Each year, Rocky Mountain National Park initiates adaptive, temporary closures in certain areas of the park to ensure birds of prey, also known as raptors, will be undisturbed during their roosting, breeding, and nesting seasons. Raptors are sensitive to human disturbance during these times and repeated breeding failures can reduce overall raptor species populations.
Temporary closures occur at known raptor roosting and nesting sites that are also near rock climbing routes, hiking trails, or other focused recreational use areas. Temporary closures also protect park visitors, as raptors may attack people to defend their nests.
At nest sites where breeding activity is observed, closures remain in place and monitoring continues.
At nest sites where no breeding activity is observed, closures may be lifted early.
If evidence of nesting is found in a new location, a new temporary closure may be recommended depending on the risk of human disturbance to that nest.
Do your part to protect raptors. Recreate Responsibly and Respect Area Closures.
Areas not listed are presumed to be open.
Closures include all climbing, approach, and descent routes for the indicated formation on all sides of those formations.
Closure notices will also be posted at key access points in the park.
As breeding and nesting data are collected, additional closures may be lifted or extended.
When necessary, park rangers will issue citations to persons violating the terms of this closure under the authority of 36 CFR 1.5(f).
Raptor Closures are in Effect in Lumpy Ridge and the Loch Vale Areas from February 15 through July 31
Each year, Rocky Mountain National Park initiates temporary closures in certain areas of the park to ensure that birds of prey will be undisturbed during their breeding and nesting seasons. These closures begin on February 15 and continue through July 31, if appropriate. Closures may be extended longer or rescinded at an earlier date depending on raptor nesting activity.
Closures include all climbing, approach and descent routes for the indicated formations on all sides of those formations. Areas not listed below as closed are presumed to be open.
Closure Areas Include:
Twin Owls
Rock One
Batman Rock
Batman Pinnacle
Thunder Buttress
The Parish
Lightning Rock
Checkerboard
Sundance Buttress
The Book
Bookmark Pinnacle
The Left Book
Bookmark
The Needle Summit and access trails
Cathedral Wall
Lumpy Ridge Closure Areas
Twin Owls and Rock One
The Twin Owls (Lower and Upper) and Rock One (shadded in red), are closed to climbing and general access. This includes all climbing, approach, and descent routes for the indicated formations on all sides of those formations.
The Roosting Ramp beyond Hen and Chickens is closed to access. Hen and Chickens (Yosemite Crack, Hagakure, Cackle Crack) and Gollums Arch remains open.
Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Lightning Rock, and
Checkerboard Rock
Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Lightning Rock, and Checkerboard Rock (shaded in red) are closed to climbing and general access. This includes all climbing, approach, and descent routes for the indicated formations on all sides.
Access to and climbing on Little Twin Owls, Flounder Rocks, Christmas Crag, and Fallen Down Rocks remains open. The Black Canyon Trail is open.
Thunder Buttress & The Parish
Thunder Buttress and The Parish (shaded in red) are closed to climbing and general access. This includes all climbing, approach, and descent routes for the indicated formations on all sides.
The Pear will remain open.
The Book, Left Book, The Bookmark, and Bookmark Pinnacle
The entire Book formation (including Renaissance Wall, Isis Buttress, Pages Wall area, and J-Crack Slab area), Left Book, The Bookmark, and Bookmark Pinnacle are closed to climbing and general access. This includes all climbing, approach, and descent routes for the identified formations on all sides.
The Black Canyon Trail is open.
Sundance Buttress & The Needles
Sundance Buttress, The Needles, and all areas shaded in red, are closed to hiking, climbing, and general access. This includes all off-trail and social trail access to formation summits and all climbing, approach, and descent routes for each formation. This closure includes all sides/aspects of these formations.
Cathedral Wall & Loch Vale - Sky Pond Area
The Cathedral Wall area (shaded in red) is closed to climbing and general access. This includes all climbing, ice climbing, approach, and descent routes for the indicated formations on all sides of those formations.
The areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are also closed to off-trail travel.
Bald Eagle Closures are in Effect November 15 through March 15
Closures are in effect on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park near the Colorado River annually from November 15 through March 15 for the protection of migrating Bald Eagles. Each winter, Bald Eagles return to a communal winter roost site near the Colorado River, on U.S. Forest Service land adjacent to the park. To limit disturbance, Rocky Mountain National Park closes portions of the East Shore trail, a stretch of the Colorado River, and Columbine Bay.
The Colorado River and a zone 300-yards wide on both sides of the river are closed to human entry during this time. Hiking on Ranger Meadows Loop trail, outside the closure, is permitted.
Closures are collaboratively managed by Rocky Mountain National Park and the U.S. Forest Service and will be lifted or extended as necessary.
