Protection & Access

It is vital we protect the amazing climbing of Western Colorado’s unique climbing areas.

Since our inception in 2007, the WCCC has:

  • Purchased land in Unaweep Canyon to permanently protect one-of-a-kind crags such as Mother Buttress, Sunday Wall, and more.

  • Collaborated with other agencies and partner groups to advocate and protect climbing areas.

  • Improved parking areas, trails, and infrastructure to ensure safe and sustainable access to crags.

Stewardship & Education

We aim to foster stewardship & education

Being in a high-desert environment, our climbing areas are home to fragile landscapes. We aim to educate the public and inspire a positive stewardship ethic among all users. Since 2008, WCCC has cleaned-up crags, hosted community events, and installed infrastructure to prevent damage to the landscape with dedicated help from the community.

Adopt-a-crag Program

WCCC is an active member of the BLM’s “Adopt-a-” program. WCCC has adopted 9-mile Hill, a popular bouldering area in Unaweep Canyon. Frequently, we meet at Late Bloomers parking & head to a new area in the 9-mile Hill to clean-up with volunteers. We have collected hundreds of pounds of trash during these events and have made a positive impact on the landscape of our favorite climbing areas. You can find more information about these events here or on our Facebook page.

Gear Replacement

The WCCC has replaced hundreds of unsafe bolts and anchors over the past decade.

Climbers’ safety is of the upmost importance. With help from our community, we are committed to monitoring and replacing anchors within our region. If you notice any unusable, unsafe, or questionable anchors, please let us now. Please submit the location, route, type of anchor, and general issues through our contact form.

If you plan on replacing gear or developing new routes on your own, please do so responsibly and safely. Please get in contact with us with any inquires or suggestions.

To view our bolting guidelines, click here.

MILESTONES

  • 1991-92

    The Access Fund buys Unaweep crags: Sunday Wall, Fortress Wall & Hidden Valley. They eventually transfer these to the WCCC.

  • 2001

    The Access Fund awards the community a rebolting grant.

    The group later forming the WCCC was awarded a $2,084 grant from the Access Fund: Anchor Replacement Fund. We upgrade existing hardware at Grit Wall and Four Blocks Wall in Unaweep Canyon’s Nine Mile Hill.

  • 2007

    The WCCC is born!

  • 2007

    The WCCC partnered with a private party, John and Marti Peterson, to secure the crag known as Upper Mothers Buttress.

  • 2008

    The WCCC begins a formal joint partnership with the AccessFund.

  • 2008

    The WCCC buys Upper Mothers Buttress from John and Marti Peterson.

  • 2014

    The WCCC buys Beyer's Wall and Lower Mothers Buttress.

  • 2015

    The Access Fund establishes permanent conservation easements for all WCCC properties.

  • 2021

    The WCCC partners with the BLM's Adopt-A Program to host monthly cleanups in Unaweep Canyon starting in Bone Park.

    In the first 18 months we cleaned over 11,000 lbs out of the canyon.

  • 2023

    Adopt A cleanup events move to quarterly. Since, over 3,000 lbs of trash have been removed and counting!

  • Land upheld & managed

    The WCCC continues to improve parking areas, trails, and infrastructure to ensure safe and sustainable access to crags.