Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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While the National Park Service is being forced to turn visitors away due to a government shutdown, Maricopa County’s regional park system is welcoming individuals seeking recreational experiences in the Sonoran Desert. “While the folks in Washington remain at odds, we’re doing our jobs and will continue to remain open to the public. Not only are we here to provide services to our regular visitors, we’re also here to serve visitors who have been displaced by the shutdown of the National Park Se... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. -- On, Thursday, November 14, Grand Canyon National Park will be celebrating National Native American Heritage Month with special presentations and demonstrations. Each year, November is recognized as National Native American Heritage Month. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are a special part of the tapestry of our Nation's history. As keepers of a rich and ancient cultural heritage, Native Americans share with all of us the beauty of their art, power... Full story
After the success of the debut dates in the spring, Arizona State Parks' Arizona Family Campout Program has announced fall dates. The program is designed for families who have little or no experience camping. It will introduce them to outdoor experiences over one weekend at a state park and inspire them to continue to explore Arizona. The state parks that are participating this fall are Lost Dutchman in Apache Junction (Sept. 28-29 and Oct. 12-13), Kartchner Caverns in Benson (Oct. 5-6 and Oct.... Full story
(Phoenix, Arizona - September 13, 2013) - After the success of the debut dates in the spring, Arizona State Parks' Arizona Family Campout Program has announced fall dates. The program is designed for families who have little or no experience camping. It will introduce them to outdoor experiences over one weekend at a State Park and inspire them to continue to explore Arizona. The State Parks that are participating this fall are: Lost Dutchman in Apache Junction (September 28-29 & October...
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The National Park Service will begin eliminating turfgrass (lawns) around the historic El Tovar Hotel and adjacent rim lodges as part of a long-term plan to re-landscape the area with native vegetation consistent with the historic Grand Canyon Village rim landscape. Weather permitting; the two-day project will begin on Tuesday, September 17. The lawns, made up of Kentucky bluegrass, were planted in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when the Kachina and Thunderbird Lodge... Full story
Western Outdoor Times publishers note: This report by AZGFD concerns a highly controversial topic. There is much debate over this topic and other views and opinions are available from all sides. The following is a summary of Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project (Project) activities in Arizona on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) and Fort Apache Indian Reservation (FAIR) and in New Mexico on the Apache National Forest (ANF) and Gila National Forest (GNF). Non-tribal lands involved in... Full story
The Grand Canyon Association and Arizona Public Service are pleased to announce the 5th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art at Grand Canyon National Park Sept. 14, 2013- Jan. 20, 2014. This event features twenty-six artists from around the country who have created a studio piece for the exhibition and will paint plein air during the week before the exhibit opens. Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park will have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting... Full story
Escape The Heat! On-Site Volunteers Needed At Kartchner Caverns State Park On-site park volunteer opportunities are available at Kartchner Caverns State Park. Bring your RV and live at the park while volunteering this summer, 2013. The weather at Kartchner Caverns State Park is 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix and 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Tucson because of the 4,600 foot elevation. Volunteers are a vital and integral part of the programs at Kartchner Caverns State Park. Volunteering at... Full story
NEWPORT, R.I. (July 15, 2013) – Bringing together its signature combination of on-shore and on-the-water activities, the third edition of BACARDI® Newport Sailing Week presented by EFG Bank concluded this weekend with the 29th running of New England’s premiere one-design event – the Newport Regatta®. Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center, demonstrated its considerable logistical and race management skills in hosting the three-day event (July 12-14) that featured racing in 21 one-design classes: 2.4 Metre, 12 Metre, 49er, 505, A Ca... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga has announced the availability of two prospectuses for business opportunities in the park, to provide lodging, food services, grocery stores, retail, transportation, mule rides, an RV campground, a service station and other services on the South Rim. The two prospectuses released today outline these business opportunities, describe the existing businesses, and provide details on how to submit responsive proposals for e... Full story
The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department has initiated its annual fire ban as have other land-management agencies throughout Arizona. “This winter, portions of the Valley received a significant amount of rain. While the showers produced a beautiful wildflower season, they also increased fuel loads of ground coverage and brush in the parks, which intensifies the possibility of wildfires. As a precaution, the department began its annual fire ban after Memorial Day weekend,” said Maricop... Full story
You might have seen the “Don’t Move a Mussel” signs that have been at some statewide lakes. Now the Arizona Game & Fish Aquatic Invasive Species Program will be providing quagga mussel educational opportunities at Lake Pleasant, Bartlett Lake and Lake Havasu throughout the summer. In an effort to reduce the spread and introduction of this serious invasive species, the outreach efforts will encourage boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats. Remaining Sessions Following is a rundown of remai... Full story
