A previous closure of climbing routes on the West Face and Southwest shoulder is amended closing the
Northeast Face of the Tower to climbing.Routes on the West Face are now open for climbing. A pair of peregrine
falcons was observed in courtship and nesting behaviors on the Northeast face.The amended climbing closure includes 45
routes between Belle Fourche Buttress and Psychic Turbulence, and the corresponding edges of the summit.
A complete list of closed routes can be found on the park’s web site, bulletin boards throughout the
Monument, the Climber Registration Office and the Visitor Center.
Over one hundred and fifty climbing routes remain open. The annual temporary closure, established under the
1995 Climbing Management Plan, with authority from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, is an annual occurrence at Devils Tower.
The closure is implemented not only to protect the birds, but also to protect climbers, as falcons are known to defensively
dive in order to protect their nests. The presence of climbers near or above falcon nests is distressing to parent birds,
disturbance from climbing activities may force falcons to abandon eggs or chicks. Climbers are asked to report any
defensive falcon behavior to a park ranger.
“Failure to comply with the temporary closure may result in a fine and or 6 months in jail." said Drew Gilmour,
Chief of Law Enforcement. “All climbers must register at the climbing office before beginning their ascent,"
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 407 national
parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational
opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
To learn more about Devils Tower National Monument, contact 307-467-5283, visit us at www.nps.gov/deto or
www.facebook.com/Devils-Tower-National-Monument-Official-NPS-Site.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
