From red rock trails to Capitol Hill, outdoor issues shape life in Moab. Public lands policy, access to recreation, and the health of our rivers, soil, and wildlife aren’t just environmental concerns—they’re community ones.
Whether it’s legislation that affects trail access, new rules for river runners, or efforts to restore damaged ecosystems, these stories affect how we live, work, and connect with this place.
Our outdoor coverage isn’t just for visitors—it’s for locals who care about what’s happening to the land we live on.
Thanks to reader support, we’re investing in more reporting that follows land management decisions, keeps tabs on outdoor recreation impacts, and uplifts the people working to care for this landscape.
When you see a story tagged “Outdoors & Public Lands,” you’ll know: this is about more than nature. It’s about home.
“While rainfall will not fully extinguish the heat on a fire of this size, it will help moderate fire behavior and give firefighters a better opportunity to make progress on containment,” officials said.
The Deer Creek Fire burning near La Sal in San Juan County has grown to 11,044 acres, with fire officials warning that conditions are likely to worsen the blaze in coming days.
Drivers heading into the La Sals this summer should plan ahead: major construction is continuing on the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, and closures are in effect on multiple sections. Paving work resumes…
The Deer Creek Fire started on July 10 about 18 miles south of Moab and near the community of La Sal. The fire is moving northeast toward the Colorado border, not directly toward Moab, though residents should stay alert for changing conditions during this active wildfire emergency.
Timed entry reservations will resume on August 28 for Labor Day weekend.
A giant Elon Musk head made an appearance at Arches National Park on July 12, complete with ‘Make America Wait Again’ messaging about DOGE cuts causing longer park lines. Photos by Nancy Charmichael.
Since the early 2000s, the Uinta Basin oil boom has relied on hubs like the one in Helper to connect wells with rail networks. The Helper site will help speed Uinta Basin crude onto trains bound for Gulf Coast refineries.
The proposal proved unpopular with the public, environmental groups and even with the senator’s Republican colleagues from Western states, some who pledged to vote against any bill including the public land sale provisions
Local advocacy groups Kane Creek Development Watch and Living Rivers have filed a lawsuit aiming to strip water rights for the proposed Echo Canyon project outside of Moab, arguing those rights are invalid under Utah law.
Utah Senator Mike Lee’s ambitious plan to sell off vast tracts of public land has been blocked in the Senate. Learn why the Byrd Rule halted the proposal and what could happen next.
