Climbing Closures

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Closures for Peregrine Falcon Protection

The peregrine falcon is a fully protected species in California and a special status species in Yosemite due to its sensitivity to disturbance during the nesting season. To protect this species, the superintendent of Yosemite National Park is designating peregrine nesting cliffs as areas closed to visitor use, including climbing and slacklining activities, until peregrine chicks have fledged and dispersed from those areas in 2020. This notice includes protection for an active golden eagle nest, also a protected species in California and Yosemite.

By order of the superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a) and Section (a)(1): The following areas are identified as cliffs closed to visitor use, including climbing activities, beginning March 1, 2020 and remaining in effect until July 15, 2020, or until further notice:

Rock Climbing

• Overview of Rock Climbing
• Climbing Regulations
• Climbing Closures
• Climbing Safety
• Climbing and Food Storage

 

• Arch Rock Area—Closure includes all routes on the main wall of Arch Rock between and including “Anticipation” to “New Dimensions.”

• B.O.L.T. Wall—Immediately southwest of Leaning Tower. Closure includes all routes on the B.O.L.T. Wall.

• Camp 4 Wall—The climbing route "Good Ol' Boy" is closed. All other routes remain open.

• El Capitan, Southeast Face—Closure includes all routes between and including “South Seas,” “Pacific Ocean Wall,” “North America Wall” east to “Native Son.” The first four pitches of the closed routes from the base of El Capitan remain open.

• El Capitan, Southwest Face—Closure includes all routes between and including “Peter Pan” east to the “Dihedral Wall.”

• Fairview Dome, West Face—Tuolumne Meadows. Closure includes all routes between and including “Heart of Stone” to “Lucky Streaks.” All other routes remain open.

• Hetch Hetchy—Closed area includes Kolana Rock and Wapama Cliff.

• Lost Arrow Spire—Closure includes all routes between and including “Lost Arrow Spire Direct” and “Satanic Ritual Abuse” to “Rainbow." All activities including, but not limited to, slacklining, high-lining, and Tyrolean traverse are prohibited at the summit of Lost Arrow Spire and the top of the adjacent cliff.

• Mt. Broderick—West of Liberty Cap. Closure includes the entire SE face of Mt. Broderick opposite Liberty Cap.

• Parkline Slabs—Lower Merced Canyon. Closure for an active golden eagle nest. Closure includes the top 4 pitches of “Homeworld” and the top 4 pitches of “Eagle’s Eyrie.” The top 4 pitches of all other routes between “Homeworld” and “Eagle’s Eyrie” are also closed. Climbs at the base of the formation below these routes 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.

• 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.

• Wawona Dom —Closure includes all routes between and including “Cream of the Crop” to “Bark at the Moon”. From the base, the first pitch of the closed routes between and including “Lunar Eclipse” to “Bird in Flight” will remain open.

Learn more about special status bird species in Yosemite National Park.