Outdoors

Helicopter landing with supplies to wrap Kirk's Cabin in the Salt Creek area of Canyonlands National Park.

Babylon Fire at 85,000 acres, additional resources arriving

The Babylon Fire is at 85,370 acres as of the last official report on July 3 at 8:00 am. 11 crews made up of 524 personnel are battling the flames including seven helicopters, 17 engines, two dozers and five water tenders. Over 200 members of the public attended meetings held on Thursday July 2 at...

The Babylon Fire has consumed nearly 50,000 acres of Forest Service ground on Elk Ridge since it ignited on June 26. You can see more photos of the fire at the San Juan Record website at www.sjrnews.com or on Facebook. David Kartchner photo

Fires consumes nearly 80,000 acres, close Abajo portion of National Forest

A combination of a record-dry winter, low humidity, high temperatures and howling winds have combined to create one of the most dangerous fire seasons in recent memory in San Juan County. The Babylon Fire, which started near the Babylon Pasture on Elk Ridge on Friday, June 26, has exploded. As of...

Hone archery skills at new business

by David Boyle News Director As the spring season approaches, bow hunters in San Juan County are gaining a unique opportunity to sharpen their skills. Archery Mountain Training, a new venture founded by local resident Justin Redd, will launch a series of weekly 3D bow hunting courses beginning...

Snow pack gone after bone-dry winter

by Bill Boyle San Juan Record Editor A bone-dry winter leaves San Juan County with low reservoir levels and with little to no snowpack to fill the reservoirs, raising alarms for the summer of 2026. By March 14, the scarce snowpack at the Camp Jackson SNO-tel station in the Abajo Mountains had...

How low snowpack could impact fire season

by Bradley Washa, Utah State University Extension Many people are wondering what impact this winter’s lackluster snowpack will have on the upcoming wildland fire season. As we approach the end of March, snowpack is at record-low levels across the state. Utah has also experienced the warmest winter...

New ramp due to low water at Lake Powell

The Bullfrog Marina ramp area at Lake Powell is going to be adjusted to ensure recreation is possible as officials continue to prepare for lower water levels this summer. Concessions provider Aramark plans to temporarily move the Bullfrog Marina on the western shore of Lake Powell closer to Halls...

BLM announces 2026 raptor avoidance areas for Indian Creek

Each spring the BLM urges climbers and outdoor recreationists to avoid certain areas in Indian Creek from March through late summer to protect nesting raptors. Falcons, eagles and hawks return annually to nest on cliffs and rock walls, and human disturbance can jeopardize their success. This annual...

Tenth year for Visit with Respect program

by David Boyle News Director A campaign to educate visitors about visitation to the region is celebrating 10 years. Semira Crank is the program director for Visit With Respect, a part of the nonprofit Bears Ears Partnership. In a recent conversation with Redrock92 radio, Crank explained the Visit...

Black bear Photos courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Minor changes to bear hunting in La Sals

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few minor changes for bear hunting in Utah, along with other rule amendments, during a recent public meeting. The first year of the current three-year bear recommendation cycle recently ended. The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few minor changes for the 2026 bear...

Two dead at Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park

UPDATE: The death of a six year old boy, and his mother are being investigated as a homicide and suicide in northern San Juan County. San Juan County Sheriff's Office in a release shared that on January 8 at about 8:15 am park rangers in Canyonlands reported a suspicious vehicle parked in a no...