As the year winds down, we’re thrilled to share some exciting updates and accomplishments! Check out our brand-new video, The History and Future of America’s Public Lands, and get the latest on Arches National Park’s 2025 timed entry pilot. Check out Southeast Utah Parks winter visitor center hours, and learn about how the Bureau of Land Management worked to provide wood for local communities. We also have fantastic news that CNHA has been named Nonprofit of the Year! Plus, don’t miss the Science Moab on Tap events happening this winter.
We’re so grateful for your support—here’s to a great December and the start of an even brighter new year!
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CANYONLANDS NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION
The History and Future of America's Public Land
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Check out our new video on our YouTube channel!
Walt Dabney, former National Park Service Superintendent and Texas State Park Director, discusses the history and future of America's public lands.
Learn about:
- The origin story of public lands
- The US Constitution and public lands
- Statehood acts/state constitutions and public lands
- How public lands became privately owned
- Why most public lands are in the West
...and SO much more!
View the trailer and check out the full video here.
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ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Arches Announces Another Pilot Reservation System Using Timed Entry in 2025
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Arches National Park will implement another pilot vehicle reservation system using timed entry in 2025, beginning April 1. Program parameters will be mostly the same as the 2024 pilot, except the park will not require reservations from July 7 to August 27, 2025 (after July 4th weekend until just before Labor Day weekend) when visitation traditionally slows down.
“We continue to hear positive comments from people who enjoyed the guaranteed arrival time and reduced congestion they experienced during these pilots,” said Arches National Park Superintendent Lena Pace. “We’ve opted to continue the interim action next year while we further examine long-term solutions so that people can start making their 2025 travel plans knowing what to expect.”
Timed entry tickets will be required for visitors arriving between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily when the program is in effect (unless they have camping, tour, or special use permits; concessions contracts; commercial use authorizations; or academic or volunteer fee waivers). Visitors arriving before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. will not need a timed entry ticket.
Visitors can reserve their tickets on a first-come first-served basis through Recreation.gov, online or over the phone, beginning at 8 a.m. MST on January 2, 2025. Reservations will be released three months in advance in monthly blocks. For example, on January 2, reservations will open for the month of April. On February 1, reservations will open for the month of May and unreserved times in April will remain open. Additional months will continue the same pattern according to the following schedule:
- April reservations (April 1–30) open January 2.
- May reservations (May 1–31) open February 1.
- June reservations (June 1–30) open March 1.
- July reservations (July 1–6) open April 1.
- August reservations (August 27–31) open May 27.
- September reservations (September 1–30) open June 1.
- October reservations (October 1–31) open July 1.
Starting March 31, additional tickets will be released at 7 p.m. MT each day for park visits the following day. Any unreserved tickets remain available for same-day booking.
Read the full news release here.
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SOUTHEAST UTAH GROUP
Winter Visitor Center Hours
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Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments are open all year, but the parks’ visitor center operations change with the approach of winter.
Arches Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, closing early on Christmas Eve (1:00 p.m. December 24) and closed for the full day on December 25.
Island in the Sky Visitor Center at Canyonlands National Park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from December 1 through March 2.
The Needles Visitor Center at Canyonlands National Park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The facility will close for the winter at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, December 7 and will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2025. Visitors wishing to stay overnight in The Needles district backcountry or travel on a four-wheel-drive road that requires day-use permits may obtain a permit from the self-registration station located on the front porch of The Needles Visitor Center.
Natural Bridges Visitor Center is open Thursday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through the winter, and is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
Due to insufficient staff availability, Hovenweep Visitor Center will reopen in early 2025. The exact date of reopening will be announced once it is determined.
At all locations, law enforcement staff will remain on duty, campgrounds will remain open, and entrance fees will still be collected throughout the winter.
Visitor services (lodging, food, gasoline, etc.) are not available in the parks, so visitors need to be well equipped for winter travel. Trails may become icy, especially in shaded areas. Visitors are advised to carry and use traction devices for their shoes when walking across ice-slick surfaces, and to continue carrying and drinking plenty of water because a cold desert is still a very dry place.
For additional information about Southeast Utah Group parks, visit these websites:
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Hovenweep National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument
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BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Kindling Connections with Fire Fuels
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What do vegetation management, prescribed burns, and local communities have in common — a kindling connection...
When folks from the Bureau of Land Management decide how best to, well, manage the land, there are MANY factors at play. For example, when surveying areas for prescribed burns, many priorities get factored in: Are there other native plants that we can help regain a foothold in areas where they have been outcompeted by pinyon and juniper? What combination of landscapes support the most diverse wildlife? If trees will be cut back, what can be done to have the most positive impact for the land, wildlife, and people?
The BLM routinely treats landscapes through prescribed burns and thinning trees to allow for other plant life to reestablish, like sage — bringing them back into their historic ranges. This allows the agency to meet specific goals for managing the lands BLM stewards, while also providing an opportunity to support the local community.
In Utah’s Canyon Country District, the East Canyon Project, which focused on habitat improvement for mule deer and the threatened Gunnison sage grouse, included one more novel benefit: providing wood for home heating, cooking, and other uses, to residents of San Juan County including Ute and Navajo lands.
Read the full story here.
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CANYONLANDS NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION
Moab Chamber of Commerce 2024 Nonprofit of the Year Award
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CNHA has been awarded Nonprofit of the Year by the Moab Chamber of Commerce! We're honored to support the incredible public lands of southeastern Utah, and SO grateful to our amazing team, partners, and supporters who make it all possible. A big thank you to the Moab Chamber of Commerce, too! |
Did you know?
CNHA’s work goes far beyond supporting public lands—it creates lasting impacts in our local communities!
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Canyon Country Outdoor Education (CCOE): We’ve donated over $1 million to this NPS program! It provides students in Grand and San Juan County with hands-on science field trips on public lands that meet state core curriculum standards.
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Avalanche Safety & Education: Our funding helps the US Forest Service and Utah Avalanche Center hire an assistant avalanche forecaster, who also teaches workshops like Avalanche Safety 101, Know Before You Go winter travel sessions, and backcountry motorized vehicle safety. This ensures that our community can safely enjoy the backcountry during the winter months!
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Community Art & Science: We sponsor Science Moab podcasts featuring Discovery Pool researchers, along with underwriting all airings of the podcasts on KZMU, Moab Community Radio. We also sponsor the NPS Community Artist in the Parks program by providing space in our stores for the local artist to sell products on a commission basis, and funded three BLM Artists in Residence.
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Student Scholarships: Through our scholarship program, we’ve awarded over $40,000 to 15 local high school students, giving them hands-on experience and a head start on their education.
Together, we’re creating opportunities for education, safety, and creativity in southeastern Utah. Thank you for your continued support!
Celebrate With Us!
This award fuels our mission to support southeastern Utah’s public lands. Want to help us keep making a difference? Join us as a member or shop to support today!
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SCIENCE MOAB
Science Moab on Tap
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This year, the science is XTREME! Join Science Moab at Woody's Tavern from 6pm - 7pm!
December 11 | Returning Rapids
Two rivers & a team of talented misfits: documenting extreme recovery along the Colorado and San Juan rivers.
January 8 | Chris Wilkowske Mill Creek madness: what's behind town's extreme flooding?
February 12 | Kirt Cundick
Rebellion, adrenaline and the psychology of extreme sports!
On Tap sponsors are all about that XTREME generosity: Thank you Canyonlands Natural History Association, Moab City RAP Tax Grant, and Grand County Recreation Special Service District #1!
Learn more about Science Moab 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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