BLM Announces Increased Opportunities Through Recreation.gov
Ken’s Lake Campground, just a few miles south of Moab, is now reservable online through recreation.gov. Reservations are available and must be made through recreation.gov from March 1 through November 15 annually.
Reservations may be made up to six months in advance and will have a $6 transaction fee. Throughout the year, campsites that are not reserved will still be available for first-come/first-serve use with payment and self-registration on-site.
During the off-season, November 16 through February 28, campsites will not be available for reservation, only on a first-come/first-serve basis.
River Permits Available on Recreation.gov
In January 2020 private, non-commercial, river permits to float Westwater Canyon of the Colorado River transitioned to recreation.gov. Reservations are available 2 months in advance of the desired launch date year-round.
Reservations and changes to current reservations can be made 24/7, online through the recreation.gov platform. Refunds for cancellations are available up to two weeks prior to the launch date. The permit fee remained at $10 per person with a $6 transaction fee.
In January 2021 private, non-commercial, river permits to float the lower Dolores River from Gateway Colorado to Dewey Bridge Utah transitioned to recreation.gov.
There are no limits on the number of permits issued for the Lower Dolores River. The private permits are free and provide for resource-based stipulations such as the maximum group size of twenty-five people, carrying and using portable toilet systems and firepans. There is a $6 reservation fee.
Park Service Honors CNHA On NPS.GOV Websites
CNHA recently launched a direct donation program called “round-up.” When a visitor makes a purchase, the clerk asks if they’d like to round up their purchase total to the nearest whole dollar amount and donate the difference to the park. Many visitors agree as it doesn’t add much to their total. But this program brought in over $120,000 in 2019—100% of which went straight to funding SEUG parks.
Some of the projects CNHA funds with round-up money are:
- Canyon Country Outdoor Education (CCOE): CCOE provides schoolchildren in Grand and San Juan counties with field trips to their local national parks and public lands to foster understanding and appreciation of the region’s cultural and natural resources. CNHA round-up money helps fund buses, supplies, and paid interns for this program.
- Research Stewardship & Science: Park scientists study and monitor natural resources throughout the parks. CNHA round-up funded projects on the Green and Colorado rivers in 2019 and 2020, as well as programs on invasive species and supplies for further research.
- Astronomy Programs: CNHA round-up money purchased telescopes, red lights, and other educational materials for night sky programs so that visitors can better appreciate naturally dark skies. All four SEUG parks have been recognized by the International Dark Sky Association.
- Backcountry Safety Videos: These videos cover topics such as four-wheel driving, backpacking, climbing, rafting, and canyoneering in the park, to help visitors understand regulations and safety before their visit.
CNHA collects the donations through their round-up program, but they couldn’t do it without the generosity of park visitors like you. If you’ve shopped at a bookstore in one of these parks, thank you for your support! Your purchase allows Southeast Utah Group parks to do even more to protect and preserve canyon country. Click here to see the Arches National Park Partner Page.
This is an excerpt from the Canyonlands Natural History Association’s Member Newsletter. To find out more about CNHA and how to get your own copy delivered, visit the Canyonlands Natural History Association website.