Climbing Closures – Peregrine Falcon Nesting Areas–March 1, 2022

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 slack-lining activities, until peregrine chicks have fledged and dispersed from those areas in 2022. The closure list will be updated throughout the season if nesting sites change or are not active. Please go to the Yosemite National Park climbing closure webpage for the most up-to-date information. Below is the list of closed areas to begin the nesting season.

Climbing Closures – Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

1. Arch Rock Area– Closure includes all routes of Arch Rock.
2. B.O.L.T. Wall – Immediately southwest of Leaning Tower. Closure includes all routes on the B.O.L.T. Wall.
3. El Capitan, Southwest Face– Closure includes all routes between and including “Peter Pan” east to the “Dihedral Wall.”
4. Fairview Dome, West Face– Tuolumne Meadows. Closure includes all routes between and including “Heart of Stone” to “Lucky Streaks.” All other routes remain open.
5. Fifi Buttress – Closure includes routes “Bird of Prey” and “To Infinity”. From the base, single pitches “Fifi La Roo” to “Marathon” remain open. All other routes remain open.
6. Hetch Hetchy–Closed area includes Wapama Cliff.
7. Higher Cathedral Spire– Cathedral Spires Area. Closure includes all routes between and including “Northwest Face” to “Spire It Up.” The “Regular Route” remains open.
8. Mt. Broderick – West of Liberty Cap. Closure includes the entire SE face of Mt. Broderick opposite Liberty Cap.
9. Rhombus Wall–Above Ahwahnee Meadow. Closure includes all routes west of “Super Slide” to the Ahwahnee Ramps, including all routes on the Rhombus Wall.
10. 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. Slack-lining is prohibited at the summit and the top of the adjacent cliff.
11. Sentinel Rock– Closure includes all routes between and including “Kor-Denny” to “Chouinard-Herbert”. From the base, the first 6 pitches of the closed routes remain open. The “Steck-Salathe” remains open.
12. Washington Column – Closure includes all routes between and including “Ten Days After” to “Bad Wall”. “Astroman” is closed. “The Prow” remains open.
13. Wawona Dome– 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.
14. Widow’s Tears – Closure includes all routes within the Widow’s Tears Alcove. Routes on Tower of Cosmic Wind remain open.
15. Yosemite Point – Closure includes all routes between and including “Czech Route” and “Yosemite Point Buttress.” The first 3 pitches of “Czech Route” and the first 5 pitches of “Yosemite Point Buttress” remain open.

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Nest sites will be monitored to provide current information on nesting status and to ensure prompt re-opening of these areas when appropriate. Closures are subject to change based on current nesting status. Your cooperation in complying with these temporary restrictions is greatly appreciated. The designation will remain in place until rescinded.

Nest sites will be monitored to provide current information on nesting status and to ensure prompt re-opening of these areas when appropriate. Closures are subject to change based on current nesting status. Your cooperation in complying with these temporary restrictions is greatly appreciated. The designation will remain in place until rescinded.