Forest Service seeks public comment on climbing rules

Climbing on national forests could soon have a clearer federal playbook. The Forest Service, part of the Agriculture Department, is proposing directive guidance on climbing opportunities on National Forest System lands, and it says the update is meant to bring more order to an activity that now reaches millions of people. Nearly 10.3 million climbers were counted in the United States in 2021, and the agency says about 30% of outdoor climbing happens on national forest land.

The proposal does not ban climbing or redraw access on its own. It is a set of guidance, but one that could matter for how land managers handle routes, anchors, safety and conservation when climbing pressure starts to build at a specific place.

Two tracks for one sport

Inside congressionally designated wilderness, the proposal would fold in section 122 of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences, or EXPLORE, Act. That law told the Forest Service to issue guidance for recreational climbing in wilderness on national forest land, including how climbing, fixed anchors and existing routes should be handled under the Wilderness Act.

Outside wilderness, the same directive would rest on the Secretary of Agriculture’s general land management authority. The agency says that side of the guidance would still have to fit the natural setting, protect resources and reflect responsibilities to Indian Tribes, while giving people room to recreate.

When a site needs a closer look

The Forest Service says local managers would have room to decide when a climbing management plan is needed. That call could turn on resource conditions, visitor use patterns, use conflicts, wilderness character concerns or public safety. In other words, the guidance is meant to help managers respond when a crag, route or climbing area starts to strain under use.

The agency is also asking for public comment, and written comments must be received by July 20, 2026. For climbers and the communities around popular routes, that is the date that matters if they want a say in how the agency balances access against protection.