[18FEB2026] Visitors at Arches National Park in southeastern Utah will no longer need advanced reservations to enjoy the park and will be allowed to visit whenever they'd like during regular operating hours. Since 2022 the park has been operating on a first-come first-served reservation system between April and September to limit the number of visitors at any one time during popular times. In its announcement that reservations were not needed this year the park stressed that guests should still plan ahead when visiting during weekends and holidays. Although reservations are no longer required, certain locations may be temporarily restricted or closed when parking areas reach capacity and visitors are asked not to wait in roadways for spaces to open. "We encourage visitors to arrive early, explore lesser-traveled areas if certain locations are busy, and be flexible when enjoying the park" said Superintendent Lena Pace. "We look forward to working closely with local and state partners as we implement these adjustments and refine our approach to serve visitors while protecting park resources."


[17FEB2026] Fossil finding tours have returned at the St George Dinosaur Discovery Site. This is your opportunity to be a paleontologist for a day by digging up fossils. The three-hour experience features a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s fossil prep lab. Afterward participants will head to the quarry to spend two full hours digging up and discovering fossils. At the Substation Quarry Site participants will be briefed on safety and the unique tools that paleontologists use. The fossils at this site are millions of years old and small finds like fish scales may be taken home. Bigger discoveries will remain at the museum for research and preservation. The Fossil Discoveries adventure is open to those 8 years and older. The experience will run on Saturdays and Sundays between March 7th and May 31st 2026.


[14FEB2026] The U.S. Department of the Interior said it would be moving forward with its proposed plans to manage the Colorado River after the seven states failed to reach agreement on a framework of a deal. The agency said it could not delay action. :Negotiation efforts have been productive; we have listened to every state’s perspective and have narrowed the discussion by identifying key elements and issues necessary for an agreement. We believe that a fair compromise with shared responsibility remains within reach." Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. "I want to thank the governors of the seven Basin States for their constructive engagement and commitment to collaboration. We remain dedicated to working with them and their representatives to identify shared solutions and reduce litigation risk. Additionally, we will continue consultations with Tribal Nations and coordinate with Mexico to ensure we are prepared for Water Year 2027." The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released its alternative proposals for managing the Colorado River last month in an effort to prod the states into reaching some tentative deal. Secretary Burgum summoned the governors of the Colorado River states to Washington DC in an effort to reach an agreement. In December acting U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Scott Cameron said in an interview with the Colorado River Collaborative that the states may not like the outcome if the Trump administration has to make decisions. The states confirmed they had not been able to achieve consensus but would continue negotiating. There is more urgency to cut a deal. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released forecasts showing significantly less water going into Lake Powell (it has declined by 1.5 million acre feet since January). The projected declines — as much as 50 feet lower — threaten water delivery and power generation for 40 million people across the West. Upper and Lower Basin states have each demanded the other make more cuts to the water they take from the river. That appeared to remain the central disagreement in statements and interviews on Friday when no deal was announced. But the governors of the states said they remain hopeful they can still reach an agreement by the time the current Colorado River compact expires in October.


[12FEB2026] A new study finds that dealing with Great Salt Lake dust has trade-offs and ballooning costs. The study published by the University of Utah's Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy lists a number of options from gravel and straw to solar panels to cover the exposed lake bed and how much they could cost. "The dust that you breathe regardless of what it’s made out of, if the concentrations are high enough can trigger immediate response in people. There’s also the potential long-term effects of being exposed to components of the dust such as arsenic and other carcinogens." Dr. Kevin Perry, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah and the author of the study. More and more of the Great Salt Lake bed has been exposed as the lake declines. The study said that more than 800 square miles of lake bed are exposed. The exposed lakebed puts public health at risk in the form of dust storms blowing into communities. "At present approximately 70 square miles (about 9% of the exposed lakebed) function as active dust hotspots. If protective crusts continue to degrade or groundwater levels decline further, dust-active areas could expand to as much as 187 square miles (approximately 24% of the lakebed)." the study said.


