Perins Peak closes part of the year to protect nesting raptors

Perins Peak rises just west of Durango, and the State Wildlife Area on it is managed with birds of prey in mind. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has used the area as a peregrine falcon recovery and release site, and its oak-brush and pine slopes support hawks, falcons, and other raptors along with the deer and elk that winter here.

That wildlife focus shows up as closures. Like other wildlife areas near Durango, much of Perins Peak closes during winter so deer and elk can survive the cold season undisturbed. What is different at Perins Peak is that some of the ground stays closed later into the summer to protect nesting raptors. Cliff-nesting birds like peregrines are sensitive to people getting too close while they have eggs or young, so the extra time matters.

As with any State Wildlife Area, visitors 16 and older need a hunting or fishing license or an SWA pass to be there, and uses like dogs are restricted. The point is not to keep people out for no reason; it is to give vulnerable wildlife room during their hardest weeks.

Because closure timing varies by area within the property and can change year to year, check the Colorado Parks and Wildlife page for Perins Peak SWA before heading out.