CRAG Vermont is an organization created and run entirely by climbers and for climbers. Our efforts go directly to conserving, protecting and expanding access to climbing in Vermont.
As a non-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, our mission is to support Vermont’s climbing community by securing, protecting & conserving access to cliffs and other climbing resources.
We Secure Access to Vermont Cliffs
- We build long-term relationships with landowners to maintain access to cliffs located on private property
- We collaborate with the VT Agency of Natural Resources to ensure that climbing on state lands is done so responsibly and in alignment with environmental and recreation management plans
- When necessary, we purchase property & obtain conservation easements to ensure long term access to threatened climbing areas
We Steward Vermont Climbing
- We organize and conduct trail maintenance and volunteer clean-ups
- We collaborate with the Vermont Nongame and Natural Heritage Program to protect the threatened and endangered species that live in cliff ecosystems
- We inform climbers, land managers and the public of access, environmental and historical climbing information
We Build Community
By hosting events, including member meet-ups, stewardship days, speaker series, film showings, and the Vermont Climbing Festival
Members make the work of CRAG Vermont possible, and as a Member your donation is used to protect climbing in Vermont. Members also receive awesome benefits — like discounted memberships at local gyms and discounts on gear.
Join us September 24-26th, 2021 for the third annual Vermont Climbing Festival. Come learn, climb, camp, celebrate & get to know the Vermont climbing community!
As a non-profit, we rely on the efforts of local climbers to help us accomplish our mission. We have all types of volunteer opportunities, from trail work to event planning, graphic design and everything in between. Join the community today!
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With projects all over the state, CRAG Vermont is always working on something new, stewarding existing lands and creating new opportunities for climbing, community, education and partnerships. Below you’ll find a selection of our current high-priority projects. Consider helping out or donating!
Goal: $467,000 Raised: $400,000
Closed for decades, CRAG-VT purchased the Bolton Dome property in 2017 with the help of a $356,000 loan from the Access Fund. To date, this is CRAG’s biggest climbing area acquisition. The Dome is now protected for permanent conservation and recreation. CRAG-VT seasonally rents parking lot use on behalf of climbers from the neighboring landowner. This is a complex project for CRAG-VT; we have incurred an estimated $100,000 in additional expenses associated with property assessments, attorney fees and legal filings, and establishment of the conservation easement. Our goal is to repay our entire loan by July of 2022 — help us close it out!
Now in it’s third year, the Vermont Climbing Festival is becoming an annual tradition. Join over 300 northeastern (and beyond!) climbers for a weekend of camping, climbing, skill building, stewardship and fun! If you’re interested in getting involved as a guide, workshop facilitator, volunteer, or sponsor — reach out to us at lauren@cragvt.org. This is also our biggest annual fundraiser, the proceeds of which help fund our other projects.
If you’re a Vermont Climber you know that parking is a challenge, and all of our Bolton Crags require creative work to maintain adequate parking! We are committed to working with the town of Bolton to find long term recreation parking solutions that assure forever access to the climbing areas we’ve worked so hard to protect. For us, this requires a big time investment, and in many cases these projects come with infrastructure expenses as well.
There are many ways to support Vermont Climbing. Click here to learn more about becoming a corporate partner, major donor, or member.