Federal Register #NPS-2026-0101

National Park Service Seeks Public Input on Wilderness Climbing Management Guidance

The National Park Service (NPS), under the Department of the Interior, is seeking public input on draft guidance for managing climbing activities in wilderness areas: - Government Buyer: - Department of the Interior - National Park Service (NPS) - Purpose: - Request for public comment on draft policy guidance for recreational climbing management in wilderness areas - Mandated by Section 122 of the EXPLORE Act (Protecting America's Rock Climbing) - Scope of Guidance: - Covers use, placement, and maintenance of fixed anchors - Defines criteria for casual use and outlines authorization processes for activities exceeding casual-use thresholds - References related Bureau of Land Management (BLM) policy reviews for wilderness study areas - No procurement of products or services: - No OEMs or vendors are named - No products, part numbers, or quantities are requested - The opportunity is for policy input only, not for purchase or contracting - Stakeholders: - Public and all levels of government agencies are invited to comment - Notable Requirements: - Input will help shape NPS policy for climbing in wilderness areas, with a focus on balancing recreation and conservation

Description

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of draft guidance governing the management of climbing activities in wilderness areas in the National Park System, as mandated by the EXPLORE Act Section 122 (Protecting America's Rock Climbing). The guidance clarifies NPS policy on managing recreational climbing activities in wilderness in accordance with the Wilderness Act and consistent with the requirements of the EXPLORE Act. The NPS is seeking public comments on the draft guidance from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies. Comments must be received or postmarked on or before August 14, 2026.

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