Action Alert: Speak Up for the Future of Climbing on National Forest Lands

Weigh In on Climbing Management

Submit your comment by July 20, 2026.

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public input on a proposed national directive that will guide how climbing is managed on National Forest System lands, both inside and outside designated wilderness. The final policy could influence fixed-anchor maintenance, new route development, climbing management plans, access trails, and partnerships with local climbing organizations for decades to come.

Why This Matters in the Wasatch

The Forest Service manages many of our most popular climbing areas, including climbing in and around designated wilderness in American Fork Canyon, Big and Little Cottonwood, Ferguson Canyon, and other long-established Wasatch crags.

SLCA is asking the Forest Service to adopt practical national guidance that allows timely maintenance of existing fixed anchors, avoids vague terms such as “bolt-intensive” and “low-impact,” prevents planning requirements from delaying essential anchor maintenance safety work, supports sustainable access trails and local stewardship partnerships, and provides a reasonable path for responsible new routes where natural and cultural resources are protected. 

Read, Learn and Take Action

The proposed Forest Service directive is relatively short and worth reading before submitting your comment.

Read SLCA’s letter to learn more about the directive and the changes we are recommending.

Please submit a thoughtful, personal comment to the Forest Service no later than July 20, 2026. Comments can be brief. Explain where you climb, why these places matter to you, and why practical fixed-anchor maintenance, sustainable access, and collaboration with local stewardship organizations are important.

The Forest Service needs to hear directly from climbers, stewards, guides, volunteers, and community members who understand these landscapes. A strong public response can help ensure the final directive protects natural resources, supports public safety, preserves established climbing opportunities, and enables effective stewardship on the ground.

For More Information

Here are additional resources from our partners at the Access Fund explaining the proposed federal climbing directives and offering their perspective on the draft guidance from a national perspective.

Photo of Natasha Downing in American Fork by Jon Vickers