Our Mission

Today, 1 in 5 climbing areas in the United States are threatened—whether it's private land lost to development, public land managers over-regulating climbing, or climber impacts degrading the environment, the list of threats is long and constantly evolving. At Access Fund, we are on a mission to keep climbing areas open and conserve the climbing environment, and we want you to join us.

No one loves our climbing landscapes and the experiences they offer quite the same way that climbers do. But we must be willing and committed to fight for them. Not just for access, but for the integrity of these amazing places. As our sport continues to grow in popularity, overcrowding is stressing our outdoor landscapes beyond their ability to recover naturally. This not only threatens access, but it degrades the climbing experience that we hold so dear.

Founded in 1991, Access Fund represents millions of climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing: rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and bouldering. Six core programs support our mission on national and local levels:

• Climbing policy and advocacy
• Stewardship and conservation
• Local support and mobilization
• Land acquisition and protection
• Risk management and landowner support
• Education

Access Fund is a certified land trust, advocates for climbers at the local and national levels, and maintaining active Memorandums of Understanding with the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management.