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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is tasked to manage their landscapes for multiple use.� In the Western United States, where many counties are predominately comprised of public lands, the use of these lands is critical to local economies. Changes in land management in response to climate change could have sizable impacts on rural economies across the West, however vulnerability assessments typically focus only on ecological systems. This project uses a cross-scale and mixed-methods approach to understand social vulnerability of land-based livelihoods, predominately ranching and recreation businesses that depend on BLM lands, through a spatial indicators approach, two local case studies, and a grey literature review. A review of BLM planning documents showed relatively minor incorporation of climate change into current planning documents, and even less consideration of how BLM responses to climate change could impact permittees. Our spatial indicators approach provided a statewide view of baseline vulnerabilities, relative dependence on BLM lands, and different types of dependencies across the state. Two case studies, comprised of interviews and document review, assisted to deepen this broad assessment and contextualize it. The resulting information suggests common permittee desires including greater flexibility, timelier range improvements, and better access to scientific information. By layering these analyses, we are able to get a more complete picture of how the BLM is currently integrating climate change into planning, which areas of Colorado are most dependent on BLM lands (and for which activities) and how decision-making in the context of climate change might impact BLM permittees.