Cardiff Fork Access Restored for a Decade!

Some of my best days in the backcountry have been in Cardiff Fork, and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. I have so many great memories of taking in the view across Mineral, Mill B, and Broads Fork, then ripping skins and dropping into George’s or the Ivories for a thousand feet of blower Wasatch powder. Even on the slower days, when conditions are mediocre or I’ve slept in too late to score fresh tracks, I still love being there. There’s something special about Cardiff. If you’ve been, you know that it’s a truly beautiful drainage.

Last week, WBA secured something big: 10 years of guaranteed public access up the Cardiff Fork road. After more than a year and a half of behind-the-scenes work, the future of one of the Wasatch’s most iconic backcountry zones is no longer in limbo. We gathered at the Salt Lake Ranger District office to join the Cardiff Canyon Owners Association (CCOA) as they signed their Special Use Permit with the Forest Service.

You might be thinking, “Wait, didn’t this already happen?” While it’s true that in January of 2025 the private landowners, CCOA, granted access for the remainder of the 24-25 winter, the long-term future remained uncertain as CCOA continued to work to gain back their motorized access.

We were grateful that CCOA granted public access up the road, even before they received motorized access, and for their continued collaboration and transparency throughout the process. 

But this kind of win doesn’t just happen. It takes persistence, relationships, and local advocacy, the kind that WBA specializes in. We attended regular meetings. We negotiated. We reviewed permit drafts. We pushed back when needed. We built trust. And through months of collaboration with CCOA and the Forest Service, we’ve restored access up Cardiff Fork. You can learn more by reading the full blog below. 

Help Us Keep Showing Up
This success is a reminder of what WBA can do, but only with your support. We don’t have national fundraising machines or massive budgets. Honestly, we are still trying to figure out how to grow and sustain our impact. We’re local. We’re lean (only one part-time employee and a dedicated volunteer board). But we get results.

If you plan on skiing up Cardiff Fork over the next decade, or if you value this kind of work—quiet but critical, collaborative but firm—please consider making a donation or becoming a member today. Even $10 adds up and makes a big impact for a small nonprofit like WBA! 

Thank you for supporting our local backcountry!

With gratitude,
Dani Poirier & the WBA Board of Directors

---

Learn More

A Complicated History

Cardiff Fork is a patchwork of ownership, including Forest Service public lands alongside alongside privately held patented mining claims. Public access up the Cardiff Fork road was lost in May 2022, when Cardiff Canyon Owners Association’s (CCOA) previous Special Use Permit (SUP) with the Forest Service expired. That permit had allowed CCOA to use motorized vehicles on the Forest Service road to access private parcels and, in turn, had allowed the public to cross the four privately owned parcels along the road. When the permit lapsed, so did the public’s ability to cross those lands without the threat of trespassing.

For those newer to the Wasatch backcountry, Cardiff has a long and sometimes fraught history. Toward the end of the previous permit, tensions escalated between motorized users and human-powered recreationists, with accusations of misuse and conflict from both sides. 

2025 Permit Maps

How We Got Here

In the fall of 2023, I started as the first and only paid employee for WBA. And while the position is part-time, it has added significant bandwidth for our nonprofit and enabled us to start tackling backcountry issues. In January of 2023, I began attending regular meetings that were organized by Dea Theodore with private landowners and other stakeholders to gain back access.

It became clear that in order for CCOA to gain back motorized access on the road, they would need to apply for a new permit, which would again include a reciprocal use agreement allowing public access in exchange for their permitted motorized use.

WBA took an active role in these discussions. Our goal was clear: advocate for public access while ensuring Cardiff Canyon stayed in its original state: no new development or infrastructure, no alterations to the current roadway, and no additional motor use. We’ve always believed that it’s better to have a seat at the table than be left out entirely. That’s why so much of our work happens quietly, behind the scenes.

While not all CCOA members were involved in these meetings, WBA made an effort to build positive relationships with the homeowners who were consistently engaged. Despite our differing visions and modes of access, we found common ground in our love for Cardiff Fork. Through ongoing dialogue since January of 2024, we transformed what could have been a contentious relationship into a productive one.

Quite honestly, this whole situation could have turned into a lengthy legal battle. But by working in coordination with the Forest Service, CCOA and other stakeholders, we were able to come to the table and figure out a solution that would appease all users.

Throughout this process, we worked closely with CCOA and their attorney, Tee Spjute, as we reviewed multiple permit drafts. They didn’t have to share document drafts with WBA, but they remained communicative and transparent, which helped build trust. After all, the lack of communication between key stakeholders was partially to blame for the contention and fallout in the previous agreement.

We hashed out details—often pushing back—until we landed on terms we could support. At the end of the day, the permit is a formal agreement between CCOA and the Forest Service, but both parties benefited from having WBA involved.

We’re especially thankful for the leadership at the Forest Service’s Salt Lake Ranger District, who were supportive of public access and recreation. And we’re equally appreciative that CCOA kept us looped in and engaged throughout the process. That mutual respect made all the difference.

The Next Decade

We’re hopeful that this winter will mark the end of a contentious chapter and the beginning of a more collaborative, respectful era in Cardiff Fork. But actions speak louder than words, on all sides. As a backcountry user, please:

• Pack it in, pack it out: Carry out all trash and use WAG bags for human waste.
• Be respectful: Stay on the road to access public lands, avoid cabins and structures, and be courteous to all recreationists, regardless of their mode of travel.
• Stay safe: Carry avalanche safety gear, know how to self-rescue, and never enter old mine shafts.
• Volunteer: Stay tuned for opportunities to volunteer with WBA to help CCOA and the Forest Service with projects in Cardiff Fork.

This 10-year access agreement is a huge step forward, and we’re grateful to everyone, especially CCOA and the Forest Service, who made it possible. We look forward to working on future issues such as land use, surveys, illegal structures, and fuel removal work in Cardiff.

This outcome is a powerful reminder of the quiet but critical work WBA does to protect access and preserve the character of the Wasatch backcountry. Thank you to all our members and donors who make this possible. If you value this kind of local advocacy, please consider becoming a member or making a donation today.

Please note: the Forest Service and CCOA will be working together to repair sections of the road that have washed out. Please respect any temporary public closures while repair work is taking place.