Cave Rock is a 360-foot high, 800-foot wide dome which lies on the Nevada shore of Lake Tahoe. Named for the small cave on its south face, the formation arose three million years ago when volcanic rock broke through the granite surface of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Members of the Washoe community, who have lived in the Lake Tahoe region for over 9,000 years, consider the site to be their spiritual birthplace. As such, it is governed by a series of strict taboos.
The dispute over the allowable activities on Cave Rock began in 1996 when it was determined eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Before then, it was a popular spot for recreational rock climbers. As a result of the demarcation, the USFS, who has jurisdiction over the formation, is required to guard the site against deterioration. After commissioning an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to determine the best way to protect Cave Rock, the regional Forest Supervisor decided in July of 2003 to immediately ban all uses of the site which commenced after 1965, including rock climbing. On December 15, 2003, rock climbing advocates, represented by the non-profit organization the Access Fund, filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that the United States Forest Service’s ban on rock climbing at Cave Rock was an establishment of religion and, therefore, unconstitutional.
