Resourceful backcountry skiers in southeastern Wyoming take advantage of a short-lived opportunity — freshly plowed roads still closed to cars — to get into the mountains. (Andrew Graham/WyoFile) By Katie Klingsporn
Wyoming officials and outdoor recreation advocates are celebrating the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences, or EXPLORE Act.
The unanimous Senate approval on Dec. 19 of the omnibus outdoor recreation package follows decades of work crafting and negotiating different iterations and piecemeal parts of the bill. The final package includes more than a dozen policy measures aimed at supporting outdoor recreation on public lands.
Among other things, the bill would: Direct the Interior Department and the Forest Service to launch a pilot program utilizing public-private partnerships to modernize campgrounds on federal land.
Support so-called gateway towns — rural communities near recreation destinations — by providing technical and financial assistance to local businesses like hotels, restaurants and campgrounds.
Safeguard recreational climbing in designated Wilderness Areas .
Identify and create more long-distance bike trails. Improve recreational permitting for outfitters and guides. Remove permitting challenges for professional outdoor filmmakers. Extend the popular free park pass program for fourth-grade students and their families. U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), lauded the passage of the EXPLORE Act, the House companion to his America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023. The legislation will keep Wyoming’s recreation industry thriving by spurring job creation, promoting small businesses and streamlining safety and access to our nation’s parks, he […]
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