Outdoors
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Sens. Lee, Curtis and Rep. Mike Kennedy introduce bill to block control of Utah public lands
Eva Terry, Deseret News | Posted March 13 - 10:33 p.m. | Save Story
Utah Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis were joined by Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy in sponsoring the Natural Asset Company Prohibition Act on Tuesday.

'Blood worm moon' lunar eclipse to occur over Utah. But will you be able to see it?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted March 13 - 1:04 p.m. | Save Story
A lunar eclipse will occur over Utah for the first time since 2022 Thursday night and early Friday, but many Utahns may find it difficult to view.

Winter storm warning issued as 'active' rain, snow pattern returns to Utah
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted March 12 - 4:33 p.m. | Save Story
Utah's next storm could provide over a foot of mountain snow and a few inches of valley snow by the end of the workweek. More storms are also on the horizon.

Rescuers offer safety reminders as hikers turn adventurous in warmer weather
Andrew Adams, KSL-TV | Posted March 12 - 9:19 a.m. | Save Story
On a warm spring day when temperatures rose to the low 60s, rescuers offered safety reminders Tuesday as hikers returned to some of their favorite outdoor destinations.

Utah has a high success rate in preventing road kill
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted March 12 - 8:34 a.m. | Save Story
A recent report examining vehicle collisions with wildlife in 11 states says damages total $1.6 billion a year.

Salt Lake City prepares for water conservation tactics despite 'great' snowpack
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted March 10 - 3:02 p.m. | Save Story
Despite the snowpack collection this season, Salt Lake City water managers say concerning trends are still on the horizon.

The 10 least visited US national parks
Marnie Hunter, CNN | Posted March 10 - 7:00 a.m. | Save Story
While Zion National Park is managing summer crowds, 10 spots will see a small fraction of the millions of visitors crowding the most popular parks.

Rare white water buffalo joins Tooele County zoo
Cassidy Wixom, KSL.com | Posted March 10 - 6:16 a.m. | Save Story
A zoo and conservation center in Tooele County has a new resident: a rare white water buffalo.

Little Cottonwood Canyon area homeowners sue UDOT over gondola project
Dennis Romboy, Deseret News | Posted March 9 - 9:04 p.m. | Save Story
Homeowners near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon have filed a lawsuit to block the Utah Department of Transportation from using land in their neighborhood to build a road for a controversial gondola project.

Man killed in avalanche in Uintas near Kamas identified
Collin Leonard, KSL.com | Updated March 9 - 10:43 a.m. | Save Story
Officials have identified the skier killed Friday in an avalanche in the Uinta Mountains.

Staffing cuts to national parks worry some Utah visitors ahead of busy season
Annie Knox and Daniella Rivera, KSL-TV | Posted March 7 - 9:35 p.m. | Save Story
KSL talked with several hikers in Arches National Park about their hopes and fears after widespread National Park Service layoffs.

Colorado residents sentenced after incident at Canyonlands archeological site
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted March 7 - 7:12 p.m. | Save Story
Two Colorado residents were sentenced after pleading guilty to charges tied to a theft and disruption incident at an archeological site at Canyonlands National Park last year.

Alta crosses 400-inch snowfall plateau. How it compares to the rest of the West
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted March 7 - 5:28 p.m. | Save Story
Alta reported Friday it has received over 400 inches of snowfall this season, making it one of the few in North America to do so this year.

Snowstorm turns day of snowboarding into dramatic rescue in Provo Canyon
Debbie Worthen, KSL-TV | Posted March 7 - 8:01 a.m. | Save Story
A heavy snowstorm wreaked havoc on the roads in Provo Canyon, causing a harrowing accident that left three friends with a story they won't soon forget.

St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site begins new dig for prehistoric fossils and bones
Gabriela Fletcher, KSL.com | Posted March 7 - 6:18 a.m. | Save Story
The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site is starting a new dig in an area where dinosaur bones were previously found, and experts hope it will reveal new insights.

