THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
Due to lower temperatures accompanied by higher humidity, fire danger has moderated across southeastern Utah. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, September 4, Arches and Canyonlands national parks, along with Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments, will rescind fire restrictions.
Official NPS source
The Southeast Utah Group of parks will accept applications for the 2027 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP) program September 1 to September 30, 2026.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service is asking for the public’s help in locating Patrick J. Trier, a 71-year-old white male who was last seen in Salina, Utah, on Sunday, August 16.
Official NPS source
As high temperatures continue, Arches and Canyonlands national parks urge visitors to prepare for extreme heat during summer visits.
Official NPS source
Starting today, Friday, July 17, UT 211 will be open to the Canyonlands National Park boundary (The Needles district entrance). Monticello Field Office of Bureau of Land Management Lands north of UT 211 will also be reopened.
Official NPS source
Canyonlands National Park will continue the temporary closure of The Needles district until further notice due to the Babylon Fire near Blanding, Utah.
Official NPS source
Effective immediately, Canyonlands National Park has temporarily closed The Needles district until further notice due to the Babylon Fire near Blanding, UT. The Babylon Fire is located within Bears Ears National Monument and is not currently burning within Canyonlands National Park.
Official NPS source
Fire danger is increasing in southeastern Utah due to prolonged drought and rising temperatures. On Friday June 26, 2026, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument will increase fire restrictions.
Official NPS source
From July 27 through October 1, 2026, the Grand View Point area of Canyonlands National Park will be closed from 6 a.m. Mondays to 4 p.m. Thursdays to complete Phase Three of a multi-year project to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service Southeast Utah Group is pleased to announce the selection of Chrissy Noel Kinslow as the 2026 Community Artist in the Parks
Official NPS source
A new National Park Service report shows that nearly 2.4M visitors to parks of the Southeast Utah Group in 2024 spent $421.9M in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $447 million.
Official NPS source
The Southeast Utah Group of parks will accept applications for the 2026 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP) program September 15 to October 15, 2025.
Official NPS source
Southeast Utah continues to experience hazardous fire conditions. On Friday, August 1, 2025, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument will increase fire restrictions by banning all open fires (wood and charcoal).
Official NPS sourceFire danger is increasing in southeastern Utah due to prolonged drought and rising temperatures. On Saturday, June 28, 2025, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument will increase fire restrictions.
Official NPS source
Arches and Canyonlands national parks expect a busy July Fourth holiday weekend, with increased traffic, long lines at park entrances, busy trails, and limited parking at both parks. Arches' pilot reservation system remains in effect through the holiday, then pauses July 7 to August 28, resuming before Labor Day weekend.
Official NPS source
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Arches and Canyonlands national parks advise visitors to expect heavy traffic, crowded trails, and limited parking at both parks. Planning ahead is essential for a safe and enjoyable visit. All visitors entering Arches between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. will need a timed entry reservation.
Official NPS sourceOn Thursday May 8, 2025, National Park Service rangers responded to reports of a single motor vehicle accident involving a motorcyclist at the entrance to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the 71-year-old male patient, Bruce Griffith from Copper Mountain, CO, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service Southeast Utah Group is pleased to announce the selection of Charlotte Quigley as the 2025 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP).
Official NPS source
Hours of operation for visitor centers at Arches National Park and Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park are changing for the season. The visitor centers at The Needles district of Canyonlands and Hovenweep National Monument will close entirely for a portion of this winter.
Official NPS source
A major sediment slump in Narrow Canyon has altered water flow and created a new small rapid. Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) should be worn between Dark Canyon and the North Wash Access point because of the rapidly changing conditions.
Official NPS sourceThe fungus that causes white-nose syndrome disease in bats has been found in Utah at Canyonlands National Park (Needles district). At this time, there is no evidence of white-nose syndrome or bat mortality from the disease in the park or in Utah.
Official NPS source
A new National Park Service report shows that 2.4 million visitors to national parks of the Southeast Utah Group in 2023 spent $397.6 million in communities near the parks. That spending supported 5,122 jobs in this region and had a cumulative benefit to local economies of $486.1 million.
Official NPS sourceThe Southeast Utah Group of parks will accept applications for the 2025 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP) program September 1-30, 2024.
Official NPS sourceOn Friday July 12, 2024, a 911 text initiated a search operation for two individuals at the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. When found, they were already deceased. San Juan County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Service are investigating the incident.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS) appreciates the public's participation in the first round of civic engagement for Canyonlands National Park’s comprehensive river management planning (CRMP) process, which occurred in spring 2024. A public comment summary report is now available online.
Official NPS source
Law enforcement park rangers at Canyonlands National Park are seeking information from the public to help identify suspects involved in an archeological theft incident at Cave Spring Cowboy Camp in the Needles district of the park.
Official NPS source
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 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, reopening for public use on weekends.
Official NPS source
Canyonlands National Park is beginning planning for a comprehensive river management plan for the Green and Colorado rivers and is asking for initial public input.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Lena Pace as superintendent of Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Pace will officially begin her new assignment on April 7. The position also supervises the superintendent at Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments.
Official NPS source