Hard Rock Trail Restoration Project Begins in American Fork Canyon
Restoring Hard Rock: Trail Work Begins This August
SLCA is kicking off Phase One of the Hard Rock Climbing Access Trail Project in American Fork Canyon this August, 2026—one of the most climbed limestone crags in Utah.
If you’ve been up there, you’ve seen it. More traffic and an approach that’s taken a beating over decades of use. This project is about fixing that—building something that holds up to how much we all climb here.
Backcountry Steps Up
Backcountry is showing up for Hard Rock—supporting this project as the Title Sponsor alongside the community and the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation.
This support is helping make real trail improvements possible at a crag that sees constant, year-round use. It’s a real investment in a crag that sees constant use.
A Crag with History
Hard Rock has been part of the Wasatch climbing scene since the late ‘80s and ‘90s—right when American Fork helped shape modern sport climbing in the U.S.
A lot of these routes have been climbed for decades. And they’re still getting climbed—by everyone. First leads, projecting, families at the base, dogs—it’s one of those rare crags that does it all.
SLCA has already rebolted routes at Hard Rock to keep them safe and climbable.
👉 [See our anchor maintenance work]
At the same time, we’re still working with the U.S. Forest Service to secure long-term permission to maintain bolts here—especially because the crag is split between Wilderness and non-Wilderness, which complicates how that work gets done.
What We’re Doing
This project will span multiple years with a phased approach. Phase One focuses on making the approach sustainable:
Rerouting the main trail
Building stone stairs and retaining features
Closing and restoring eroded social trails
Stabilizing staging areas
The goal is simple: one good trail that lasts.
Bringing in the Crew
We’re brining in the Access Fund Conservation Team for five weeks of professional trail work.
They’ll be on the ground August 19 – September 20, 2026 building real infrastructure—not quick fixes.
This work is happening in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service.
Come Help Build It
We’re also hosting Adopt-a-Crag days so you can get out there and be part of it:
August 29
September 5
Hard Rock isn’t going anywhere—but how we take care of it matters.
We climb here. We care here.
