Utah National Parks

Capitol Reef National Park’s fruit orchards — planted by Mormon pioneers — are a big attraction. But as old trees die and heirloom varieties become harder to find, the park is racing to preserve a juicy piece of Utah history.

Tourists continue to flock to parks in Utah and other southwestern states during the hottest months of the year, even as officials caution that hiking in extreme heat poses serious health risks.

The National Park Service is rolling out a plan to reroute oversized vehicles off the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, citing safety and the road’s infrastructure.

Window collisions are a big threat during spring bird migration. New window treatments going up at Zion National Park are part of a movement to reduce glass strikes.

The show at the Sears Art Museum in St. George runs through Jan. 12 and is the first in a series of planned exhibits that will spotlight Utah’s famous national parks.

The new shuttles are part of Zion’s long-term plan to manage growing visitor numbers while preserving the park’s natural beauty.

The new bus route is scheduled to begin next summer between St. George and the town of Springdale at the west entrance of Zion National Park. It's meant to make life easier for both tourists and residents.

A lithium exploration proposal near Canyonlands National Park in southeast Utah has prompted concerns about how the project would affect the area’s natural landscape.

Even with temperatures reaching well over 100 degrees, visitors continue to flock to Utah’s Zion National Park. That means park staff have to work extra hard to keep people safe.

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.

Utah is putting together its first-ever statewide strategic plan for funding and sustaining outdoor recreation. But first, it’s launching a series of tour stops to get local feedback from around the state as it pinpoints the challenges and opportunities the plan should address.