Access Fund is pleased to announce almost $40,000 in new climbing conservation grants to climbing advocates around the country. Our nine awardees will advance new projects in a parking lot build, road repair, a climbing advocacy summit, human waste solutions, and several large-scale stewardship projects.

Since 1991, Access Fund has awarded more than $1.6 million in Climbing Conservation Grants to support 483 projects in land conservation and climbing access. Our spring 2025 grantees include:

Central New Hampshire Climbers’ Association: Parking Lot Construction

CNHCA is addressing parking congestion in Woodstock, NH, caused by increased climbing activity at Merriam Woods and Tripoli Road. To alleviate concerns from local residents, CNHCA has secured a 5-acre parcel to build a designated parking lot for climbers and recreationists. The lot will accommodate 50 cars and provide direct trailhead access, reducing the creation of informal paths that threaten natural resources. A kiosk at the site will offer maps, stewardship guidelines, closure updates (e.g., falcon nesting), volunteer opportunities, and information on local ecology. Funding has been secured for stump removal, grading, and gravel and boulder boundary installation.

Climbing Association of Southern Arizona: Crags Against Humanity Pilot Project

This is the first climbing infrastructure project on the Coronado National Forest since its establishment in 1908. For the past decade, CASA has collaborated with the Forest Service to strengthen relationships and make projects like this possible, helping to legitimize climbing and paving the way for direct Forest Service support. The project includes 250 linear feet of new trails and 300 linear feet of belay terraces, along with: a welcome kiosk with a map and low-impact guidelines, a Wag Bag station to manage human waste, trail junction signage directing climbers to cliff faces, restoration of impacted trails and areas, and temporary signage to protect rehabilitated zones.

Friends of Muir Valley: Emergency Access Road Stabilization

Friends of Muir Valley must repair the emergency access road, which was damaged by a landslide during the winter 2025 floods, making it unsafe for vehicles. Without repairs, emergency response times for climbing accidents could be dangerously delayed. This project provides a long-term solution to a recurring issue over the past 20 years. Work includes installing 13 forty-foot steel pylons, cribbing, aggregate fill, drainage improvements, and bank stabilization to prevent future erosion.

Rocky Mountain Field Institute: Shelf Road RMFI Training Week

Since 1991, Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) has partnered with the BLM to manage recreation impacts at Shelf Road, one of Colorado’s most popular climbing areas, with over 1,300 routes and 60,000 annual visitors. While the BLM oversees campgrounds, RMFI leads trail construction and maintenance to ensure continued access. This project will focus on heavily damaged areas with completed NEPA. A 20-person RMFI team will spend 3–5 days building retaining walls for belay platforms and eroded hillsides, installing rock steps, maintaining trails, and clearing corridors. All of this will be completed as trailwork and training for RMFI’s seasonal trail crews.

South Central Pennsylvania Climbers: Pennsylvania Climbing Advocacy Summit

The Pennsylvania Climbing Advocacy Summit, hosted by the state’s three major LCOs—Southwestern PA Climbers Coalition, South Central Pennsylvania Climbers, and Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance of Climbers—will bring together climbing advocates for a weekend of learning and networking at Stone Mountain Adventures in Donation, PA. This first-of-its-kind event will connect LCO leaders, ambassadors, and key members to discuss shared challenges, explore solutions, and hear from experts on climbing best practices, conservation, land stewardship, and economic impact. Sessions include presentations, roundtables, and discussions with land managers, biologists, government officials, and climbers.

Southeastern Climbers Coalition: Hospital Boulders Moldering Privy

Hospital Boulders Gadsden, Alabama © Southeastern Climbers Coalition.

Since acquiring Hospital Boulders in 2012, the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) has seen a steady rise in visitation. While this growth has made the area more popular, it has also increased the need for bathroom facilities. The lack of proper facilities has led to spider trails, vegetation damage, and scattered toilet paper waste as climbers search for secluded spots. Although a wag bag station was installed in 2021, frequent restocking proves unsustainable. A mouldering privy would provide a long-term solution, reducing environmental impact and offering an opportunity to educate climbers on responsible waste disposal. The level parking area near the trailhead makes it an ideal site.

Stewards of Western Maine Climbing: Stewards of Western Maine Climbing LCO start-up

Stewards of Western Maine Climbing (SWMC) was created to support and protect the region’s climbing resources. Despite a growing climbing community, no local organization has existed to maintain crags and foster landowner relations. SWMC aims to fill this gap by promoting community involvement and sustainable practices to keep these spaces safe, accessible, and preserved for future generations. Grant funding will go toward nonprofit startup costs and tools for initial projects at several Bethel crags, with a focus on erosion control at Bald Bluff.

Upper Saco Valley Land Trust: Jockey Cap Trail Repair

Jockey Cap Park, a 15.6-acre property on US Route 302 in Fryeburg, serves both the local community of 3,000 residents and visitors from Maine, Canada, and beyond. As a gateway to the White Mountains, the park needs improved access and educational signage highlighting its significance. A needs assessment by the AMC Trails Department identified severe erosion on key trails, posing risks to both wildlife and visitors. The proposed work includes: installing timber steps and retaining structures on the 200-foot Climber Access Trail, adding 50 timber check-steps and a 30-step staircase on the 1,000-foot Summit Trail, and closing and restoring 160 feet of redundant, eroded trail.

Western Massachusetts Climbers Coalition: Hanging Mountain Trail Infrastructure Development

Hanging Mountain was purchased in 2019 by the Western Massachusetts Climbers Coalition (WMCC) with support from the Access Fund, Ragged Mountain Foundation, and Appalachian Mountain Club. Volunteers completed extensive trail work on the north side in 2020–2021, and efforts now focus on developing trails to new climbing areas on the south side. The steep terrain requires technical skills, including grip hoist operation for moving rock. The next phase includes building retaining walls and 20 stone steps. While WMCC has skilled volunteers, expanding capacity through training is essential. To achieve this, WMCC will hire Hermit Woods Trailbuilders for a two-day volunteer training, with the Boston chapter of the AMC matching funds to increase participation to 16 volunteers. Participants will include WMCC, AMC, and Ragged Mountain Foundation volunteers, as well as local conservation groups and land trust staff. Before work begins, WMCC will hire a biologist to conduct surveys, as Hanging Mountain is a Priority Habitat under MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.