Members of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance are inviting citizens out for a morning of coffee and stewardship work in American Fork Canyon this Saturday.

Drew Brodhead, advocacy and anchor maintenance coordinator for the group, says the efforts will be focused mainly in the northeast corner of Little Mill Campground. The project will include cleaning along the trails and brush maintenance. “Whether that’s picking up trash, and doing brush back, which is kind of trimming limbs that are in the trail that kind of get in your way and force you to walk off trail, and maybe some other light stewardship stuff,” Brodhead explained.

Saturday’s service project is a part of the group’s “Climbers and Coffee” series. Broadhead said the idea is to visit different trailheads and climbing areas to connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts.

The organization advocates for protecting outdoor rock climbing access and maintaining sustainable climbing resources across the Wasatch Front and central Utah. In places like American Fork Canyon, popularity continues to grow due to the Alpine Loop and other amenities. The U.S. Forest Service estimates over 1 million people visit the canyon each year.

Maintaining recreation facilities, enhancing wildlife habitat and protecting natural resources is no small task. That’s one reason the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance encourages fellow climbers, hikers and trail users to take an active role in helping to protect the environments and recreational areas they frequent. “The places will be, you know, pretty darn pristine if everyone is actively doing it,” Brodhead said.

The organization works closely with land managers in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest under a volunteer agreement for trail stewardship and rock climbing wall maintenance. “And within that there’s different ranger districts,” Brodhead told the Daily Herald. “So, American Fork is under the Pleasant Grove Ranger District and we have been in contact with them, and they’re excited for us to come out and host this event.”

Saturday’s service project is from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and bring their own food and water for the day.

Broadhead says they plan to hold more events like this throughout the spring and summer. The nonprofit also hosts an annual fundraiser that helps them continue to do similar stewardship projects.

He says that depending on the community and land managers’ interest, they may host another American Fork Canyon cleanup event in the fall.

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