Forest Service proposes first national policy for recreational climbing on public lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Forest Service has proposed a climbing directive for public lands, which includes guidance for the use and maintenance of fixed anchors and equipment.

This proposal would establish the agency’s first direction for managing recreational climbing opportunities both inside and outside designated Wilderness areas on National Forest System lands, as it does not have a current policy in place. 

According to the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2022 report, there are an estimated 10.3 million climbers in the U.S. Of those, approximately 1.3 million participate in sport or boulder climbing and approximately 2.4 million participate in traditional ice or mountaineering climbing.

“Recreational climbing continues to grow in popularity, with nearly 30 percent of all outdoor climbing occurring on National Forest System lands,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “This proposed directive provides much-needed national policy for climbing activities and gives local decision-makers the ability to work with partners, tribes, climbing organizations, and others to ensure visitors are having safe, responsible and accessible outdoor experiences.” 

According to the agency, the directive is intended to support recreation opportunities while meeting land management goals, preserving the natural character of public lands, protecting cultural and natural resources, honoring responsibilities to Tribal nations, and remaining consistent with existing laws and land management plans.

The latest directive replaces a 2023 draft that was overtaken by new requirements in the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which was signed into law on Jan. 4, 2025. The EXPLORE Act directs federal land management agencies to recognize recreational climbing — including certain fixed anchors — as an appropriate use in congressionally designated Wilderness areas. 

This recognition is an important distinction from the previously proposed 2023 draft, which considered interpreting fixed anchors as “installations,” a term prohibited in Wilderness areas under the Wilderness Act of 1964.

This interpretation received pushback from climbing advocates, such as the Access Fund and Washington Wild, who expressed concern that it would create significant safety issues, threaten historic and world-class climbing routes, and burden land managers and climbers with costly and unnecessary red tape.

In a recently published action alert, the Access Fund said it supported the new guidance, calling the new directive an “important course correction” from proposals in 2023. It recommended only essential technical revisions and clarifications, including consistent fixed-anchor definitions and practical new-route management and fixed anchor maintenance.

The proposed policy can be viewed and comments submitted through the Comment and Analysis Response Application. The public comment period is open for 30 days.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media