Seasonal Climbing Closures

 

 

Climbing routes on cliffs used by nesting peregrine falcons in Zion National Park will be temporarily closed beginning March 1, every year. The falcons are especially sensitive to being disturbed while they nest. If disturbed, the nesting pair may abandon their nest site and not nest again until the following year. The closure date is based on National Park Service (NPS) monitoring of peregrines’ arrival to nesting sites on cliffs in the park from 2001 to 2021.

Raptor Closures

Click the link to download the 2023 Climbing Guide to Seasonal Raptor Closures. This guide is used in conjunction with the status updates below to provide climbers with an increased understanding of what cliffs are closed to climbing duuring the peregrine falcon and condor nesting season.

Closed Areas - Effective March 1, 2023. See Guide for Boundaries.

• Angels Landing Climbing Routes - Peregrine Falcon and Condor Closure - Hiking remains open.
• 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

 

Volunteers train to monitor peregrine falcons in Zion National Park.

NPS Image

Peregrine Falcons

Climbing routes on cliffs used by nesting peregrine falcons in Zion National Park close on March 1. Park wildlife biologists will monitor the nesting activity of peregrine falcons throughout the breeding season. Cliffs that have been closed but are not being used for nest sites this year, will be reopened when nest locations have been determined, typically by late April or early May. Those cliffs being used for nest sites this year will be monitored until the nestlings leave the nest, usually in July or August, and then will be reopened to climbing.

California Condors

California condors, a federally endangered species, are another bird that calls Zion’s cliffs home. In the history of the park, only two chicks have successfully survived long enough to fly from the nest, and both were near Minotaur Tower within the Angels Landing closure. We close cliffs for condor nesting because climbing near a nest can cause parents to abandon an egg or habitualize newly fledged chicks to human activity. We apologize for any inconvenience. By respecting condor closures, you are helping conserve a species whose population in Utah and Arizona number fewer than 100 individuals. This also makes Zion one of the few places on earth where you can be climbing and see North America’s largest bird soar overhead, or even beneath you if you are lucky!