Forest Supervisor Terri Marceron of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit signed Forest Order 19-08-01 on Feb. 26, which will enforce a permanent climbing closure and move the Cave Rock Management Plan forward, which will manage the site for it’s historical and archaeological significance.

Under this new forest order, Cave Rock remains open to the public for non-invasive recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking and fishing.

The new forest order follows a US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion filed in August, 2007 that upheld the climbing closure for resource protection. The Judge’s ruling leaves intact the FS decision to protect the Cave Rock heritage, archaeological and historic resources and prohibit activities that physically damage Cave Rock, such as rock climbing, graffiti and motorized use outside the highway corridor. Cave Rock is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places for its archeological and historic significance.

Forest Order No. 19-08-01 can be viewed at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/projects/cave-rock/index.shtml