§8422 Protecting America’s rock climbing

Summary

Each Secretary in charge must issue guidance for recreational climbing on covered Federal land within 18 months after January 4, 2025. The guidance must make sure climbing follows the laws and rules that apply to those lands. It must say that climbing, including placing and caring for fixed anchors, can be an allowed use inside National Wilderness Preservation System areas if done under the Wilderness Act and other laws and any conditions the Secretary sets. The guidance must explain any rules for placing and maintaining fixed anchors, which can be written for whole programs or decided case by case. It must allow continued use and upkeep of climbing routes and anchors that existed on January 4, 2025. Before the guidance is final, the Secretary must give the public a chance to comment. "Covered Federal land" means the specific federal lands named elsewhere in the law and includes parts of the National Wilderness Preservation System.