The National Park Service and Interagency Partners begin reopening public lands impacted by the Babylon Fire to support community access and safety

Contact: [email protected]

SAN JUAN COUNTY, UT - Public lands are integral to the communities, public and economy throughout San Juan County. As conditions on the Babylon Fire moderate, the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, in coordination with the U.S. Wildland Service, San Juan Sheriff, San Juan County Emergency Management, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Utah Highway Patrol and Monticello and Blanding officials are looking at every opportunity to reopen public lands where it is safe to do so while not impacting ongoing fire response.

Starting today, Friday, July 17, State Highway 211 will be open to the Canyonlands National Park Boundary (Needles District Entrance). Monticello Field Office of Bureau of Land Management Lands north of Highway 211 will be reopened. The Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest is reopening the area southeast of Blue Mountain Ranch Road (Forest Service Road 50082) and Recapture Road (Forest Service Road 50084). This includes all Forest Service lands, roads, and trails in that southeast area, including Devils Campground. This information will be under Monticello Ranger District Closure Order #04-10-26-05-03. Please note that this reopened area is still under Stage 2 fire restrictions. Finally, starting Saturday, July 18, at 8:00 AM, Needles District of Canyonlands National Park will be open to the public. Elephant Hill, Lavender, and Davis Canyon Roads will remain closed to motor vehicle traffic and bicycles.

Due to ongoing fire operations, fire impacts as well as potential flash flooding, closures remain in place for the Needles area of Canyonlands National Park, Monticello Field Office of Bureau of Land Management lands, and the remainder of the Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Current closures with maps and full information for these areas can be found here: Canyonlands National Park, Monticello Field Office, Monticello Ranger District.

We are excited to reopen these public lands for your use and enjoyment. As you enter these reopened areas, please be aware of increased fire traffic in the area. Over the next few weeks, these officials will coordinate to open additional areas for further use and enjoyment.

-NPS-

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