You know winter is coming to an end when the state Department of Environmental Conservation closes rock-climbing cliffs where peregrine falcons are known to breed.

Peregrines are on the state’s endangered-species list, and so each spring DEC closes cliffs to protect their nesting sites. Cliffs will be reopened if no nesting occurs on them. Those cliffs used for nesting will be reopened in the summer after the chicks fledge.

Click here to read about the cliff-closure policy.

Click here for updates on cliff closures.

This week, DEC announced that effective April 1, the following rock-climbing routes will be closed: all routes at Moss Cliff,, Upper and Lower Washbowl Cliffs, an at Shelving Rock. At Poke-o-Moonshine Mountain all routes on the Main Face are closed except the following routes described on pages 39-45 of the book Adirondack Rock: A Rock Climber’s Guide:

1. Opposition
2. Goat’s Foot on Rock
3. High and Dry
4. Bushmaster
5. Big Buddha
6. Bushido
7. Bodacious
8. Pearly Gates
9. Kaibob
10. Battle Creek
11. Static Cling
12. Certified Raw
13. Air Male
14. Son of a Mother
15. Phase III
16. Bastard
17. Ladder
18. Puppies on Edge
19. Hang ‘Em High
20. Group Therapy

21. Adonis
22. Pandemonium
23. Discord
24. A Womb with a View

A version of this story appeared first at Adirondack Explorer.

Photo of nest falcons courtesy DEC.