Indian Creek Canyon is located in San Juan County 50 miles south of Moab, Utah, on the border of the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. A dramatic and intriguing landscape, Indian Creek is rich in natural diversity and cultural resources, with some of the finest rock art in the region. It is also a famous rock climbing area, attracting climbers from throughout the world.

RMFI began working with the Bureau of Land Management and the Dugout Ranch in 1989 to preserve Indian Creek Canyon and mitigate recreational impacts. In conjunction with groups from Outward Bound, Prescott College, Western State College, Colorado College, and Montrose High School, RMFI has built trails to many popular climbing sites and completed major restoration in several side canyons. RMFI has also completed a comprehensive trails and campsite inventory to assist the BLM and the Nature Conservancy in developing a recreational impact mitigation and management strategy for the area.

Project Goal

To contribute to the preservation of Indian Creek Canyon through the completion of recreational impact mitigation, restoration, and visitor education and stewardship programs.

Project Objectives

• Identify and develop access trails to popular climbing sites.
• Close and restore social trails and abandoned roadbeds.
• Prepare trailhead information and visitor education materials.
• Assist the Bureau of Land Management and The Nature Conservancy in identifying recreation management, conservation, and restoration programs.