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"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June." – L.M. Montgomery
This month's edition of our newsletter contains updates on events happening around southeastern Utah, from AstroFest to the Burpee Dinosaur Quarry, a lot is going on this month and next (our membership hike)! We also feature a wonderful documentary by Bears Ears Partnership on visiting with respect in the Bears Ears region.
As always, we thank you for your support. Have a great June!
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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
2024 AstroFest
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Attention stargazers, astronomy enthusiasts, and celestial explorers! Get ready to embark on a journey through the cosmos at the 3rd annual Southeast Utah AstroFest, the ultimate astronomy festival happening under the vast skies of Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park!
This year's festival runs from Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Join park rangers for daytime and evening astronomy programs, telescope viewing, and family friendly activities at locations throughout the parks.
Day 1: Friday, June 7: Arches National Park
Day 2: Saturday, June 8: Dead Horse Point State Park
Day 3: Sunday, June 9: Island in the Sky District, Canyonlands National Park
Click here for more information.
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CANYONLANDS NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION
Membership Hike
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We are delighted to announce that our membership events are back for 2024! Mark your calendars for a wonderful wildflower hike in the Manti-La Sal National Forest on Saturday, July 13th. Join us to experience how plant life has regenerated in the Gold Basin area, which burned in the Pack Creek Fire of 2021. Program expert Barb Smith with the US Forest Service will be our guide! Spots are limited!
To sign up for the hike, please email Denise at denise@cnha.org or call 435-259-6003 ext. 480
Can't make it? Stay tuned for information on our FALL 2024 hike!
Become a Member here and join us for our hike!
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BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Free Tours at Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry
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This spring, delve into prehistoric wonders with a free guided tour of the Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry. Offering an enriching experience for enthusiasts of all ages, the tours will be available during the weeks of June 3, June 10, and June 17, 2024. Tours will run Monday through Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., and on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., weather permitting. Please note that no tours will be conducted on Sundays.
“The Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry provides a unique window into the lives of dinosaurs that once roamed this region,” said Richfield Field Office Manager David Mortensen. “We urge visitors to adhere to all guidelines, respect the delicate natural environment, and ensure a safe and enjoyable visit for everyone.”
The tours are a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Land Management's Henry Mountains Field Station and the Burpee Museum of Natural History, located in Rockford, Illinois. The knowledgeable staff from Burpee Museum, seasoned in guiding through active excavation sites, will lead the tours. They will share insights into the geology, paleontology, and the distinctive features of the Late Jurassic period in Utah.
Learn more here.
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Did you know?
The excavation of dinosaurs at the Hanksville-Burpee Quarry was a Discovery Pool project in 2017! The Discovery Pool research grant program was established by CNHA to encourage and provide funding for research partnerships between qualified scientists and our federal NPS, BLM, and USFS partners in southeastern Utah.
Since its inception in 2007, CNHA’s Discovery Pool has awarded $947,644 in grants.
Learn more about Discovery Pool here.
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US FOREST SERVICE + BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT + BEARS EARS PARTNERSHIP
Visit With Respect Documentary
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"Bears Ears Partnership received a grant from Temper of the Times to develop an educational conservation project - and we created this short Visit With Respect documentary. We wanted to continue the ever-expanding Visit With Respect campaign while also amplifying Indigenous voices and their connections to the Bears Ears region. This film highlights Traditional Indigenous Knowledge of local Tribal members and leaders with ties to Bears Ears that informs the public about responsible visitation.
Visit With Respect started here in Bears Ears, but the guidelines can be applied to any ancestral landscape. Our goal is to protect places that are rich with cultural and spiritual connections, and our Visit With Respect guidelines were created with this in mind. This project was a great experience and we’re happy to share this with the community, near and far."
-Bears Ears Partnership
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US FOREST SERVICE
La Sal Mountain Loop State Scenic Backway Construction
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The Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration, in cooperation with the US Forest Service (FS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and San Juan County is proposing to rehabilitate and widen 2 segments of road, totaling 12.12 miles along La Sal Mountain Loop Road. This project is scheduled for construction beginning in the spring of 2024 to fall of 2025. Construction has started as of May 20, 2024, get the latest updates and access information here.
Monday, May 20, crews began work in Segment A from Horse Creek to Geyser Pass.
Work includes:
- Clearing the work area
- Culvert removal and replacement
- Road excavation
- Geyser Pass will be accessible from the Spanish Valley side through approximately mid-June in Phase 1 during working hours. Once work shifts to Phase 2, Geyser Pass will only be accessible from the Castle Valley side during working hours. Dates will be updated as more information is available.
Work will take place daily Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During work hours there will be no access through the work area. To access areas above Geyser Pass, the public will need to arrive before 8:30 a.m. or access from Castle Valley. There will be no work on the weekend. Closures will be done in phases.
Otherwise, most of the mountain is open! Summer is here, and there are only a few trails and roads closed by snow. For the most up-to-date information, check out the U.S. Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest Facebook page!
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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
News Release: Upgrades to Grand View Point Parking Lot will Improve Vehicle and Visitor Safety
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Canyonlands National Park is embarking on a multi-year reconfiguration of Grand View Point parking lot to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety. Construction work in 2024 will occur over a period of eight weeks in late summer between July and September. During this time, Grand View Point Overlook, Grand View Point Trail, and 0.3 mi (0.5 km) of park road will be closed from 6 a.m. Mondays to 4 p.m. Thursdays. The closure applies to all uses, including vehicles, tour buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
The construction area will reopen for public use at 4 p.m. each Thursday and stay open through weekends, closing again at 6 a.m. Monday mornings. During these open periods, parking may be limited due to construction materials and equipment along the roadway.
Grand View Point is a primary destination at the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands.
Read the full news release here.
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Community Artist in the Parks: Annie Dalton
See how Annie 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.
Annie Dalton was born in Moab but lived all around the southwest as a child. She studied Fine Art and Biochemistry in college, graduating with a BA from Arizona State. Annie strives to create art that encourages people to slow down, savor the moment, and reconnect with nature. Raised by an artist and miner/driller, her art and a love of this landscape and its elements are interwoven.
Learn more and check out June dates here.
Can't make it but still want to support? Check out her artwork here!
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MIC Free Lecture Series
Join us Thursday's at 5pm at the MIC for our free lecture series.
June 6 | Native American Astronomy by Don Montoya
June 13 | Climate Change in Utah’s High Mountains: Implications for Natural Resources and Biodiversity by Scott Hotaling (Discovery Pool grant recipient)
June 20 | Juneteenth: Freedom Day by Robert Anderson
June 27 | Resilient Food Webs in a Changing Environment by Moria Robinson (Discovery Pool grant recipient)
Check out full details and all lecture dates here.
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Use promo code DAD15 for 15% off your purchase June 2nd - June 8th! | |
Your Purchases Support Education and Research on the
Public Lands of Southeastern Utah.
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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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