Sport climbing in the wild will continue after the National Park Service announced it has dropped proposals that could have banned the placement of climbing bolts in the wilderness.
In November 2023, the NPS and Forest Service announced they were seeking public input on proposed guidance that would tighten regulations on recreational pursuits like rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering and caving. The proposal subjected the use of fixed anchors and bolts – gear that is permanently attached to rock by climbers – under higher scrutiny and more oversight.
