Bryce Canyon National Park

La cantidad de visitantes ha disminuido en todos los parques de Utah, impulsada por una baja en el turismo internacional. La incertidumbre económica y la retórica política podrían estar alejándolos, con grandes implicaciones para las economías locales que dependen de ellos.

Visitation is down at all of Utah’s parks, driven by a decline in international visitors. Economic uncertainty and political rhetoric may be keeping them away, with big implications for local economies that depend on them.

Millions of people visit Utah’s national parks for their awe-inspiring views, but air pollution often gets in the way. Federal moves to reverse emission-cutting policies could put the parks’ air even more at risk.

All but one of Utah’s Mighty Five national parks had an increase in visitors from the previous year. At the same time, concerns linger about how federal job cuts might impact park crowds.

An estimated 1,000 National Park Service employees have been fired so far. That includes at least 20 rangers, by one unofficial count, from Utah’s popular and busy national parks.

The February mass firing of National Park Service employees has hit parks in southern Utah, including Zion and Bryce Canyon. That’s spurring worries about long lines and crowds as the parks’ busy season ramps up.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the nationwide Christmas Bird Count. The data volunteers gather in Utah helps scientists understand how climate change and other factors threaten bird habitats.

Since 1906, all but three presidents have used the Antiquities Act to protect unique landscapes and cultural resources. Biden has signed off on six monuments and either restored or enlarged boundaries for a handful of others during his term.

The project in Zion National Park to rebuild the Kolob Canyons Road illustrates the challenges of maintaining infrastructure across southern Utah, where constant erosion is part of life.

The state has previously stepped in to fund park operations, something Gov. Spencer Cox said is critical for rural communities.

Bryce Canyon National Park Superintendent Jim Ireland said the park — one of the smallest in the country — is at the edge of what staff can manage with the current visitorship.

Bryce Canyon National Park is 100 years old, but the geology of the park has been forming for millions of years. Climate change and rising visitation could change what happens next.