Southwest Adventure Vacations News

Goblin Valley search and rescues surge as unprepared hikers risk flash floods

Goblin Valley rangers were called out almost every day as flash floods, heat and technical rescues stacked up in crowded slot canyons.

Jamie Taylor•2 min read•01:42 PM

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Phoenix firefighters conduct four Camelback Mountain rescues, close trails again

Four rescues shut down Camelback trails again as Phoenix Fire hit 70 mountain rescues for 2026, most during March’s heat wave.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

Bryce Canyon closes Wall Street side of Navajo Loop all week for hazards

Wall Street is shut on Navajo Loop, stripping out Bryce’s most dramatic chute. Hikers can still get canyon views, but they’ll need to pivot fast.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

Border wall construction closes Arizona Trail’s southern terminus through 2027

Border wall work has shut the Arizona Trail’s southernmost mile, blocking Border Monument 102 and the border-to-border finish photo many hikers chase.

Sam Ortega2m read

News

Utah Trail Projects Face Uncertainty as Federal Transportation Funding Expires

Utah's 3,100-mile trail plan could slow before its backbone is built, as federal transportation funding heads toward a September 30, 2026 cutoff.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Updates

Glen Canyon expands spring visitor services as Lake Powell season begins

Lake Powell’s spring reset brings back boat pump-outs, dump stations and showers at key hubs. Bullfrog’s clinic stays closed, so plan for your own backup.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

Two Buttes Reservoir Dried Up, Hurting Fishing and Outdoor Plans

A 700-acre basin in Baca County is bone-dry, erasing boating, fishing and wildlife-viewing plans at Two Buttes Reservoir State Wildlife Area.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Updates

White River approves access plan for south Tenmile Range trailheads

South Tenmile’s busiest trailheads now have a federal plan for parking, restrooms and trail fixes as annual visits top 237,000.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Updates

Grand County Advances Arches Shuttle Plan to Ease Moab Traffic

Grand County took a first step toward an Arches shuttle, but the big questions remain who pays, who approves it, and how it would work for Moab trips.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

Utah officials warn spring adventurers, cold water and weather still dangerous

Jordanelle’s 44-degree water and a string of rescues showed how fast a spring outing can turn into a hypothermia call.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

Utah canyon fall sends Moab hiker to trauma center after rope rescue

A spring-break hike near Pritchett Arch ended in a 70-to-80-foot fall, a rope rescue and a critical flight to a trauma center.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

Grand Canyon hikes nonresident fees, international visitors pay $100 more

International visitors now pay $120 to $135 per Grand Canyon visit, and a four-person trip can jump by $400 before lodging, food or shuttles.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

Southwest Colorado boat ramps reopen as low snowpack shortens season

Navajo’s ramp is open first, Sweitzer follows today, but 40-degree water and stiff wind can still flip an easy launch into a bad day.

Sam Ortega2m read

Community

TransRockies Moab Run the Rocks: Three-Day Stage Race on Moab Singletrack

TransRockies' Moab Run the Rocks sold out in three days, capping a 650-runner field across Navajo Rocks, Gemini Bridges and Bar M Trails for the March 6–8 stage race.

Nina Kowalski3m read

Analysis

Backcountry Camping Safety and Low-Impact Practices for Southwest Canyons

Pack smarter, pick campsites above drainage lines, and use stoves over campfires, these are the safety and low‑impact habits Southwest Adventure Vacations guides insist on for canyon and high‑basin trips.

Sam Ortega6m read

Analysis

Plan Your White Rim Road Trip With These Permits, Gear, and Timing Tips

Backcountry overnight permits for White Rim Road's spring season open November 10 on Recreation.gov, and missing that date means losing one of Utah's most remote 100-mile loops.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Analysis

Southwest Colorado and Utah Road Trips Pair Scenic Byways With Adventure Activities

Two of the American West's most dramatic landscapes become one seamless adventure when you link Southwest Colorado and Southeast Utah by road.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Plan Backcountry Camping and Lightweight Backpacking in Southwest Colorado Wilderness

Plan routes in the San Juan Mountains, Weminuche Wilderness, La Plata County backcountry and adjacent BLMs, prioritize weather windows and permit checks, and pack a lightweight kit built for high-elevation, variable conditions.

Nina Kowalski6m read

News

Cedar City earns IMBA Trail Town honor, boosting mountain biking appeal

Cedar City landed in IMBA’s first Trail Town class, giving riders more reason to stage a weekend around Iron Hills, Three Peaks and Brian Head. It is the only Utah city on the 28-town list.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

Salt Lake City revives foothill trail expansion with new zone plan

After a nearly five-year pause, Salt Lake City unlocked $200,000 and split its foothills into seven zones, reopening the path to new hikes above the city.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Updates

Cottonwood Pass Road reopens early for summer travel in western Colorado

Cottonwood Pass is open again, a month earlier than last year, but the shortcut still punishes oversized rigs and nervous drivers.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Analysis

Canyonlands Off-Road Guide: Permits, Gear, and Safety for Iconic Trails

Canyonlands demands a true low-range 4WD rig, not your AWD SUV — and that's just to get a permit. Here's everything you need before you turn off the pavement.

Sam Ortega8m read

Analysis

Pack Smart, Navigate Wild: Your Complete Guide to Southwest Backcountry Hiking

Surviving the Four Corners backcountry starts with what you leave behind — and knowing exactly what to bring instead.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Updates

Moab City Council Approves Sand Flats Road Multi-Use Pathway Project

Moab City Council voted unanimously to green-light a multi-use pathway along Sand Flats Road, a corridor heavily used by cyclists, hikers, and jeepers.

Jamie Taylor1m read

Updates

BLM Issues 2026 Raptor Avoidance Map for Indian Creek Climbing Corridor

Climbers visiting Indian Creek must avoid 12 named crags through the nesting season after the BLM’s March 4, 2026 raptor-avoidance map was issued effective immediately.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Experts Recommend the Best Hiking Boots of 2026 for Southwest Trails

Salomon Quest 4 GTX tops Yahoo Health’s roundup for all‑around Southwest trail duty, while Hoka Kaha 3 and Salomon X Ultra 5 split the support‑vs‑lightweight tradeoffs you’ll actually feel on steep, sandy routes.

Nina Kowalski7m read

Updates

Glen Canyon, Concessioners Coordinate Plans for Low Lake Powell Visitor Access

If you plan to boat or launch at Lake Powell in 2026, expect coordinated contingency planning by Glen Canyon managers, concessioners and state partners as reservoir elevations trend lower.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Updates

Arches National Park Drops Timed Entry Reservations for 2026, Opens Without Tickets

Visitors can drive into Arches without a timed-entry ticket this year; Arches announced Feb. 18, 2026 it will not require vehicle timed-entry reservations for 2026.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Updates

Waterton Canyon closes weekdays for dust-mitigation work, reopens weekends in May

Weekdays in Waterton Canyon go dark April 27-May 8, and the parking lot closes too. Weekend access returns May 2-3.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

Moab hike reveals hanging gardens and rare cave-dwelling primrose

Moab’s canyon walls hide living seeps, and spring is when cave primrose and hanging gardens are easiest to spot. Learn where to look, why they’re fragile, and how to visit without damaging them.

Nina Kowalski6m read