Zion National Park to close cliffs for peregrine falcons

ZION NATIONAL PARK — Climbing routes on cliffs used by nesting peregrine falcons in Zion National Park will be temporarily closed beginning March 1 in order to protect the nesting success of this bird which is in recovery from “endangered species” status.

The closing date is based on analysis of information collected from 2001-12 regarding the peregrines’ arrival time to their nesting cliffs in the park.

The cliffs that will close are: Angels Landing, Cable Mountain, The Great White Throne (beyond single- and double-pitched climbs), Isaac (in Court of the Patriarchs), The Sentinel, Mountain of the Sun, North Twin Brother, Tunnel Wall, The East Temple, Mount Spry, The Streaked Wall, Mount Kinesava, and the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek.

All other cliffs will remain open to climbing.

Cliffs that have been closed but are not being used by nesting peregrines this year will be reopened when nest sites have been determined, typically by late April or early May. Those cliffs being used this year will be monitored until the chicks fledge, usually in late July, and then will be reopened to climbing.

For more information on the status and maps of the closed climbing cliffs, visit the Zion National Park website at www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/climbing.htm.