16 U.S.C. § 8422 — Protecting America’s rock climbing

(a) Not later than 18 months after January 4, 2025, each Secretary concerned^* must issue guidance for recreational climbing activities on covered Federal land.

(b) The guidance must ensure that recreational climbing activities comply with the laws, including regulations, that apply to the covered Federal land.

(c) The guidance must recognize recreational climbing, including using, placing, and maintaining fixed anchors, as an appropriate use within a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System if the climbing—

(1) follows the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 and following) and other applicable laws, including regulations; and

(2) follows any terms and conditions that the Secretary^* concerned decides are appropriate.

(d) The guidance must describe any requirements for placing and maintaining fixed anchors for recreational climbing in a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. This includes any appropriate terms and conditions set by the Secretary concerned. The requirements, terms, and conditions may be issued for a program as a whole or case by case.

(e) The guidance must direct that recreational climbing routes, including fixed anchors along those routes, that existed on January 4, 2025, may continue to be used and maintained in accordance with this chapter.

(f) Before finalizing the guidance, the Secretary concerned must provide opportunities for the public to comment on it.

(g) In this section, “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. This section does not provide the text of subparagraphs (A) and (B).