Seasonal restriction near peregrine falcon nesting areas resumes on Pisgah, Nantahala National...
Contact Information: Adam Rondeau adam.rondeau@usda.gov
Activities such as climbing and drone use prohibited until mid-August 2025
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 14, 2025) -- The annual closure of rock faces used by nesting peregrine
falcons begins again on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests starting Jan. 15, 2025, the
U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC)
announced today.
Activities such as climbing cliffs and operating drones in the closed areas are restricted to protect
the state-listed endangered birds, which mate for life and return to the same location each year
to roost and tend to their nestlings. The annual closure will be fully lifted on Aug. 15, 2025. As in
previous years, the order may be partially lifted at some sites before this date, depending on the
development of the young falcons.
The following cliff faces and associated climbing routes will close for the season this week:
| Site Name | Area Closed | Ranger District |
|---|---|---|
| Pickens Nose (East Face) | All climbing routs on the East Face are closed. | Nantahala Ranger District |
| Whiteside Mountain | All climbing routes between and including Southwest Arete and Mainline are closed. | Nantahala Ranger District |
| Looking Glass Rock (North Face) | All climbing routes to the right (as seen from the base of the rock) of Glass Menagerie and to the left of and including Twisted Laurel on the North Face of Looking Glass Rock are closed. No camping or foot traffic below the cliff in this section. | Pisgah Ranger District |
| North Cedar Rock (Wall of Northern Aggression) | All climbing routes between and including Groove Thang and Baynes Corner on the Wall of Northern Aggression are closed. No camping or foot traffic below the cliff in this section. | Pisgah Ranger District |
| Buzzard’s Roost | All climbing routes are closed. No camping or foot traffic above the cliff. | Appalachian Ranger District |
| Whiterock Cliff | All climbing routes are closed. | Appalachian Ranger District |
| Shortoff Mountain North (Linville Gorge) | All climbing routes, cliff rim, and campsites within the marked area on the map are closed to entry. No camping or foot traffic above or below the cliff in this section. | Grandfather Ranger District |
| NC Wall – Apricot Buttress- The Camel (Linville Gorge) | On NC Wall, all climbing routes between and including Tightrope and Bumblebee Buttress are closed. Apricot Buttress and The Camel are closed. | Grandfather Ranger District |
| Big Lost Cove Cliff | All climbing routes are closed. | Grandfather Ranger District |
Peregrine falcons were listed as federally endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
1970 and state-endangered by NCWRC in 1984. After the U.S. government banned the
pesticide DDT, peregrine falcon populations rebounded across the nation, leading to the species
being federally delisted in 1999.
Although now stable in North Carolina, the number of peregrine falcons remains low because of
the natural shortage of large cliffs, which they need to breed. In 2024, wildlife experts observed
eight successful pairings which resulted in at least 14 offspring. While this trend is positive, any
human interaction remains a major threat to the falcons’ recovery and may contribute to nest
failure.
The sheer cliff faces on the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are popular destinations
climbers, so the Forest Service and Wildlife Resource Commission work with partners such as
the Carolina Climbers Coalition each year to ensure that peregrine falcon closures balance
conservation of the species with access to climbing destinations.
Click here to view the closure order, or follow the National Forests in North Carolina or the
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on Facebook for the latest information on
peregrine falcon-related closures.