Outdoors
Parks, public lands, hiking, wildlife, weather and floods, plus resorts, snow, avalanches and the canyons.
Latest
Bluff told to shelter in place as Cottonwood Wash floods and Highway 163 closes
Residents could go home Monday morning, but the Weather Service expects the San Juan River to crest above flood stage at Bluff early Thursday. County offices and schools were closed Monday.
San Juan County warns of 'historic' flooding as roads wash out, with more rain due Monday
County officials told residents in the warning area not to travel Sunday night, and the flood warning runs through 4:15 p.m. Monday.
San Juan River E. coli levels falling, but state and county keep warnings in place
Health officials say tap water is safe, but people should stay out of the river and standing floodwater and keep children, pets and livestock away.
Church gives $3 million to Utah's fight against phragmites at the Great Salt Lake
The state spends about $800,000 a year on the invasive reed, which covers more than 50,000 acres around the lake.
Henderson tours flood damage as state crews build a road to stranded families
State workers, pumps and UDOT trucks are building a gravel road to families cut off when the San Juan River breached.
Two storms could bring rain to Halloween trick-or-treating and mountain snow by Monday
A weaker system Friday favors southern Utah. A stronger one late Saturday could drop a half-inch to an inch of rain, with snow above 7,000 to 8,000 feet.
Bluff flood water tests show high E. coli as families and businesses start cleanup
The town says to stay out of flood water. More than a dozen homes were seriously damaged, and a cabin business has no flood insurance.
Jordan River improvement grants of up to $450,000 are due Oct. 30
The state forestry division is taking proposals for safety, recreation and conservation projects along the river corridor.
Great Salt Lake research grants: proposals due Nov. 13 for projects starting in 2027
The state is offering up to $125,000 for one-year and $200,000 for two-year projects, with awards announced by the end of January.
Bridal Veil Falls trail stays closed after a Provo Canyon rockslide
The trail between the falls and the lower parking lot remained closed Monday, and the road between the two lots is closed for park construction.
Bluff evacuation lifted Monday morning, but eastern properties remain flooded
Residents were allowed home at 5 a.m. after the San Juan River surge; the bridge on U.S. 160 stayed closed.
Bluff ordered to evacuate as San Juan River floodwater reaches the town
Evacuations also cover Montezuma Creek and Aneth, and the National Weather Service said flood warnings stay in effect through Tuesday morning.
Navajo communities in San Juan County ordered to evacuate before river flooding
The National Weather Service expected major flooding from Four Corners to Mexican Hat to peak around 5 p.m. Sunday, and shelters opened at Aneth Community School and San Juan High School.
Moab-Arches shuttle logged 2,593 boardings in its first month
Grand County will review fall operations on Nov. 16 to shape spring service, and the pilot's future beyond June 30 is undecided.
Who runs Utah Lake: the authority's powers, its money and what the lake records show
The Utah Lake Authority has managed the lake since 2022, with federal money, a carp bounty and a nature center in the works. State law bars it from water rights and water quality rules, and the lake's own records show progress on carp and PCBs but not on clarity.
Northern Utah expects a cool, dry weekend while showers linger in the south
Temperatures are running about 5 degrees below average, with the best chance of rain in the eastern half of the state.
Flash floods hit Zion National Park as Escalante and Paria rivers rise
The National Weather Service said parts of the Escalante River basin saw up to 3.5 inches of rain in 36 hours.
Water closes Mill Creek Parkway trail under Moab's Main Street bridge
The city says a marked detour is in place and a flood watch for Grand County runs through noon Friday.
Researcher says dams can make it harder for native fish to survive drought
Keith Gido, a Kansas State professor, says sediment from wildfires can prolong the damage to fish communities.
Utah wildlife officers have euthanized 70 bears this year, topping the old record of 24
A Division of Wildlife Resources official says there is little natural food for bears this year.
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Judge reopens lawsuits over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante cuts
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan lifted stays on the cases and ordered 48 hours' notice before ground-disturbing work on removed lands.
Last segment of Bryce Canyon paved path finished, completing 24-mile route
The Canyon-2-Canyon Trail runs from Bryce Point to Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest.
St. George plans 2.5-acre expansion at Thunder Junction
The all-abilities park's next phase adds Ice Age-themed attractions and railroad track, with completion targeted for summer 2027, according to KSL.
Flood watches issued for central and southern Utah ahead of Wednesday storms
Watches begin October 21; southeastern Utah’s watch extends into Friday, October 23.
Curtis says Great Salt Lake funding could take years
The proposed $1 billion requires congressional approval and could arrive over multiple years.
Utah ends record-warm water year with depleted water supplies
An Oct. 15 federal update links low snowpack and early melt to water-supply deficits that late-season rain has not erased.
Little Cottonwood backcountry closure scheduled for avalanche equipment work
The October 19 closure near Snowbird is scheduled from midnight through 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
Snowland gets 40-year permit and starts building new lift in Fairview Canyon
The Snowland Foundation hopes to have the new 2,450-foot Ridgeline Express and its rope tows running when the ski area opens Dec. 18.
Utah's search and rescue teams: what the records say about workload and money
Washington County's rescue team reported more incidents and many more people rescued in 2025. State records show a reimbursement formula under review and a new grant for rural counties, but no statewide measure of whether teams can keep up.