[11FEB2026] The lottery dates for Zion National Park’s 2026 Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program have been announced. The lottery opens four times throughout the year depending upon your hike dates: For hikes between March 1st to May 31st the lottery will open Feb 13th - For hikes between June 1st to Aug 31st the lottery opens April 1st - For hikes between Sep 1st to Nov 30th the lottery opens July 1st - For hikes between Dec 1st to Feb 28th the lottery opens Oct 1st. Everyone who hikes Angels Landing must have a permit. Angel’s Landing is a strenuous five-mile roundtrip hike with rapid elevation gains of over 1,400 feet. Most of the hike is in full sun and there are steep drop-offs all along the trail, including a land bridge with 1,000-foot drop-offs on both sides. There are chains for handholds along the most dangerous areas. The national park’s shuttle service will begin on March 7. Guests do not need a reservation to ride the shuttle.


[7FEB2026] The announcement of Lagoon Amusement Park's 2026 opening date! The park announced that its official opening day will be March 28. It will be weekends only for the first phase from 10am to 7pm on Saturdays and from 10-6 on Sundays. In May, Saturdays will extend to 9pm Then starting May 25th it will be open seven days a week with longer hours. Something visitors can look forward to this spring: Lagoon's newest ride, "The Nutcracker" It's a massive swing that will take riders nearly 150 feet into the air. The Nutcracker's exact opening date is not yet set. However the park said visitors can start to see the progress on the ride's namesake: Hans a giant nutcracker statue next to the ride, holding a massive mug of beer from Lagoon's Biergarten.


[5FEB2026] Conservation groups have filed a lawsuit to block a four-lane highway planned through Utah's Red Cliffs Conservation Area, marking the latest legal challenge in a decades-long battle over the controversial Northern Corridor project. The lawsuit targets the Bureau of Land Management's recent approval of the highway between Ivins, St George and Washington City. Six conservation groups serving as plaintiffs argue the BLM's decision violates federal laws protecting endangered species specifically the desert tortoise that inhabits the Red Cliffs Conservation Area. The Northern Corridor has faced a turbulent approval process. The first Trump Administration initially approved the project but President Biden reversed that decision. Late last month the second Trump Administration reapproved the highway plan. This marks the second major lawsuit challenging the project. Conservation groups filed similar legal action in 2021 after the highway's first approval making the same argument that BLM approval violated endangered species protections. Washington County Commissioners and other supporters maintain the highway is essential to accommodate the county's growing population. They argue the project represents a balanced compromise that includes turtle tunnels and protections for another tortoise habitat in Moe's Valley to the southwest. They also say the initial act that created the Red Cliffs Conservation Area in 2009 included the highway.


[4FEB2026] Months after the devastating Forsyth fire and subsequent flooding, Pine Valley Recreation Area is sharing updates on its rebuilding process. June 2025’s Forsyth fire was one of Utah’s largest and most destructive wildfires of the year burning over 15,000 acres and destroying 17 homes over the course of a month. In October the burn scar left behind led to severe flooding in the area. The disasters ravaged Pine Valley Recreation Area. Between reconstructing the reservoir dam clearing hazardous trees and seeding new ones and rehabilitating the campground. The U.S. Forest Service Dixie National Forest officials said the rebuild would start in 2026 and likely last through the year. Robert Hardy of the Pine Valley Fire Department spoke about the status of reconstruction. He said the flooding last fall overflowed the dam, damaging it and prompting officials to drain the reservoir as part of long-term reconstruction. While funding has been secured to reconstruct the dam, there’s still much more work to be done before the reservoir is back to normal. "There’s a lot of sediment here that needs to come out. So we are working on getting funding either through local or other sources to try to get this reservoir dredged out." Hardy said. In the meantime crews have been making improvements to the surrounding area including upgrading drainage and culverts. They have also been reseeding meadows and removing problematic foliage. While there is no official reopening date officials say the campground will remain closed through 2026. Until that work is finished, Hardy says to avoid the area.


[4FEB2026] Bald eagles, the noble and iconic symbol of freedom are back in Utah during their annual migration season. "It’s always a thrill when you see them maybe off in the distance and you can get your camera out and film them." said photographer Scott Taylor. "I have a few that live in my neighborhood, and I can see them about anytime in the winter. I can go out and look at them." The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says February is typically the best time to see bald eagles in Utah as they come through looking for food and escaping colder conditions further north. "They’re really iconic and really identifiable because of that large white head." said DWR's Faith Heaton Jolley. "They are large and they’ve got a pretty big wingspan up to 7 feet. Easily identifiable to see." Now is prime time migration season for the national bird and there are several places you can find them. "We’ve kind of dubbed February as bald eagle month because it’s just probably the best time to see them in Utah." said Holley. "We do get a lot of bird watchers that come out and are excited and try to go to these key points... Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Weber River, Green River, Midview Reservoir, Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery, Wales Reservoir, Sanpitch River, Utah Lake, Provo River Delta, Huntington State Park, and along the Colorado River north of Moab.


