Updated Peregrine Falcon closures for U.S. Forest Service properties in North Carolina. Please respect all closures! Disturbing the birds can actually cause them to re-nest and actually extend the closure beyond what it would have been if they were able to successfully nest the first time.
| Site Name | Area Closed | Landowner |
| Whitesides Mountain | All climbing routes to the right** of Mainline are closed. | USFS, Nantahala Ranger District (828) 524-6441 |
| NC Wall (Linville Gorge) | All climbing routes between and including Tightrope and Bumblebee Buttress are closed | USFS, Grandfather Ranger District (828) 652-2144 |
| Shortoff Mountain (Linville Gorge) | All climbing routes between and including C.O. to and including Paradigm Shift are closed. | USFS, Grandfather Ranger District (828) 652-2144 |
| Big Lost Cove Cliffs | All climbing routes are closed. | USFS, Grandfather Ranger District (828) 652-2144 |
| Looking Glass Rock (North Face) | All routes to the right* of Glass Menagerie and to the left of and including Twisted Laurel on the North Face of Looking Glass Rock are closed. | USFS, Pisgah Ranger District (828) 877-3350 |
| Whiterock Cliff and Eagle Cliff | All climbing routes are closed | USFS, Appalachian Ranger District (828) 682-6146 |
* As seen from the base of Looking Glass Rock
** As seen from the base of Whiteside Mountain
Climbing route names are taken from: Kelley, Thomas. 1995. The Climber’s Guide to North Carolina 3rd Edition. Earthbound Sports Inc., Chapel Hill, NC 332pp. and from Lambert and Shull. 2002. Selected Climbs in North Carolina. 1st Edition. The Mountaineers Books. Seattle, WA. 326pp.
All sites are closed from January 15 - August 15; except that in the event that falcons are not using the site or nesting terminates at an earlier date than August 15th, the site may be opened to public use, as determined by the appropriate landowners. The specified closed (or open) routes will change if the falcons nest on a part of the cliff outside the existing closed area, or if they do not nest in an existing closed area, as determined by monitoring throughout the breeding season.
Eagle Cliff, Appalachian Ranger District, is closed for protection of rare plants.
This summary of climbing-site closures represents the best available knowledge regarding closure orders issued by the U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina State Parks as compiled by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission works in collaboration with the above landowners to recommend closure areas that protect peregrine falcon nest sites and minimize restrictions on climbers. Changes in the specific closures, and publication of the notices are the responsibility of the respective landowners.