The area affectionately known as “Gold Bar” houses some of the best granite bouldering to be found. The area has been recognized as a bouldering mecca since about 2000, and climbers have been active stewards in the area ever since. Those displaying a Washington Climbers Coalition sticker had special access here for a period of time in 2012 and 2013, but the access road is expected to remain gaited and no such public or private access is expected for the foreseeable future.
Volunteers at Gold Bar Boulders. Photo by Mike Morin, Access Fund.
The Gold Bar Boulders lie mostly on timber land that was previously owned by a private logging company, Make Timber. The property has now been transferred to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a Washington state agency whose mission is to generate funds for public education. This property is and will continue to be managed for timber revenue.
DNR has been directed by the governor to provide public access to lands under their control, and they are increasingly working with us to support climbing at gold bar. They left some shade trees around key boulders during a recent thinning effort, and they hosted volunteer work parties in 2015, 2016, and 2017.