Climbing Closures

Closures for Peregrine Falcon and Golden Eagle Protection

 

 

Rock Climbing

• Overview of Rock Climbing
• Climbing Permits
• Climbing Regulations
• Big Wall Stewardship
• Climbing Closures
• Climbing Safety
• Climbing and Food Storage

The peregrine falcon and golden eagle are protected species in Yosemite due to their sensitivity to disturbance during the nesting season. To protect these species, the superintendent of Yosemite National Park designates peregrine and golden eagle nesting cliffs as areas closed to visitor use, including climbing and slack-lining activities, from March 1 and lasting until chicks have fledged and dispersed from those areas each year. If you encounter any raptors (falcons, eagles, hawks, etc.) while climbing, please email us.

• Arch Rock Area: Closure includes all routes of Arch Rock. (Effective 4/21/2025)
• B.O.L.T. Wall: Immediately southwest of Leaning Tower. Closure includes all routes on the B.O.L.T. Wall.
• El Capitan, SW Face: All routes above Thanksgiving Ledge between and including “Dihedral Wall” to “Cosmos” are closed. The “Lurking Fear” finish via Thanksgiving Ledge remains open. (Effective 5/12/2025)
• Higher Cathedral Spire: Cathedral Spires Area. Closure includes all routes between and including “Northwest Face” to “Spire It Up.” The “Regular Route” remains open. (Effective 4/21/2025)
• Parkline Slab: The top 4 pitches of the climbing route “Eagle’s Eyrie” and top 3 pitches of “Moss Madness” are closed. All other routes at Parkline Slab, including the first 6 pitches of “Eagle’s Eyrie”, and the first 5 pitches of the “Moss Madness” remain open.
• Rhombus Wall: Above Ahwahnee Meadow. Closure includes all routes west of “Super Slide” to the Ahwahnee Ramps, including all routes on the Rhombus Wall. (Effective 4/21/2025)
• The Rostrum: Lower Merced Canyon. Closure includes climbing routes on all sides of the Rostrum formation. Super Nova and the Jungle Gym areas remain open. Slacklining is prohibited at the summit and the top of the adjacent cliff.
• Wapama Cliff: Hetch Hetchy. All routes on Wapama Cliff are closed.
• Wawona Dome: Closure includes all routes between and including “Cream of the Crop” to “Bark at the Moon.” From the base, the first pitches of the closed routes between and including “Lunar Eclipse” to “Bird in Flight” remain open.
• Widow’s Tears: Closure includes all routes within the Widow’s Tears Alcove. Routes on Tower of Cosmic Winds remain open.

Learn More

• Map showing these climbing closures
• Yosemite raptor protection program climbing closure process
• Special status bird species in Yosemite National Park.
• Sign up for email updates when closure change

Closures for Other Reasons

Rock climbers recently reported a new crack in a cliff on the western side of Royal Arches, near the climbing route Super Slide. Subsequent investigation revealed that this crack has partially detached a large pillar of rock, and that cracking was actively occurring. As a precautionary effort to reduce risk from rockfall, the National Park Service is implementing a temporary area and trail closure starting August 30, 2023:

• Serenity Crack and Super Slide Climbing Area Closure: Closure includes all routes between and including Peruvian Flake West to the Rhombus Wall. The popular routes Serenity Crack/Sons of Yesterday, and Super Slide are included in the closure. 

 

Duration:

7 minutes, 8 seconds

The peregrine falcon thrives in Yosemite Valley, but this remarkable bird was temporarily extirpated from much of its native range, including Yosemite where it disappeared for decades, leading to its listing as an endangered species in the early 1970s. Because of the remarkable, collaborative efforts of Yosemite climbers, UCSC Predatory Bird Research Group, and NPS biologists, with generous funding from the Yosemite Conservancy, the story of Yosemite’s peregrine falcon is one of hope.