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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§8422 Protecting America’s Rock Climbing

Title 16 › Chapter 103— EXPANDING PUBLIC LANDS OUTDOOR RECREATION EXPERIENCES › Subchapter I— OUTDOOR RECREATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE › Part B— Public Recreation on Federal Recreational Lands and Waters › § 8422

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Each Secretary who manages the covered Federal land must publish guidance for recreational climbing within 18 months after January 4, 2025. The guidance must require following all applicable laws, recognize climbing (including placing and keeping fixed anchors) as an allowed use in Wilderness areas when done under the Wilderness Act and any conditions the Secretary sets, and explain rules for anchors (either programwide or case-by-case). The guidance must allow continued use and maintenance of climbing routes and anchors that existed on January 4, 2025, and must be opened for public comment before it is finalized. "Covered Federal land" means certain federal lands, including parts of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §8422

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than 18 months after January 4, 2025, each Secretary concerned shall issue guidance for recreational climbing activities on covered Federal land.
(b)The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall ensure that recreational climbing activities comply with the laws (including regulations) applicable to the covered Federal land.
(c)The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall recognize that recreational climbing (including the use, placement, and maintenance of fixed anchors) is an appropriate use within a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, if undertaken—
(1)in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and other applicable laws (including regulations); and
(2)subject to any terms and conditions determined by the Secretary concerned to be appropriate.
(d)The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall describe the requirements, if any, for the placement and maintenance of fixed anchors for recreational climbing in a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, including any terms and conditions determined by the Secretary concerned to be appropriate, which may be issued programmatically or on a case-by-case basis.
(e)The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall include direction providing for the continued use and maintenance of recreational climbing routes (including fixed anchors along the routes) in existence as of January 4, 2025, in accordance with this chapter.
(f)Before finalizing the guidance issued under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall provide opportunities for public comment with respect to the guidance.
(g)In this section, the term “covered Federal land”—
(1)means the lands described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2); and
(2)includes components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Wilderness Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is Pub. L. 88–577, Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 890, which is classified generally to chapter 23 (§ 1131 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1131 of this title and Tables. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (e), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 118–234, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2836, known as the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act and also known as the EXPLORE Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 8401 of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 8422

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60