Spring is here, and so is the season for adventure!

This month, we’re diving into the Moab Guide Summit, a full-day workshop dedicated to the guides, outfitters, and commercial permittees who help visitors explore our incredible public lands. Plus, the Bureau of Land Management reminds us to prepare for traffic and trail congestion during the Easter Jeep Safari—plan accordingly! We also have updates on visitor center hours, the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, and an important message for climbers about protecting bighorn sheep.

Don’t forget to check out our upcoming events, including Community Artist in the Parks dates and a MIC lecture! Read on for all the details.

On March 13, 2025, Canyonlands Natural History Association proudly sponsored the Moab Guide Summit, a full-day workshop dedicated to guides, outfitters, and commercial permittees operating on public lands around Moab, Utah.

Hosted in partnership with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Grand County Active Transportation and Trails (GCATT), Grand County Search and Rescue, and Sand Flats Recreation Area, the summit provided an opportunity for participants to connect with land management agencies, gain insights into best practices, and enhance their knowledge of the region’s unique cultural and natural resources.

The workshop featured agency updates alongside a series of engaging talks from experts in their respective fields:

• Visit with Respect: Being an Ally to Cultural Sites and Landscapes - Semira Crank (Bears Ears Partnership) shared insights on protecting and advocating for sacred and historical sites.
• How We Recreate - An Adaptive Users Perspective - Quinn Brett and Joe Stone (Dovetail Trail Consulting) discussed accessibility and inclusion in outdoor recreation.
• Exploring the Archaeological Landscapes of Southeast Utah in a Respectful Manner - Louis Williams (Ancient Wayves) offered guidance on ethical site visits.
• Recreation Impacts on Bighorn Sheep - Good, Bad, or Indifferent? - Joel Berger (Colorado State University) (Discovery Pool Recipient) examined the effects of human recreation on bighorn sheep populations.
• Pothole Ecology: Life in the Fast Pool - Tim Graham (Discovery Pool Recipient) shared his experience studying desert invertebrates and their crucial roles in ephemeral pothole ecosystems.

A huge thank you to Anna Sprout with GCATT and everyone else who put in the hard work to make this event a success!

The BLM reminds visitors to expect traffic and trail congestion during the Easter Jeep Safari event, starting Saturday, April 12, through Sunday, April 20.  

In addition, eight of the most popular four-wheel drive trails are available only to event participants while those trails are in use by the Safari. Those trails include Behind the Rocks, Cliffhanger, Gold Bar Rim, Golden Spike, Moab Rim, Poison Spider Mesa, and Pritchett Canyon. Below is a schedule of the exclusive use trails during the event: 

X = Use only by Red Rock 4-Wheelers

Each year, thousands of off-highway vehicle users travel to Moab for the Easter Jeep Safari, a nine-day, permitted event organized by Red Rock 4-Wheelers. Participants drive guided “runs” on 40 designated trails suited to different skill levels. 

To help manage recreation impacts and ensure public safety, Red Rock 4-Wheelers operates under a BLM-issued special recreation permit. Permits allow the BLM to balance large-scale recreation events with resource protection by implementing measures such as temporary trail restrictions and route management strategies. 

BLM reminds all visitors to respect the landscape and fellow recreationists. Please share roads and trails responsibly and follow posted access guidelines. 

View the announcement here.

As the seasons change, so do our visitor center store hours! Whether you’re gearing up for an adventure or looking for the perfect souvenir, be sure to check our updated hours before stopping by:

• Moab Information Center 8am - 7pm
• Arches Visitor Center 9am - 4:30pm
• Canyonlands Island in the Sky District Visitor Center 9am - 4pm
• Canyonlands Needles District Visitor Center 8am - 4pm (extending to 8am - 5pm on April 13)
• Natural Bridges National Monument Visitor Center 9am -4pm (closed Mon/Tue/Wed)
• Kane Gulch Ranger Station 8am - 12pm (closed Mon/Tue/Wed)
• Hovenweep National Monument Visitor Center 9am - 4pm (closed Mon/Tue/Wed)

Hours can change seasonally or due to staffing, so be sure to check the official NPS and BLM websites for the most up-to-date information before you visit!