Page, AZ – National Park Service dispatch received a report of a potential drowning Monday, June 24, at approximately 1:00 pm. The incident occurred near the entrance to Warm Creek Bay near buoy 12. The 61-year old male from Georgia is still missing. Officials from the National Park Service, Coconino and Kane County Sheriff’s offices are investigating and searching for the missing man. Further details will follow as they become available.... Full story
Grand Canyon, AZ – Grand Canyon National Park staff have completed repairs to the Trans-Canyon Water Pipeline. Crews are monitoring the re-pressurization of the pipeline, which should be completed by noon on Sunday, June 30. Xanterra South Rim LLC will resume operations Sunday; guests at Phantom Ranch are being advised that water restrictions may resume if another break occurs during re-pressurization. Visitors hiking to Phantom Ranch should be self-sufficient and be prepared to treat all d... Full story
Lake Havasu, Ariz. - As firefighters continue their efforts to contain major wildfires burning throughout the United States, the public is reminded that use of fireworks is always prohibited on Federal public lands and state trust lands in Arizona. Dry conditions have already prompted fire officials to issue fire restrictions and closures across Arizona. Any spark has the potential to ignite a new fire, and sending fireworks into the air could have devastating effects. “In addition to f... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – On Sunday June 30 at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a call from the emergency phone at Phantom Ranch Boat Beach with a report of an unconscious female hiker approximately three quarters of a mile above Phantom Ranch on the South Kaibab Trail within Grand Canyon National Park. Park rangers responding from the Phantom Ranch ranger station initiated CPR upon arriving on scene, but efforts to resuscitate the victim were u... Full story
Clean! Drain! Dry! The early spring discovery of 14 adult quagga mussels at Lake Powell is a crucial reminder to boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats after every use to help prevent the spread of these destructive invasive species. According to a National Park Service (NPS) mussel monitoring update, the NPS identified 14 adult quagga mussels attached to moored vessels and dock structures at the Wahweap Marina in Lake Powell. None of the adult mussels were close enough together to mate... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. - Grand Canyon National Park’s longtime volunteer Sjors Horstman recently received a Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Service Award – the highest volunteer award in the state of Arizona. The Arizona Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards were established in 2002 to recognize volunteer efforts that strengthen communities and improve quality of life for Arizonans. Each year, eight outstanding individuals and organizations are acknowledged in an effort to build an ethic o...
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area in Show Low, Ariz., will hold summer interpretive programs May 25 through August 31. These summer interpretive programs will include nature walks, programs about wildland firefighting and lecture programs ranging from the Old West to animal conservation. These programs are coordinated and presented by the US Forest Service in conjunction with Arizona State Parks, Arizona Game & Fish Department, Show Low Historical Society, and many others. Most programs take... Full story
The Grand Canyon Association and Arizona Public Service are pleased to announce the 5th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art at Grand Canyon National Park. This event features twenty-six artists from around the country who have created a studio piece for the exhibition and will paint plein air during the week before the exhibit opens. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch the artists paint as they seek to represent the shifting light and shadow, amazing land forms, and vibrant colors of... Full story
Phoenix) – The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department will initiate its annual fire ban on Tuesday, May 28. “This winter, portions of the Valley received a significant amount of rain. While the showers produced a beautiful wildflower season, they also increased fuel loads of ground coverage and brush in the parks which intensifies the possibility of wildfires. As a precaution, the department will initiate its annual fire after Memorial Day weekend,” said Maricopa County Parks and Recre... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – On Saturday, May 18th, 2013, over 500 people gathered to celebrate the trailhead renovation of one of Grand Canyon National Park’s oldest and most visited trails. The dedication ceremony, celebrated jointly by Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon Association was opened with a traditional welcome by tribal representative, Diana Sue Uquala from the Havasu nation. Superintendent Dave Uberuaga spoke of the significance of the renovations to the historic trail that in... Full story
PAGE, Ariz. — A new Personal Watercraft (PWC) regulation went into effect on January 1, which requires PWC operating on Lake Powell to meet 2006 emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The NPS delayed implementation of this regulation for ten years to minimize impacts to PWC owners and provide time for people to plan for this new requirement. “We are actively reaching out to the boating public about this change and will take the opportunity next summer to... Full story
A new National Park Service report shows that more than 10.1 million national park visitors in Arizona in 2011 spent $766 million and supported 12,886 jobs in the state. Nationwide, visitors to the 398 units of the National Park System had a combined $30 billion economic benefit that supported 252,000 jobs. The Arizona jobs figure is the nation’s second highest after California. “The national parks of Arizona are exceptional and diverse – from the Sonoran Desert borderlands of Organ Pipe Cactu... Full story
Tonto National Forest joins other federal agencies in offering fee-free days on public lands in 2013. The upcoming fee-free days honored by the forest are — • June 8, National Get Outdoors Day • Sept. 28, National Public Lands Day • Nov. 9-11, Veterans Day Weekend “Your national forests and grasslands are a bargain any day of the year, but even more so on fee-free days,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Whether you stay for a few hours or a few days, your public lands are some of the best travel bargains in the nation.” Trad... Full story