Little Cottonwood's avalanche towers: what changed, and what the records don't yet show
UDOT installed 16 remote-controlled avalanche towers on Mount Superior in 2024 to cut back on artillery over Alta. Public records confirm the equipment change; none reviewed measure its effect on road closures.
The tiny eggs behind the Great Salt Lake's brine shrimp harvest
The 2026-27 brine shrimp harvest opened Oct. 1. The latest state data pair a cyst count in lake water with cumulative raw pounds harvested, two measures from different dates that answer different questions about the lake.
Utah's mussel defenses: what inspections, dip tanks and a new zebra mussel find show
A live zebra mussel turned up in the Colorado River below Westwater this fall, and lawmakers set aside $4 million for more decontamination dip tanks. Inspection totals show how much work the program does; they do not count invasions prevented.
Paraglider airlifted after crash on west side of Mount Timpanogos
A witness reported seeing the man get up and try to hike back up the mountain, the sheriff's office said.
Utah forecast calls for sunny weekend and rain starting Tuesday
KUTV reports the best chance of rain along the Wasatch Front comes Thursday and Friday.
Kane County sheriff says search and rescue calls nearly doubled this year
Kane and Iron county officials say rescues in remote areas have become expensive as visitation grows.
Arizona moves to join Nevada's lawsuit over federal Colorado River plan
Arizona's water agency said it filed a motion to intervene, while the federal plan places no mandatory cuts on the four Upper Basin states including Utah.
Woodward Park City plans snow tubing Nov. 20 and adds teen club for 2026-27 season
Full access to the mountain begins Nov. 27, and a new package combines lessons with a season pass.
Weber State survey finds Utahns would pay more than $100 a year for Great Salt Lake
The survey of 1,050 residents found willingness to pay rose with confidence that the money would help the lake.
Turkeys near Liberty Park likely domestic, Utah wildlife official says
A Utah Division of Wildlife manager said white feathers in photos suggest the birds are domestic or hybrid turkeys.
Two Salt Lake City hikers rescued after 36 hours lost on Mount Shasta
Search crews found the pair uninjured at the bottom of Cascade Gulch after their phones died during a day hike.
Birders report first verified storm petrel sightings in Utah after Tropical Storm Rachel
The ocean birds, carried inland by the storm, were seen at water bodies from St. George to Cache County.
Logan begins winter closures of park restrooms and gathering-area reservations
The city says draining water lines early prevents freeze damage, and the closures last until spring.
Southern Utah light pollution could disorient migrating birds, advocates say
Phil Ertel of the Red Cliffs Audubon Society said skies remain dark but lighting is increasing with development.
Senate passes bill to reauthorize Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program
Sen. John Curtis led the bipartisan measure, which would extend authorization for the Bureau of Reclamation program.
Escaped Harris's hawk recaptured at Salt Lake Country Club after 100 days
HawkWatch International caught Stax, a 14-year-old education bird, on Oct. 6 after he spent much of the summer at the golf course.
Documentary on Ogden ski cameraman Gary Nate premieres Friday at Snowbasin
The film, made by Nate's son Colby, draws on footage Nate shot of Ogden freestyle skiers during a nearly 40-year career with Warren Miller Entertainment.
Grand Canyon North Rim begins fall closures as two scenic roads shut for repairs
Cape Royal and Point Imperial roads are expected to reopen Nov. 3, and the North Rim entrance closes for the season by Nov. 30.
Wildlife officials ask Utah drivers to watch for deer as evenings get darker
November is typically the riskiest month for deer-vehicle collisions in Utah, and 3,738 roadkill animals were removed from state roads through Oct. 8.
Judge halts plan to move Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City
A federal court in California paused USDA relocations and office closures, saying the agency must make its case to Congress first.
The Colorado River crisis and Utah's stake, explained
With Lake Powell and Lake Mead at record lows, the federal government imposed a two-year plan that cuts Lower Basin deliveries but spares Utah from forced cuts for now.
First storm of the ski season buries Little Cottonwood, misses northern Utah
Alta and Snowbird reported well over a foot of new snow from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel, while Park City and the Ogden Valley and Logan-area resorts saw little.
The Great Salt Lake's long decline, explained
After a record-dry winter, the lake sits about a foot above its 2022 record low, and the state is relying on conservation, water leasing and a causeway berm to hold the line.
Early snow shuts Guardsman Pass between Park City and Big Cottonwood
UDOT expects the mountain route to reopen Thursday morning, and the closure is temporary rather than the pass's usual winter shutdown.
Prescribed burns planned across thousands of acres of Dixie National Forest
Broadcast and pile burns near Duck Creek, Pine Valley, Escalante and along state Route 12 could send smoke over southern Utah highways this fall and winter.
Cedar Breaks visitor center and museum to close for winter by Oct. 17
Snow already closed the high-elevation monument's visitor center for a day this week, and the park service says water may be shut off early.
Groups sue to stop oil truck route near Nine Mile Canyon rock art
Three groups say the BLM skipped required reviews when it approved paving and straightening Gate Canyon's road between Uinta Basin oil fields and Carbon County rail yards.