If you can’t make it in person, shop.cnha.org is open 24/7! Every purchase supports education and research on southeastern Utah’s public lands.

Construction has picked back up again on the La Sal Mountain Loop Road! This project began on May 20, 2024 and is anticipated to go through fall of 2025.

Currently, there is a weekday daytime closure from 8:30am- 5:30pm, Monday - Friday, with no access through during these times. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes.

The Central Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and San Juan County is rehabilitating and widening 2 segments of road, totaling 12.12 miles along La Sal Mountain Loop Road.

Get the latest updates and access information here.

Stay Updated on Manti-La Sal Trail Conditions!

Planning a trip to the south zone of the Manti-La Sal National Forest? Trail conditions can change quickly with weather, snowmelt, and maintenance work. To stay in the loop, check the Moab Information Center Facebook page, where we'll be posting regular updates straight from the U.S. Forest Service.

The Bureau of Land Management is urging climbers to voluntarily avoid rock climbing in Long Canyon from April 1 to June 15 to help protect desert bighorn sheep during a critical time in their reproductive cycle. Climbing areas affected include all developed and undeveloped crags within Long Canyon, including Maverick Buttress and Reptilian Wall. 

Utah’s Canyon Country is home to iconic wildlife species, including desert bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and other canyon-dwelling animals. Many of these species are sensitive to human-caused disturbances and tend to seek remote areas to raise their young. Long Canyon is a prime example of irreplaceable wildlife habitat, serving as an essential refuge for these species. 

Spring and early summer are particularly sensitive periods for pregnant ewes and newborn lambs. This critical time encompasses the end of a ewe’s pregnancy and the first few weeks of the lamb’s life. Human activity can cause stress to these animals, forcing them to abandon preferred habitat, which can impact the survival of their young. 

 To help minimize disturbances, the BLM asks climbers to seek alternative routes during this window. Long Canyon provides vital “escape terrain” for bighorn sheep, allowing them to evade predators by navigating steep, rocky landscapes. Avoiding these areas ensures that ewes and lambs can remain undisturbed in their natural habitat. 

Read the full announcement here.

After a fierce competition and daily votes, Delicate Arch has been crowned the champion of our Arch Madness bracket! Thanks to all of you who voted and showed your love for this iconic landmark. Whether you’ve hiked to its base or admired it from afar, Delicate Arch remains a true symbol of the beauty and majesty of southeastern Utah’s landscapes. Stay tuned for more exciting promotions and updates on our social media!

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MIC Lecture Series

Join us at 5pm the Moab Information Center for our free lecture series!

April 10 | Respectful Visitation of Cultural Sites & Ancestral Landscapes by Semira Crank (Four Corners Lecture Series)

Visit With Respect is more than a phrase. It’s always been a deeply ingrained cultural mindset that Indigenous Tribes have long practiced and continue to do so today. Join us to learn about the educational campaign, Visit With Respect, and immerse yourself in understanding the context of being an ally to the landscape.

View the full lineup here.

2025 Community Artist in the Parks

Charlotte Quigley has a deep well of experience with both art and national parks. A life-long watercolorist, she also works in pastels and, more recently, oil paints. She has a master’s degree in art history and experience as a youth arts teacher, arts council director, and member of the Gallery Moab cooperative. See how she turns her inspiration into art, or join her (with your own art supplies) for a side-by-side creative endeavor. Bring water, sun protection, and your imagination.

Arches National Park

Tuesday, April 15 | Broken Arch | 9am - 12pm

Wednesday, April 16 | Delicate Arch | 9am - 12pm

Thursday, April 17 | Balanced Rock | 9am - 12pm

Hovenweep National Monument

Tuesday, April 8 | Cutthroat Castle | 3pm - 6pm

Wednesday, April 9 | Square Tower | 3pm - 6pm

Learn more about Charlotte and the CAIP Program here.

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Our Mission

Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is a non-profit organization, which exists solely to assist the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management in their education and visitor efforts. Proceeds from sales support these agencies’ educational, interpretive, and scientific programs on the Colorado Plateau.

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