Climbing approaches at Red Rocks are in rough shape—braided paths, heavy erosion, and confusing route finding are compromising the climbing experience and causing unhealthy environmental conditions at this world-class Nevada climbing destination.

Because Red Rocks National Conservation Area is public land, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required to complete a public environmental compliance process before it can legally make any improvements to climber access approaches, or even allow partners—like the Access Fund-Jeep Conservation Team—to make improvements. With limited budget and staff resources, the BLM has been unable to tackle the necessary steps to kick-start the environmental compliance process that would lead to improved climber access.

In order to give the BLM a leg-up on this process, Access Fund will conduct a comprehensive inventory and assessment of climbing approaches throughout Red Rocks beginning later this month. With generous support from Google and assistance from the Southern Nevada Climbers Coalition and BLM staff, Access Fund will use GPS mapping technology to inventory and assess conditions throughout Oak Creek, Ice Box, Juniper and Pine Creek Canyons.

Once this inventory is complete, Access Fund will use this critical data to develop and submit a comprehensive stewardship proposal for BLM's review and consideration. Our plan is to speed up the BLM environmental review process and give the climbing community a greater say in future stewardship and management decisions.