climbing access trail program

Since SLCA’s inception in 2002, the organization has played a role in caring for climbing landscapes across the Uinta Wasatch Cache and Manti la Sal National Forests through climbing access trail stewardship. Some of our larger climbing access trail projects that have been completed are highlighted below. Trail stewardship is an ongoing need in order to keep climbing areas open and the natural landscapes protected. We accomplish our trail stewardship by combining volunteer Adopt a Crag opportunities with professional trail crews to ensure high quality and long lasting trails.

Climbing Access Trail News

completed projects

Jacob’s Ladder trail realignment to Lone Peak Cirque

Anyone who's ventured up to Lone Peak Cirque knows the approach can be pretty grueling. That's why the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, backed by countless members and organizations from our community, re-routed the infamous Jacob's Ladder Trail to make access to this iconic Wasatch gem a little more user-friendly and sustainable. The truth is, Lone Peak holds a special place in our hearts. This new trail is our love letter to the cirque, and we hope it will allow us to share and preserve this beautiful place for years to come. - by local film makers at Headlamp Studios.

Single Track Trails, SLCA’s private trail contractor for this project, talks about infrastructure, sustainability, The Rock Garden App, and more about what it takes to get a project like this to come to full fruition.

Alpenbock loop, Little Cottonwood

GATE BUTTRESS, Little Cottonwood

The Gate Buttress Project is designed to address 60 years of recreational impact on a 140-acre parcel of land owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in lower Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. With the signing of a recreational lease in 2017, the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance (SLCA) was named active stewards of the Gate Buttress parcel. The Gate Buttress Parcel contains approximately 588 rock climbing routes and 138 boulder problems, spread over 35 areas. The long-term stewardship goal for the property is to create sustainable recreation infrastructure, protect Salt Lake City’s watershed, and deepen the relationship and sense of caring for nature through volunteerism within the climbing community and supporting outdoor industry.

Some History

The Gate Buttress is located within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, whose visitation numbers are higher than all five of Utah’s national parks combined. As outdoor recreation and rock climbing specifically continues to grow in popularity, overcrowding is stressing outdoor landscapes beyond their ability to recover naturally. Soil erosion and compaction along with degradation of vegetation create run off and dirties waterways, hence negatively impacting the watershed health. The area’s spider web of social trails hinders search and rescue operations. Lack of signage and unofficial trails also confuse hikers and other visitors to this property. Fixed anchors that were installed in the late 60s and 70s need replaced. This is a multi year project that prioritizes high trafficked areas.