An innovative approach to visitor education in Bears Ears National Monument

In the spring and fall, visitors from all over the world are drawn to Indian Creek in Bears Ears National Monument to experience its recreational opportunities, see archeological resources, and take in the vast landscape. Indian Creek is renowned for its crack climbing opportunities. During the 2021 fiscal year (October 2020– September 2021), the BLM estimates almost 620,000 people visited the Monticello Field Office in San Juan County Utah, and many of those visitors came to the Indian Creek area. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), The Access Fund, the Nature Conservancy, and other partners are collaborating on an innovative climber steward program to educate visitors and protect resources in the Indian Creek corridor. This new program will help reach some of those visitors to share best practices for responsible recreation and resource protection. 

As a part of this partnership, the Access Fund hired two climber stewards who are educating Indian Creek visitors from October 1 through the first week of December. The climber stewards (named because they are climbers focused on supporting good stewardship of public lands) are hosting Climber Coffees on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday during the busy fall season. While visitors may stop by for a warm drink, they leave with information to help inform their trip – including climbing tips, information about Leave No Trace Principles, best practices for recreating in the desert, knowledge about how to protect cultural resources and wildlife, and answers to other questions they may have. In addition to these Climber Coffees, the stewards are serving as the campground host for BLM-managed campgrounds in the area and speaking with area visitors while in the campgrounds or out recreating on public lands. 

“I’m thrilled with the program and the potential for this partnership to really show visitors that we are present and care about both the recreational opportunities and the resources on public lands,” said Monticello Field Manager Amber Denton Johnson. “The Access Fund has continually shown their commitment and we look forward to working with them on this and other efforts to take care of this important place within Bears Ears National Monument.”  

In addition to helping train the climber stewards, BLM employees sometimes join the Climber Stewards out on public lands to speak with visitors. So far archeologists, recreation staff, and geologists have met with the Climber Stewards and/or visited with them and others who stop at the Climber Coffees.

The program has been a resounding success so far. During the Climber Coffees each week, the climber stewards speak with approximate 200 and 230 people. If you are in the area this fall, we encourage you to stop by to speak with the climber stewards. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 5 between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. you’ll find them at the Super Bowl Campground on Fridays, at the Donnelly Canyon/Supercrack Parking Lot on Saturdays, and at the Beef Basin/North Cottonwood Junction on Sundays. 

Primary partners working on this effort include The Access Fund, Bureau Land Management, The Nature Conservancy (Dugout Ranch and Canyonlands Research Center), and Friends of Indian Creek. Visit the Access Fund website to learn more about the program.  

In October, the BLM and the Access Fund also finalized a local Memorandum of Understanding which covers the Climber Stewards program and climbing-related stewardship efforts in Indian Creek. The Climber Stewards, this memorandum of understanding, and this partnership are all part of the BLM's commitment to responsible management of Indian Creek and Bears Ears National Monument.