public lands

The San Juan Mountains Association will host a guided wildflower walk at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument on May 16, highlighting native plants and the high desert ecosystem.

A Colorado Public Lands Day cleanup near Dolores invites volunteers to help restore trails, reduce wildfire risk, and support healthy public lands on May 16.

Recovery is underway on Stoner Mesa after last year’s wildfire, but low snowpack in southwest Colorado could bring earlier fire risk this spring.

A new outlook warns of increased wildfire risk across Colorado and the West, driven by drought, low snowpack, and a warm, dry winter.

Riders are seeing mostly dry trails at Boggy Draw, with some sandy and muddy spots lingering. Warm, windy weather continues as local trail events and volunteer opportunities ramp up.

The Forest Service plans to limit dispersed camping at Navajo Lake in the Lizard Head Wilderness, reducing sites from more than 50 to nine to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and wilderness conditions.

Authorities are investigating vandalism at a petroglyph site near Moab, where ancient rock art was defaced, prompting reminders to visit cultural sites respectfully.

Visitation in 2025 at Mesa Verde National Park was down about 3.4 percent from the year before, but special events may bring more people this season.

The sluggish Colorado River negotiations have entered a new phase: Long and fiery letter writing.

A congressional resolution could roll back 2025 management rules for Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, sparking debate over land use and conservation.