annual 29 Palms Rock Rumble Royale

Cliffhanger Guides is hosting its second annual 29 Palms Rock Rumble Royale—a two-day climbing festival in Joshua Tree. The event and bouldering competition focus on fostering community, land stewardship and advocacy, reducing impact, and preserving our public lands. In total, there will be six hours of educational programming available to attendees. Event organizers expect to see attendance of 500 to 600 people and have a goal of raising more than $5,000 for nonprofit partners such as the Joshua Tree National Park Association, Mojave Desert Land Trust, and Friends of Joshua Tree. Thirty scholarships will be available for the event in partnership with the Cedar Wright Dirtbag Fund, Lagartijas Climbing Cru, Jordan Cannon, and the Professional Climbing Guides Institute to reach participants from diverse backgrounds for whom participation is difficult because of financial constraints.

Baboon Stewardship: Crag Care 2025 - 2026

Baboon Stewardship is a local climbing organization based in Southern California focused on stewarding nearby climbing areas in the region. During its Crag Care series this winter, the group plans to host three volunteer events to remove graffiti, clean up trash, and clear invasive plant species at Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, Stoney Point in Los Angeles, and Jurupa Hills in Fontana. Proactive and continued stewardship of these urban crags will allow for sustained access to the areas that provide more accessible opportunities for climbing to those who may have limited access otherwise. Baboon Stewardship believes that the green spaces people see in their everyday lives—the ones in their backyard—are just as important as iconic climbing landscapes like Yosemite Valley and the Mojave Desert.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Moab Field Office: Long Canyon Bighorn Sheep Signage

The BLM Moab Field Office is installing three educational signs within Long Canyon to inform climbers and other visitors of the area’s importance to wildlife. The canyon is home to several popular attractions—OHV roads, rock climbing, and sightseeing—while also serving as valuable habitat for bighorn sheep. Each year, these sheep head up canyons such as Long Canyon to give birth and raise their young where they have better protection from predators. During these annual periods, April 1 through June 15, sheep may be unintentionally scared off by climbers hiking along the slopes to access climbing areas, which can cause undue stress and possible death of lambs. The proposed signs will educate visitors about how to protect this habitat and prevent disturbance of the wildlife.

CRAG-VT: Bolton Dome Stabilization

Photo provided by CRAG-VT

Since its acquisition by CRAG-VT in 2018, Bolton Dome has quickly become one of Vermont’s most popular climbing areas. Through proactive stewardship work, CRAG-VT aims to address the impacts of climbers at high-traffic areas through sustainable stone structures. The approach trail to two beginner-friendly crags and the belay bases of the Doctor’s Slab area have begun to show significant deterioration. The scope of this project includes hiring Hermit Woods Trailbuilders to add a 20-step staircase along the approach trail and build a retaining wall at the base of the cliff. Training in rock-work techniques will also be provided to volunteers during the project.

New River Alliance of Climbers: Junkyard Area Improvement Project

This project will preserve and enhance climbing access by replacing dilapidated stairs and split-rail fencing along the approach trail to the Junkyard Area in New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia. With one of the shortest approaches in the region and home to many popular climbing routes, this crag has seen heavy traffic for several decades. Erosion, habitat degradation, and access issues have since followed. The New River Alliance of Climbers (NRAC) plans to install 112 precast concrete steps and 168 pieces of split-rail fencing along the approach trail, plus 87 concrete blocks in a retaining wall at the cliff’s belay bases. This project will take place during NRAC’s annual (Not) Work Week event in spring 2026, hosting up to 30 volunteers and 1,300 volunteer hours over the course of the week.

Northern Colorado Climbers’ Coalition: Poudre Canyon Educational Kiosk Initiative

Photo provided by Northern Colorado Climbers’ Coalition.

Through the boom in climbing popularity and its proximity to Colorado State University, Poudre Canyon has seen unprecedented traffic in recent years—especially from beginner climbers and those who may be less experienced in the outdoors. Educational touchpoints are extremely important for this demographic, yet there is currently no climber-specific signage in the entire canyon. The Northern Colorado Climbers’ Coalition’s goal is to install three educational kiosks at strategic locations to promote responsible recreation and sustainable access moving forward. The kiosks will include detailed climbing-area maps, emergency contact information, Leave No Trace principles, site-specific conservation guidance, seasonal raptor closures, wag bags, and local ethics and history.

Ouray Ice Park: Our Water Our Future

A massive capital campaign launched by the Ouray Ice Park board of directors in 2019 aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Ice Park by providing a reliable water source to continue farming ice for generations to come. Due to the ongoing drought in southwest Colorado and increased visitation to Ouray, the city no longer has enough water to supply the Ice Park from its municipal tanks.

The project includes a recreational, in-channel diversion that takes water from Canyon Creek and pumps it up to the vertical cliffs above the Uncompahgre River, where it is farmed into ice climbing routes during the winter months. The diverted water is stored as ice and released back into the river when it melts in the spring. An economic impact study conducted in 2022 indicated that the Ice Park contributes nearly $18 million to the local economy.

Portland Area Climbers Coalition: French’s Dome Climbing Area Sign Replacement

In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Portland Area Climbers Coalition (PACC) is replacing informational signage at French’s Dome in the Mount Hood National Forest. The sign, originally developed with the involvement of Access Fund, provides essential information about climbing access, stewardship, ethics, and the natural and cultural significance of the area. Over time, the sign has become weathered and damaged, diminishing its visibility and effectiveness in educating the public. This project seeks to restore the sign to its original purpose—promoting responsible recreation, educating climbers and visitors on Leave No Trace principles, and supporting ongoing stewardship of the site.

Red River Gorge, Kentucky. © Billy Simek.

Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition: Red River Gorge Climbing Economic Impact

In 2015, one of the first economic impact studies of climbing was conducted in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky, by Dr. James Maples. Between that time and a second study in 2020, annual expenditures in the region increased substantially, showing that climbers bring in more than $8 million to the area each year. Five years later, the popularity of climbing has continued to grow rapidly, and the expansion of climbing access in the Red River Gorge has followed. The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition (RRGCC) is teaming up with Dr. Maples for a third iteration of the Red River Gorge Economic Impact Study to depict the importance of tourism in eastern Kentucky. An additional subset of questions within the study will also analyze the direct impact of Rocktoberfest, RRGCC’s annual five-day climbing festival.

Stewardship Utah Foundation: Land We Share Summit Speaker Support

The Land We Share: Utah Public Lands Summit is a full-day convening hosted in October 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The summit unites the many communities that care about Utah’s public lands—climbers, conservationists, ranchers, tribal leaders, outdoor businesses, and public officials. By fostering collaboration across traditional divides, the summit aims to build durable coalitions, advance shared goals, and create new opportunities for public land stewardship and policy impact. Stewardship Utah expects more than 100 participants across the various stakeholder groups. Scholarships will be available for attendees of this collaborative initiative.

Wilderness Volunteers: Trail Development for New Climbing Access in City of Rocks

This project will focus on new trail development in the Graham Creek Canyon area, north of City of Rocks National Reserve proper. Graham Creek Canyon, while part of the National Reserve, has recently become more easily accessible through the purchase of a connecting parcel that allows for road access at a lower elevation. The canyon boasts several pristine climbing areas, including Train Rock, Motel (Graham Cracker) Rock, and Camel Rock. An estimated eight miles of new trail development is needed to access all three climbing areas. This project will be a two-step process, with one week of trail preparation and planning in fall 2025 and one week of new trail construction in spring 2026.