Stewardship: American Fork Hard Rock Approach Trail

From August 20 to September 20, 2026, the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance brought in \ the Access Fund Conservation Team to improve the approach to Hard Rock in American Fork Canyon. This was the first phase of a three-phase project to improve access to Hard Rock, White Wave, and Escape Buttress.

The project began in 2024. Getting to construction took coordination with the Pleasant Grove Ranger District, grant funding, site visits, trail mapping, environmental review, and scheduling the trail crew. By late winter 2026, the pieces were in place.

Before photos of the initial approach

This first phase had three goals:

  • Reroute the approach onto a more sustainable grade, avoiding the steep, loose climb to the base of Quicker Picker Upper (5.9) and Treehugger (5.10c).

  • Close the old section of trail so the area can recover.

  • Build a retaining wall near the top of the old approach to stabilize the trail across the transition between Hard Rock’s west and south faces.

Finding enough suitable rock was one of the biggest challenges. Stairs, retaining walls, and other trail structures require a lot of material, and the crew and volunteers spent hours locating, quarrying, and carrying rock from below the crag. Much of the work happened before a single stone could be set in place.

View Access Fund Report

Over the five weeks, we hosted two Adopt-a-Crag events and a volunteer day with Black Diamond. We also worked alongside the DNR’s State Trail Crew. Together, 22 volunteers contributed approximately 242 hours to the project.

American Fork Accomplishments:

● 20 days in the field

● 22 volunteers engaged

● 32 feet of new trail

● 1194 feet of trail improved

● 1 staircase constructed with 34 steps

● 4 retaining walls constructed

● 43 tons of stone moved

● 1834 feet of trail brushed

Thank you to the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, Access Fund Conservation Team, the Pleasant Grove Ranger District, the State Trail Crew, Black Diamond, and everyone who helped make this first phase possible. The work has laid the groundwork for the next phases of trail improvements at Hard Rock, White Wave, and Escape Buttress.

Photos of the project



Julia Geisler