Whose Sustainability? Freedom, Land Use, and Competing Conceptions of Care at Cave Rock

Introduction

At the intersection of environmental stewardship, Indigenous sovereignty, and public land use, this paper examines the competing conceptions of care that shape the management and access to sacred sites, considering Cave Rock as a case study. Overlooking Lake Tahoe, an alpine lake that occupies both California and Nevada, Cave Rock (Washoe: De’ek Wadapush) stands as a focal point for these tensions. Recognized by the Washoe Tribe as a sacred space, the rock formation has been a site of spiritual significance and ecological stewardship for generations. Simultaneously, Cave Rock has become an attractive destination for outdoor recreation, particularly rock climbing, which reached its peak in the late 20th century before facing legal challenges and restrictions.

This project, co-authored with a leader of the Washoe Tribe, explores how different groups – Indigenous communities, legal courts, environmentalists, and recreational users – articulate and enact their conceptions of care in relation to Cave Rock. Using a combination of archival research, newspaper discourse analysis, and interviews, we investigate how these conceptions of care come into conflict and how legal frameworks (un)consciously mediate these disputes. Our research aims to illuminate the broader implications of these tensions for Indigenous sovereignty, environmental ethics, and freedom and access to public lands in the United States.

Background and Context

Cave Rock is a geological and cultural landmark that holds profound spiritual significance for the Washoe Tribe, the original inhabitants of the Lake Tahoe region. According to Washoe traditions, Cave Rock is home to powerful spirits known as water babies and a small weasel brother important in Washoe storytelling. (Dangberg 1968) Cave Rock serves as a unique place where only Washoe elders are permitted to offer ritual prayer in order to maintain the vitality of the Lake Tahoe’s environs. For centuries, the Washoe people have maintained a relationship with the land that prioritizes spiritual and ecological care, reinforcing their responsibility as not simply stewards of the environment, but constituent members of it. (Deloria Jr. 2003)

However, in the late 20th century, recreational rock climbing grew in popularity at Cave Rock, transforming the site into a sought-after climbing destination. Many climbers viewed the sheer volcanic rock face as an ideal venue for challenging ascents, and guidebooks described Cave Rock as offering some of the most demanding and athletic routes in the state. (Makley 2018) Paul Crawford, a Tahoe climbing pioneer in the 70s and 80s, advocated for public access to the land, desiring that “everyone have a chance to enjoy this place.” This use of the site was at odds with the Washoe Tribe’s long-standing request to limit public intrusion on the sacred landscape.

The controversy surrounding Cave Rock came to a head in the early 2000s when the Washoe Tribe, supported by legal advocates through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, sought federal intervention to prohibit rock climbing at the site. (Makley and Makley 2010) The resulting legal dispute centered on the conflicting values of cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and the rights of recreational users to access public lands. Opposition came from The Access Fund, a national advocacy organization that seeks to maintain and gain access to climbing areas, “promoting an ethic of responsible climbing and conservation of the climbing environment.” The Access Fund frequently partners with socially liberal corporations like REI, The North Face, YETI, Black Diamond, and more. In particular, The Access Fund argued that limiting access for religious reasons violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Ultimately, in 2007, the U.S. Forest Service ruled in favor of the Washoe Tribe, instituting a ban on rock climbing at Cave Rock. This decision was met with strong opposition from climbers and some public land advocates, who viewed it as an unjust restriction on access to federally managed land. Despite the court’s ruling that recreational climbing is no longer permitted, the Tribe only considers it a limited win. Tourists and nearby residents continue to flock to Cave Rock for other recreational uses. Tourist guides frequently recommend hikes to the site in order to watch the sunset or picnic. Visitors who bring small boats are able to launch them just south of Cave Rock at a boat ramp and fishing charters. Washoe leadership has since written public-facing articles to discourage tourists from visiting the site. (Brooks 2023)

Conclusion

The case of Cave Rock illustrates the profound tensions that arise when different communities bring distinct understandings of care to a shared landscape. While the Washoe Tribe’s claim to Cave Rock as a sacred site ultimately shaped the legal outcome, the broader debate reveals ongoing struggles over land use, access, and environmental responsibility. By examining this case, we aim to contribute to a more just and informed dialogue about the governance of public lands and the recognition of indigenous claims to access. Ultimately, this project invites reflection on how society defines and enacts care – not only for landscapes like Cave Rock but for the relationships that bind people to the land and to one another.