# 2026-11970: Feds Draft New Climbing Rules for Wilderness Areas

2026-11970, Wilderness Administration and Resource Stewardship; Managing Climbing Activities in Wilderness, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service published 2026-06-15, effective We must receive your written comments on or before August 14, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-22).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11970
- As of: 2026-06-22
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-11970
- Title: Wilderness Administration and Resource Stewardship; Managing Climbing Activities in Wilderness
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service
- Citation: 91 FR 35994
- Published: 2026-06-15
- Effective: We must receive your written comments on or before August 14, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-08-14
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-22

## In one line

Feds Draft New Climbing Rules for Wilderness Areas

## Summary

The Fish and Wildlife Service is updating rules on climbing in wilderness areas to keep nature safe and fun for everyone. These changes affect climbers and land managers in National Wildlife Refuges and Fish Hatcheries, adding clear guidelines about climbing routes and gear. You’ve got until August 14, 2026, to share your thoughts—no fees involved, just your voice!

## Abstract

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability of a draft national guidance memorandum and proposed revisions for two Service Manual chapters to fulfill the direction in Section 122 of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act governing the management of climbing activities in wilderness areas in the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and, where applicable, the National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS). The draft guidance memorandum and Service Manual chapter amendments clarify our wilderness policy by adding explicit policy elements related to climbing routes and equipment. We invite comments from the public, and local, State, Tribal, U.S. Territories, and Federal agencies.

## Effects PRIA read

- Pre‑existing Climbing Routes Preserved: benefit, low. If you climb on lands managed by the National Wildlife Refuge System (and where applicable, National Fish Hatchery lands), climbing routes that were established before January 4, 2025 (including fixed anchors along those routes) must be allowed to be used and maintained. The Service will remove or…
- Allowed Use of Fixed Anchors in Wilderness: benefit, low. The Service says fixed anchors that are necessary for ascent or descent of technical rock, ice, or mountain climbs will not be treated as installations and will not be subject to an MRA. Occasional placement and maintenance of fixed anchors for belay, rappel, or protection is allowed in wilderness,…

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## Sources
- [2026-11970 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/15/2026-11970/wilderness-administration-and-resource-stewardship-managing-climbing-activities-in-wilderness)
- [2026-11970 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-15/pdf/2026-11970.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-11969, Administrative Declaration of a Disaster for the State of Illinois](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11969)
- [Next: 2026-11972, National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program; List of Petitions Received](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11972)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11970 (as of 2026-06-22).