+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+
| National Park Service      | Zion National    |   | Springdale, Utah  |
|                            | Park             |   | 84767             |
| U.S. Department of the     |                  |   |                   |
| Interior                   | Use the complete |   | 435 772-3256      |
|                            | site name here   |   | phone             |
|                            | (e.g. Palo Alto  |   |                   |
|                            | Battlefield      |   | 435 772-3426 fax  |
|                            | Historic Site).  |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | www.nps.gov/zion  |
+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+

![](media/image1.png){width="0.5597222222222222in"
height="0.7201388888888889in"}

**Zion National Park** News Release

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use a "short-hand" version of the site name here (e.g. Palo Alto
  Battlefield not Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Site).

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

February 21, 2007

For Immediate Release

David Eaker 435 772-7811

Claire Crow 435 772-0212

07-01

### Zion National Park Announces Schedule of Climbing Closures

For the fifth consecutive year, Zion National Park will keep popular
climbing routes on cliffs used by nesting peregrine falcons open one
month longer than in the past. As in the past few years, these areas
will remain open to climbing through February 28, 2007. They will close
to climbing on March 1, 2007. The closing date is based on analysis of
information collected from 2001-2006 regarding the peregrines' arrival
time to their nesting cliffs in the park.

The following cliffs will be **closed to climbing beginning March 1,
2007**: Mount Kinesava, Streaked Wall, Sentinel, Mountain of the Sun,
Great White Throne (beyond single and double-pitched climbs), Cable
Mountain, Isaac (in Court of the Patriarchs), North Twin Brother, Middle
Fork of Taylor Creek, the northeast buttress of Angel's Landing and
Tunnel West. All other cliffs are open to climbing.

Park biologists will continue to monitor nesting activity of peregrine
falcons in the park throughout the 2007 breeding season. Climbing routes
that were previously used for nesting by peregrines, but are not being
used this year, will be re-opened in May. Cliffs used by nesting
peregrines will be monitored until the chicks fledge, usually in late
July, and then reopened.

Zion National Park is home to a high concentration of breeding peregrine
falcons each spring and summer. From the mid-1960's through the 1990's,
these magnificent birds of prey were listed as an "endangered species"
under the Endangered Species Act. Fortunately, peregrine populations
have recovered across North America and the species was removed from the
list in 1999. Zion National Park has been and continues to be an
important sanctuary for peregrines and other species. Even when
peregrine populations were plummeting elsewhere, peregrines have
continued to successfully nest and raise their young on the tall cliffs
found in many canyons in the park. Historically, Zion National Park has
hosted 18 known territories used by breeding peregrine falcons.

In some locations in the park, peregrine falcon nesting cliffs also host
popular climbing routes. In the past, park managers closed these nesting
cliffs on February 1 of each year based on the presumed start of the
breeding season. Monitoring information gathered by park biologists from
2001-2006 has concluded that peregrines do not return to breed until the
beginning of March each year.

For up-to-date information on the status and maps of the closed climbing
cliffs and routes, please check the Zion National Park website at www.
http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/climbing.htm

-NPS-