Outdoor Recreation

The federal government shutdown has reduced local tourism by about 20%, according to Mesa Verde Country CEO Brian Bartlett, though some visitors are still exploring the region’s fall colors and outdoor recreation. Mesa Verde National Park and nearby Utah monuments remain open in a limited capacity, while the Ute Mountain Tribal Park continues to offer select tours. Despite fewer visitors overall, Bartlett notes that visitor spending in 2025 is up compared to last year.

This weekend's outdoor recreation conditions!

Lightning strikes millions of times each year across the U.S., especially in the Mountain West. Learn safety tips to reduce your risk, from sheltering indoors to staying low when storms roll in.

Public lands advocates are hoping to draw attention to proposed cuts to the National Parks Service and other land management agencies by visiting gateway towns in the West. One stop was in Grand Junction, Colorado, which has its own national park.

Critical fire weather continues in the Four Corners through Saturday, with strong winds, hot temperatures, and low humidity keeping wildfire danger high.

Cities across the West have been gathering data on extreme heat, but heat mapping looks a little different in rural areas like Moab, Utah, where outdoor recreation is the main economic driver.

Volunteer camp hosts like the Tuckers help keep Colorado parks running—offering directions, cleaning sites, and sharing joy with campers each summer.

After dam removals on the Klamath River, Indigenous youth paddle 300+ miles to the ocean, reconnecting with ancestral waters and reclaiming river stewardship.

Hot, dry weather and abundant fuels created the perfect storm for lightning-caused fires on the Western Slope and in southeastern Utah. Drought forecasters are predicting little relief later this summer.

Dusty trails, windy weather, and the chance of storms—here’s your latest Boggy Draw Trail Report with riding updates, safety tips, and local biking news.