JTNP Wilderness Rock Climbing Study

The Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP) Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan states that rock climbing is an appropriate form of recreation in the park. However, since February 1993, JTNP has prohibited the placement of fixed anchors in wilderness until it understands the potential environmental and social impacts associated with rock climbing and fixed anchors. Environmental impacts may include the proliferation of social trails and the degradation of cliff and cliff-base ecosystems. In addition, some environmental groups believe that fixed anchors are not acceptable according to their interpretation of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Park staff believes that wilderness is a finite resource, and continued unregulated placement of bolts in Joshua Tree National Park's wilderness is unsustainable. Therefore, JTNP is proposing a permitting process that considers environmental criteria in a way that will protect wilderness resources, but at the same time is not so burdensome to potential users that it will be circumvented.

The Joshua Tree Wilderness Climbing Study (JTWCS) is a two and a half year project funded by the National Park Service, the Access Fund, and the University of Arizona. The most comprehensive climbing study ever done, the JTWCS will help land managers better understand the relationship between climbers and biological/cultural resources over time and space. This understanding will allow land managers to design and implement streamlined policies rather than blanket regulations that prohibit or restrict access to whole areas because of a lack of information.

Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Rock Climbing Study
The Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP) Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan states that rock climbing is an appropriate form of recreation in the park. However, since February 1993, JTNP has prohibited the placement of fixed anchors in wilderness until it understands the potential environmental and social impacts associated with rock climbing and fixed anchors. Environmental impacts may include the proliferation of social trails and the degradation of cliff and cliff-base ecosystems. In addition, some environmental groups believe that fixed anchors are not acceptable according to their interpretation of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Park staff believes that wilderness is a finite resource, and continued unregulated placement of bolts in Joshua Tree National Park's wilderness is unsustainable. Therefore, JTNP is proposing a permitting process that considers environmental criteria in a way that will protect wilderness resources, but at the same time is not so burdensome to potential users that it will be circumvented. The Joshua Tree Wilderness Climbing Study (JTWCS) is a two and a half year project funded by the National Park Service, the Access Fund, and the University of Arizona. The most comprehensive climbing study ever done, the JTWCS will help land managers better understand the relationship between climbers and biological/cultural resources over time and space. This understanding will allow land managers to design and implement streamlined policies rather than blanket regulations that prohibit or restrict access to whole areas because of a lack of information.
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Funded by the National Park Service, The University of Arizona, and The Access Fund