Beaver Mountain prepares for 85th anniversary celebration
Mike Anderson, KSL-TV | Posted March 6 - 10:31 p.m. | Save Story
The longest run continuously family-owned ski resort in the US is now almost 85 years old. They're preparing for celebrations starting this weekend.

Utah adds $50K for dust monitoring after initially skipping it in budget
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated March 6 - 5:51 p.m. | Save Story
Utah lawmakers have opted to spend at least some money toward monitoring dust issues, following concerns brought up by environmental researchers.

Warning issued for 3-day storm that could bring 'impressive' rain, snow totals to Utah
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted March 5 - 10:59 a.m. | Save Story
A storm headed to Utah could produce 1-3 feet of snow in the mountains across the state, along with strong rain totals in the valleys, between Wednesday and Friday.

Utah Avalanche Center launches new mobile app focused on backcountry safety
Shara Park, KSL-TV | Posted March 4 - 9:33 p.m. | Save Story
The Utah Avalanche Center launched a new, more comprehensive app that focuses on being a powerful source of information on Utah's backcountry.

Utah's former environmental leader tapped to oversee Salt Lake City's outdoor gems
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted March 3 - 8:00 p.m. | Save Story
Kim Shelley, who recently stepped down as director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, is now in line to oversee public lands in the state's capital city.

Meteorological winter is over. These were Utah's snowpack winners and losers
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted March 3 - 4:49 p.m. | Save Story
Utah's meteorological winter was a mixed bag, as some basins ended the season with snowpack totals near or above normal while others ended the season with record lows.

Cliffrose Trail expands with 20 more miles of multiuse paths in Washington County
Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News | Posted March 3 - 9:33 a.m. | Save Story
Phase two of the Cliffrose Trail system has recently been completed and offers sweeping views of Snow Canyon State Park's sandstone, Pine Valley Mountain's greenery and Zion National Park's silhouette.

Advisories issued for winter storm that will deliver 'active' start to Utah's meteorological spring
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated March 2 - 2:16 p.m. | Save Story
The next storm headed Utah's way has the potential to deliver over a foot of snow in some mountain areas.

Salt Lake City exploring new treatment options for diseased and infected trees
Shelby Lofton, KSL-TV | Posted March 2 - 8:31 a.m. | Save Story
Some of Salt Lake City's most beloved trees are actually sick. City officials are trying new methods to help diseased sycamore and London plane trees.

Increased visitation at Antelope Island State Park prompts new visitor center
Alex Cabrero, KSL-TV | Posted March 1 - 4:14 p.m. | Save Story
Antelope Island State Park in Utah has been experiencing record visitation in the past four years, prompting park managers to build a new visitor center to help handle the growing crowds.

A UVU nature and research center for Utah Lake may get legislative lift
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted March 1 - 10:40 a.m. | Save Story
A legislative measure which gives a nod to a new nature and research center affiliated with Utah Valley University and focused on all things Utah Lake passed the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment committee earlier this week.

Utah County seeks land swap, greater control over area surrounding Bridal Veil Falls
Andrew Adams, KSL-TV | Posted Feb. 28 - 2:02 p.m. | Save Story
Utah County leaders are trying to make a deal with the U.S. Forest Service to get greater control over the area near Bridal Veil Falls.

Utah officials investigate after 11 raptor species were illegally killed in Beaver County
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 27 - 6:03 p.m. | Save Story
State wildlife officers say they're asking for the public's help as they investigate a string of illegally killed bird species in southern Utah.

Great Salt Lake to benefit again as controlled releases resume at Utah Lake
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 26 - 5:02 p.m. | Save Story
Utah Lake is poised to deliver another boost to its northern neighbor, the Great Salt Lake, this year.

'I thought he was dead': Father, son recall Midway avalanche they caught on camera
Debbie Worthen, KSL-TV | Posted Feb. 26 - 6:17 a.m. | Save Story
A father and son's harrowing story of a near-death experience — an avalanche while snowmobiling caught on film.

