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.
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: $436,000
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. We are committed to repaying our entire loan by July of 2023 — help us close it out!
The fourth Annual Vermont Climbing Festival is scheduled for September 23 – 25, 2022. Join us for a weekend full of clinics, speakers, music, and climbing while getting to know fellow Vermont Climbers. All proceeds benefit CRAG-VT and our work to protect Vermont Climbing Access. Learn more here!
The Bolton Dome Trail Stabilization Project is our largest trail improvement project to date! With support from Vermont Forest, Parks, and Recreation’s ERSA Grant and Athletic Brewing’s Two for the Trails Grant, we’ll be addressing two of our highest priorities for trail improvements at the Dome: the Railroad Gully and the Doctor Slabs.
At the Railroad Gully, we’re building a large stone staircase to provide better access to top-rope anchors for a few of our favorite beginner climbs, and we’ll be installing several terraces alongside it so that climbers at the Railroad Yard will have a flat spot to belay from that’s out of the way of anyone using the staircase. At the Doctor Slabs, we’ll be building stone retaining walls that will level out the staging area and reduce future erosion at the base of the cliff.
There are many ways to support Vermont Climbing. Click here to learn more about becoming a corporate partner, major donor, or member.
A Few of our accomplishments
A brief look at the many milestones of CRAG Vermont
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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
