The National Park Service temporarily closed areas of Acadia National Park starting on March 1 to provide peregrine falcons adequate space for nesting. The areas include Jordan Cliffs Trail, Precipice Trail, and Valley Cove Trail. In addition, the parking lot for the Precipice Trail will remain closed to vehicles until further notice.
Peregrine falcons were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1973. After making a remarkable recovery, the species was delisted in 1999. The first successful nesting of peregrines at Acadia in 35 years occurred in 1991. Since that time, at least one and sometimes four pairs have produced young in the park, bringing the total to more than 160 chicks.
The annual trail closures at Acadia protect the peregrine falcons from inadvertent human disturbance or harassment during the nesting period. Research has shown that nesting peregrine falcons are particularly vulnerable to human activities, which can disturb the adults and make them less attentive to the eggs or chicks. Human activities near a nesting area can lead to temporary or permanent abandonment of the nest by the adults leaving chicks susceptible to hypothermia, starvation, and predation.
In 2025, three breeding pairs of peregrine falcons made their homes on Acadia’s cliffs: one near Valley Cove Trail, one near Jordan Cliffs Trail, and one near Precipice Trail. Two chicks from nests near Precipice Trail survived until they could fly. The other two nests failed for various reasons, which may include human disturbance.
Signs at trail heads and trail junctions around the closed areas will indicate where public entry is prohibited. Public entry into a closed area is a violation of federal regulations, which is punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both. The closure area will be actively monitored, and violations will be strictly enforced.
The Park Service will reopen the closed areas once park resource managers determine it is safe to do so.
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