Public Comment On Ten Sleep Canyon’s “Climb” Into the Future

Bighorn Basin residents are being asked to give their opinion’s on how the Ten Sleep community and its surrounding landscape will climb into the future.

Rather than being just another out-of-the-way Wyoming community, Ten Sleep is becoming a destination for many outdoor enthusiasts. One activity is primarily driving that attention: rock climbing.

The Tensleep Canyon on U.S. Highway 16 is “climbing” the lists as a fantastic challenge for rock climbers. The website climbing.com says the canyon is “one of America’s top summer climbing destinations, with more than 800 bolted routes.”

Such attention and visitor traffic hasn’t gone by the Bighorn National Forest, which manages segments of the canyon that pass thru the forest boundaries. While they want to encourage the current climbers and hope to attract more, forest officials recognize there’s more to consider and protect in the Tensleep Canyon.

To achieve the best possible results, the Bighorn National Forest Powder River District Ranger is seeking comments on the proposed action and alternatives for the Tensleep Climbing Management Plan project. This plan would manage all recreation in the canyon while protecting natural resources and other opportunities.

A virtual public open house meeting to discuss elements of the Tensleep Climbing Management Plan project is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

You can attend the open house thru this link: https://bit.ly/36CFZZt. In this virtual platform, dialogue between attendees and presenters is done through a typed question and answer forum.

Some of the elements to be discussed include:

• Improvements in parking and highway safety
• Establishment of system trails
• Staging area stabilization
• Management of dispersed camping
• Management of human and pet waste
• Protection of riparian and cliff dwelling habitats
• Protection of geological features
• Management of special use permits

More information on the Tensleep Climbing Management Plan is available on the Bighorn National Forest’s website.

Written comments are being accepted. You can submit them to comments-bighorn@usda.gov with “Tensleep Climbing Plan” in the subject line within 30 days of the legal notice publication that will be noted on the Forest webpage above.

For more information, please contact Christopher D. Jones, 2013 Eastside 2nd Street, Sheridan, WY 82801; telephone 307.674.2627; or email christopher.d.jones@usda.gov.