Photos capture 'significant' rockslide in Zion National Park
Cassidy Wixom, KSL.com | Updated Feb. 25 - 6:51 p.m. | Save Story
The main road in Zion National Park has reopened after a rockslide forced its closure Monday. Visitors who were in the park at the time shared images of the rockfall with KSL.

Could beloved federal recreation spots become Utah state parks?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 25 - 5:04 p.m. | Save Story
A wide-ranging resolution could create at least three new state parks through federal agreements, while outlining a way for Utah to pay for deferred maintenance at national parks.

New facility at Mantua Fish Hatchery boosts fish egg production
Alex Cabrero, KSL-TV | Posted Feb. 22 - 6:29 p.m. | Save Story
The Mantua Fish Hatchery recently expanded its operations with a new facility designed specifically for producing fish eggs.

Salt Lake City accepts $2.2M grant in pursuit to preserve 200 acres of Great Salt Lake wetlands
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 22 - 5:42 p.m. | Save Story
Utah's capital city officially received a financial boost as it seeks to preserve 200 acres of wetlands by the shores of its namesake.

Utah's meteorological winter has been a mixed bag. What is forecast for spring?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 22 - 10:06 a.m. | Save Story
Long-range models suggest meteorological spring could produce some of the same trends as meteorological winter.

What every backyard chicken owner needs to know about bird flu
Lois M. Collins, Deseret News | Posted Feb. 22 - 7:17 a.m. | Save Story
As the popularity of keeping backyard and urban chicken flocks grows, experts warn that bird flu can pose a risk to your feathered friends — and by extension, a small risk to you.

NPS restores some jobs of fired employees, pledges to hire 7,700 seasonal workers
Matthew Daly, Associated Press | Updated Feb. 21 - 9:55 p.m. | Save Story
The Trump administration is restoring jobs for dozens of fired National Park Service employees and hiring nearly 3,000 additional seasonal workers, following an uproar over an aggressive plan to downsize the agency.

Warnings, advisories issued as incoming storm could cause Utah travel headaches
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated Feb. 19 - 9:04 p.m. | Save Story
Utah's snowpack will get at least one more boost before warmer and drier conditions return, but the next storm could also cause some commute impacts.

Utah braces for below-normal snowpack runoff
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 19 - 3:08 p.m. | Save Story
State water managers are bracing for a below-normal runoff across most of the state as the state's snowpack melts this spring.

Town at entrance to Zion National Park faces traffic woes amid federal worker cuts
Alex Cabrero, KSL-TV | Posted Feb. 19 - 7:41 a.m. | Save Story
With the recent decrease in park workers due to federal cuts, the mayor of Springdale, Washington County, noted that only one entry lane into Zion National Park was open, resulting in significant traffic congestion.

How is the Great Salt Lake doing right now? A new 'live' billboard will tell you
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 17 - 9:00 p.m. | Save Story
A water conservation group hopes that a new "live" billboard will help drive home that the lake still has a long way to go before it's out of danger.

Lost backpack helps stranded father and son survive night on mountain near Ivins
Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News | Posted Feb. 17 - 5:50 p.m. | Save Story
A lost backpack aided a local father and son stranded overnight on the top of Red Mountain near Ivins.

Utah Rep. Maloy pushes to undo Biden-era rule allowing Forest Service to enforce state laws
Cami Mondeaux, Deseret News | Posted Feb. 17 - 5:05 p.m. | Save Story
A pair of lawmakers are pushing to undo a rule that allows the U.S. Forest Service to enforce state laws, arguing that ability will cause mass confusion and pave the way for government overreach.

Golf is on the rise in Salt Lake City, but it may cost more to play a round
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 17 - 7:15 a.m. | Save Story
Golf is about as popular as ever across Salt Lake City's six public courses, but it may soon cost a little more to hit the links in Utah's capital city.

