Why we attended the Mountain West Trails Conference in Vernal

Mountain West Trails Conference

Every year, the SLCA gathers with other trail advocates, volunteers, land managers, industry professionals, users, and community leaders from across Utah. Together, we tackle trail-related challenges, share innovative ideas, and participate in engaging workshops. The conference provides a unique platform to shape the future of trails in the region, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange that will drive the trail experience forward. This year, the conference expanded it’s reach beyond Utah to surrounding states including Arizona, Colorado,Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

Story telling in this collaborative setting provides the SLCA with a unique opportunity to explore ideas from other recreational destinations with an eye towards climbing access. Even though climbing is mostly still behind the curve when it compares to other recreation infrastructure like mountain biking and OHV, lessons learned from these other sports aids in how we plan for climbing area trails, routes, and more.

A huge thanks to the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation and their passionate staff for putting this conference together May 13-15th, 2024 in Vernal, Utah.