16 USC § 8422 - Protecting America’s rock climbing

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s8422"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 8422 - Protecting America’s rock climbing"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "8422"
section_name: "Protecting America’s rock climbing"
chapter_number: 103
chapter_name: "EXPANDING PUBLIC LANDS OUTDOOR RECREATION EXPERIENCES"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "OUTDOOR RECREATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Public Recreation on Federal Recreational Lands and Waters"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 122, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2843.)"
---


# § 8422. Protecting America’s rock climbing

**(a)** **In general** January 4, 2025

Not later than 18 months after , each Secretary concerned shall issue guidance for recreational climbing activities on covered Federal land.

**(b)** **Applicable law** 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)** **Wilderness areas** 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)** **Authorization** 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)** **Existing routes** January 4, 2025

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 , in accordance with this chapter.

**(f)** **Public comment** Before finalizing the guidance issued under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall provide opportunities for public comment with respect to the guidance.

**(g)** **Covered Federal land defined** 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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 122, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2843.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Wilderness Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is , , , 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  and Tables.

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (e), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , 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  and Tables.