[2FEB2026] Bare hillsides and patchy snow in Parleys Canyon tell the story before the numbers even do: Utah’s snowpack has dropped into uncharted territory and not the good kind. New data from the Utah Snow Survey shows statewide snowpack has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded for this point in the season. By the end of January average snow water equivalent dipped below the previous record low marking the worst start since the SNOTEL monitoring era began in 1980. Nearly one-third of Utah’s snow-monitoring sites are now reporting their worst or second-worst snowpack on record. Several major river basins including the Weber-Ogden and Provo–Utah Lake regions have already set new lows for late January. Jordan Clayton, supervisor of the NRCS Utah Snow Survey says the state is facing a massive deficit with limited time left to recover. "We only have about one-third of the water content in our snowpack that we would see at a typical peak." Clayton said. "So in other words we need to make up about two-thirds of our winter in about two months." What’s making matters worse isn’t just how low snowpack is, it’s how far behind normal Utah continues to fall. Snowpack typically builds steadily through February and March but this year that curve has flattened out widening the gap between current conditions and average levels with each passing day. Clayton says the odds of catching up are slim. That outlook has water managers keeping a close eye on spring and summer. Along the Wasatch Front, reservoirs are already running about 10 percent below normal for this time of year and expectations for spring runoff are shrinking. Shazelle Terry, chief operating officer for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, says they’re not expecting reservoirs to fill this year. With roughly two months left in the typical snow season, every storm still matters.


[1FEB2026] As much of Utah is experiencing low snowpack, Gunlock Reservoir in Southern Utah remains at around 100% capacity. Statewide snowpack in Utah has hit a historic low and the resulting dry conditions have many experts concerned for the future of the state’s water resources. According to Jordan Clayton with the NRCS-Utah Snow Survey, 95% of water used in Utah comes from snowpack. However, some parts of Southern Utah are reportedly hopeful, saying their reservoirs appear to be in good shape. Gunlock Reservoir for one is about 100% full while statewide reservoirs average 41% of their capacity. "Gunlock Reservoir is almost full right now and the reason for that is we had a series of great rainstorms." said Brock Belnap, the Associate General Manager of Washington County Water Conservancy District. "Because it’s an on-stream dam, the water flowed down and got captured in the creek there and filled up our reservoir." Ideally Gunlock Reservoir and other reservoirs would be 100% full with many having a buffer zone. Belnap said their other two reservoirs, Sand Hollow and Quill Creek, are also doing well. "They’re both about 73% full which actually is really good considering the dry conditions." he said. "We're very lucky to have the infrastructure that we have here in Washington County because with that amount of water in our reservoirs in Gunlock and on the east side reservoirs, we feel like we’re in good condition to weather the upcoming summer." He also noted that the water at Gunlock Reservoir is primarily used for irrigation purposes rather than drinking water. He added, That’s important because it offsets the demands on our potable drinking water system, but it doesn’t provide drinking water at this time.









[31JAN2026] While walking along Main Street in Park City many people trying to enjoy the last moments of the Sundance Film Festival. But Rich Barrett and his family were disappointed because coming to the festival was a tradition for them. "Utah's robust film industry has grown far beyond one event. We've cultivated a thriving ecosystem of talent, infrastructure, and incentives that will continue to attract filmmakers and productions to our beautiful state." said Virginia Pearce, the commission's director. Park City Mayor Ryan Dickey released many remarks. "As we say goodbye to Sundance we also look ahead to new cultural opportunities continued support for the arts and preparing responsibly for the 2034 Winter Olympics." he said in part. "That future will require intentional choices and community leaders willing to listen, adapt and act even when outcomes aren’t immediately clear." When asked about possibly going to Boulder next year for the festival, "The only place for Sundance is here."








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