Access Fund is excited to announce the opening of Inks Ranch in Texas for the inaugural Inks Ranch Climbing Festival. This historic cattle ranch is located just two hours west of Austin and is home to hundreds of acres of virtually untouched granite boulders, slabs, and cracks.

Inks Ranch is located in Llano, TX, ancestral lands of Nʉmʉnʉʉ (Comanche).

“Opening a new area to climbing is a pretty special occurrence in Texas,” says Access Fund Texas Regional Director, Brian Tickle. “The fact that Inks Ranch contains so much undiscovered and unclimbed granite is truly rare.”

Inks Ranch is part of the same granite formation as neighboring Enchanted Rock, which was discovered by climbers in the 1930s, with the bulk of climbing established in the 1970s and 80s. However, the privately owned granite slabs and boulders at Inks Ranch have remained all but untouched by climbers. The ranch has been owned by the same family since the 1830s, when the Republic of Texas granted the land to them in return for fighting in the Texas Revolution.

The Inks Ranch will open its gates to the public on March 27-29 for camping, climbing, and exploration. The festival will provide a unique and primitive climbing experience, allowing climbers to explore excellent trad and bouldering opportunities, as well as potential for future sport climbs. Detailed information regarding the Inks Ranch Climbing Festival, including volunteer opportunities and registration, can be found on our event webpage. UPDATE: Registration for the Inks Ranch Climbing Festival is SOLD OUT, but stay tuned for future access opportunities.

Access & Route Development Details

The Inks Ranch is only open to the public on approved weekends. The Ranch is not open for “at will” public access and you must register prior to attending the Inks Ranch Climbing Festival. Access Fund will continue working with the private landowner on future climbing access opportunities after this inaugural event.

By request of the landowner, Access Fund will coordinate all route development activity at this new area. If you’re an experienced route developer who is interested in volunteering your skills to this project, please reach out to us at [email protected] with a brief paragraph detailing your interest and qualifications.