News Release

Rock climbers and Zion National Park succeed at protecting wildlife through collaborative climbing management

Zion National Park volunteer and staff monitor peregrine falcons.

NPS / Rachel Mangan

News Release Date: August 18, 2022

Contact: Jonathan Shafer, [phone]

SPRINGDALE, Utah – The sky is the limit! Climbing routes on cliffs used by nesting peregrine falcons in Zion National Park reopened this month. The following cliffs reopened to recreational climbing:
 

• Angels Landing

• Cable Mountain

• The Great White Throne

• 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

“We depend on every visitor to do their part to help us protect the landscapes, plants, animals, and history that make Zion Park special,” Jeff Bradybaugh, Zion National Park Superintendent said. “We want to recognize and thank the climbing community for their willingness to work with park rangers and researchers to protect these sensitive nesting areas.”

Cliffs where biologists have historically found nesting areas closed on March 1. Since then, National Park Service wildlife biologists, climbers, and other volunteers from the community have monitored nesting activity. These teams confirmed pairs of adult raptors occupied nesting sites across the park, and volunteers invested 172 hours of their time to support the effort.
 
About Peregrine Falcons in Zion
The cliffs of Zion National Park are home to a high concentration of breeding peregrine falcons each spring and summer. Peregrines are amazing fliers who catch birds and occasionally bats in mid-air. They often nest high on cliff faces. These magnificent birds of prey were listed as an endangered species in 1970 under the Endangered Species Act.  Following the U.S. ban on DDT and with captive breeding efforts, peregrine falcon numbers rebounded, and they were removed from the endangered species list in 1999.  Zion National Park has been and continues to be an important sanctuary for peregrines and many other wildlife species.