Latest Updates on Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears
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In our last Redrock Report, we shared news of President Trump’s July 13 evisceration of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. Quite a lot has happened since then.
Mining Companies Chomp at the Bit
The ink was barely dry on the presidential proclamations when Kimmerle Mining filed 7 mining claims (the very next day) in areas cut out of Bears Ears National Monument (see map). Soon after, Craig Rosequist filed two mining claims on lands cut from Grand Staircase-Escalante (see map). The illegality of the monument reductions aside, the new proclamations don’t even allow the staking of mining claims until 60 days after the date of the proclamation, which is Friday, Sept. 11 (Read the New York Times coverage and see our full press release).
Monument Signs Disappear
Meanwhile, the Trump administration wasted no time attempting to erase both monuments from public awareness. First, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) removed signage from Bears Ears National Monument, starting with the Tribal seals representing the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Commission and quickly escalating to the complete removal of the monument signs themselves. By July 28, signs at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument had also been removed from at least five gateway locations.
The Backlash Builds
People in Utah and across the nation are fighting back. A week after Trump’s attack on the monuments, SUWA and our partners hosted a Statewide Monumental Day of Action in Utah, with over a thousand people turning out in 100-degree heat to attend events in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, Moab, St. George, Bluff, and Boulder. Meanwhile, the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalitions have strongly condemned the monument reductions, as have 37 senators who signed a letter to President Trump earlier this month.
SUWA will take Trump to court over these illegal reductions, as we did in 2017 (that case was not resolved by the time President Biden restored the monuments in 2021). We’re also ramping up efforts to promote America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, which would protect much of the land included in the monuments as wilderness. We’ll share updates as we continue to fight every day, and in every way we can, for the places we all love.
Photo © Ray Bloxham/SUWA
BLM Withdraws 10 New Backcountry Airstrip Designations
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Good news! After SUWA filed an appeal, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Canyon Country District withdrew its June 2026 decision approving 10 backcountry airstrips in the heart of Utah’s redrock country (this does not include the Keg Knoll airstrip approved in the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness).
These airstrips, which were never officially designated by the agency, are scattered across some of the most remote and ecologically sensitive landscapes in southern Utah—including the Gemini Bridges/Labyrinth Canyon area and the remote backcountry immediately adjacent to Bears Ears National Monument. Many are now reclaimed, with no signs of recent use. Though there was no formal public comment process, SUWA members submitted over 2,500 comments opposing the designations.
“This is a case of ‘better late than never.’ We’re glad to see the agency pull back its decision, which would have authorized more motorized use in remote, wilderness-quality landscapes,” said SUWA Wildlands Director Neal Clark. “BLM’s decision would have benefitted a handful of private pilots to the detriment of wildlife, native vegetation, and public lands users seeking quiet, backcountry experiences. We appreciate BLM’s reconsideration and will work to ensure that these airstrips are not authorized for use in the future”
>> Read our full press release
Photo © James Kay
New: Unique, Staff-Designed Sticker Packs Celebrate Utah’s Wild Places
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Looking for a new way to show your love for the redrock? Check out our brand-new stickers, designed by SUWA staffer Kelly Burnham. Each one features a different wild landscape: the Bridger Jacks in Bears Ears National Monument, the towering corridors of the Colorado River, toadstool hoodoos and black chinned hummingbirds in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and a burrowing owl hovering over rabbitbrush in the West Desert. Get a pack of all four for just $10! Find them on our website at suwa.org/shop.
Opportunities to Get Involved (in Salt Lake City) this Fall
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It’s shaping up to be a busy fall season for SUWA in Salt Lake City, with many ways for you to get involved! Volunteer with us at the 9th & 9th Street Festival on September 19, where we’ll connect with our neighbors about the fight to protect Utah’s wild places. Then, in celebration of National Public Lands Day, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on way to give back on September 26 at the Stansbury Island Clean Up. Finally, wrap up the season with us at the SLC Book Festival on October 17, where we’ll be spreading the word to fellow readers and community members about how protecting wilderness and public lands is the perfect way to get offline.
In early September (date and time TBD—stay tuned!), we’re also inviting our community to help us give the SUWA Headquarters office a little love. We’re transforming our front lawn into a water-conscious landscape and could use a few more hands digging and planting as we give some waterwise perennials a new home. At a time when so much is asked of us, we’re holding space for a little joy and a chance to slow down, get to know each other, and build something beautiful together.
These events are a great way to meet fellow wilderness advocates, learn more about SUWA’s campaigns, and show up for Utah’s wild places. Ready to sign up? Reach out to our Utah Organizer, Mimi Ortega, to grab a volunteer slot. Spots fill up fast, so don’t wait!
Photo © SUWA
Support SUWA and Live Local Theater at the Same Time!
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Come find SUWA tabling at Footpath Theatre Company’s production of Western Minerals & Their Origins, running its final Utah engagement from August 27-29 at Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City.
While clearing out her canyoneer brother’s garage, a young woman is pulled deep into memory and the redrock landscape that shaped her. Rhetorical Review calls it “a love letter to the canyons, to the outdoors, to Utah itself.” We hope to see you there!
