Big Picture
The Wilderness Stewardship Performance Program is a US Forest Service framework that measures human impact within wilderness areas. To ensure that these wilderness areas stay wild, the Forest Service has identified key elements that help define successful wilderness stewardship based on the Wilderness Act. These elements combine the essential qualities of wilderness character. Save Our Canyons is in charge of monitoring one of these characters, Recreation Sites.
In 2025, Save Our Canyons aims to complete this cycle of recreation site monitoring. Over the past two seasons. The majority of locations have been monitored and cataloged.
Save Our Canyons will continue partnering with the Salt Lake Ranger District to ensure that all wilderness recreation sites are located and analyzed to protect Wilderness Characteristics in Twin Peaks Wilderness, Mount Olympus Wilderness, and Lone Peak Wilderness. The Salt Lake Ranger District has developed a survey and mapping app for volunteers to use to collect inventory data of recreation sites, including but not limited to; fire rings, camp sites, climbing crags, overlooks, and fishing spots. This process will be done by searching for recreation sites and following protocol to survey current conditions of the location, to then compare over time.If you are someone who likes to get outside and hike, this is for you.
2025 Season Goals
In 2025, Save Our Canyons aims to complete this cycle of recreation site monitoring. Over the past two seasons. The majority of locations have been monitored and cataloged, thanks to our incredible community.
Remaining Recreation Site Goals
- Monitor recreation sites found via user created trail systems in all wilderness areas.
- Monitor climbing crag recreation sites selected by Salt Lake Ranger District.
- Monitor recreation sites found via few remaining USFS Trails.
Get Involved
Save Our Canyons will be hosting multiple training sessions starting in May. To participate in the Recreation Site Monitoring Program, you must complete a 1 time training session where you will learn the surveying protocol and be able to accurately collect data for long term analysis. Once you complete a training session, you can monitor on your own time.
If you are interested in participating in the Recreation Site Monitoring Program, you can sign up for a training session here. Additional questions? Contact sam@saveourcanyons.org to learn more.