Advisory issued as more snow arrives in Utah; avalanche warnings persist
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 16 - 10:17 a.m. | Save Story
Some of Utah's mountain ranges could get another foot of snow after impressive numbers in the last few days.

Snowmobiler who survived 3 avalanches warns of backcountry danger
Erin Cox, KSL-TV | Posted Feb. 15 - 10:33 p.m. | Save Story
Avalanche conditions are very dangerous over President's Day weekend as snow continues to fall. Forecasters with the Utah Avalanche Center issued warnings for much of the state about heading into the backcountry.

Humpback whale briefly swallows kayaker in Chilean Patagonia — and it's all captured on camera
Associated Press | Posted Feb. 14 - 9:03 a.m. | Save Story
A humpback whale briefly swallowed a kayaker off Chilean Patagonia before quickly releasing him unharmed.

Winter storm warnings issued across Utah ahead of incoming atmospheric river
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated Feb. 13 - 9:17 a.m. | Save Story
An incoming atmospheric river is expected to have the biggest widespread impacts of any storm this season, delivering up to 2 feet of snow or more across many mountain regions.

Bird flu found in wildlife across 10 Utah counties since November
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 13 - 8:43 a.m. | Save Story
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officials say the avian flu has been detected in wild species across 10 counties over the past few months.

Skijoring competition back in Utah this weekend
Dennis Romboy, Deseret News | Posted Feb. 12 - 7:11 p.m. | Save Story
Thousands of people got a taste of the fast and furious sport of skijoring at a downtown Salt Lake City exhibition last Saturday, but the real competition heats up this weekend in Heber City.

Red Bull to bring high-flying soapbox derby to Utah Capitol grounds
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 12 - 6:02 p.m. | Save Story
Red Bull is set to bring its zany soapbox derby to Utah for the first time later this year — and Utahns can register to participate.

Salt Lake City set to explore 'next phase' of cherished 143-year-old Liberty Park
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 12 - 12:11 p.m. | Save Story
Liberty Park is in line for a facelift as it nears its 150th birthday, but what that will be has yet to be decided.

Forecasters warn about conditions after deaths, avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon
Andrew Adams, KSL-TV | Posted Feb. 10 - 9:54 p.m. | Save Story
Forecasters were cautioning Monday about potential avalanche risks following a deadly weekend and a large new avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon where nobody was caught.

Uphill, in the snow: Why this laborious ski trend is booming at US resorts
Terry Ward, CNN | Posted Feb. 9 - 10:31 p.m. | Save Story
"Earning your turns" usually requires using specialized ski equipment made for traveling uphill. But a less extreme, fitness-oriented version of "uphilling" is on the rise within resort boundaries at U.S. ski resorts.

As many as 25,000 grebes killed by bird flu within Great Salt Lake, Utah officials say
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Feb. 9 - 2:31 p.m. | Save Story
Utah wildlife officials estimate 15,000 to 25,000 eared grebes have died in recent months from a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak across the Great Salt Lake.

Missing 14-year-old in 'good spirits' after being rescued near Utah-Idaho border
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated Feb. 9 - 1:03 p.m. | Save Story
A 14-year-old boy was found safe Sunday morning following a frantic search along the Utah-Idaho border that started after he was reported missing on Saturday.

Will Big and Little Cottonwood canyons become state parks?
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted Feb. 9 - 9:58 a.m. | Save Story
A state senator wants to work with the federal government on land trades and facility acquisitions to create two new state parks — one for Big Cottonwood Canyon and another for Little Cottonwood Canyon.

2 avalanches, 1 fatal, reported in Big Cottonwood Canyon and Park City
Collin Leonard, KSL.com | Updated Feb. 9 - 9:43 a.m. | Save Story
One person was killed in an avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon Saturday. Another was buried in a slide near the Dutch Draw area of Park City, but was dug out by two fellow skiers.
