Apple Valley, Utah – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a 30-day public scoping period, beginning May 1st and concluding on May 30th, 2025, to gather input on a proposed management plan for camping and recreation on BLM lands west of Zion National Park. This area, accessed primarily via State Route 9 (SR9), includes popular destinations such as Hurricane Cliffs, Gooseberry Mesa, Canaan Mountain Wilderness, and the Smithsonian Butte Back Country Byway.
The proposal comes in response to a significant surge in visitation to the region, mirroring the 164% increase in Zion National Park’s visitor numbers between 2013 and 2023. The limited developed camping options within Zion and the BLM’s 56 designated dispersed sites have led to a substantial increase in unmanaged dispersed camping on BLM lands. This has resulted in growing concerns over environmental degradation, including soil compaction, vegetation loss, litter, and the accumulation of human waste.
The BLM’s stated purpose for this action is to provide sustainable, high-quality recreation opportunities, contain the impacts of unmanaged recreational use, and improve local resource conditions. The agency has identified a need to address the demand for developed camping and overnight visitation, improve areas negatively impacted by dispersed camping, and provide developed facilities for both current and anticipated future recreational use.
The proposed action outlines several key components:
Flagstone Quarry Campground: Construction of up to 150 campsites on 110 acres along Sheep Bridge Road, including restrooms, dumpsters, picnic areas, solar-powered host sites, and a trail connection. The adjacent community pit would be closed, and camping would be limited to designated sites with fees.
Flagstone Quarry Trailhead & Staging Area: Development of a year-round trailhead with parking for 60 vehicles, vault toilets, fencing, bike repair stations, and shaded picnic areas.
Gooseberry Mesa Campground: Creation of 80 campsites on 240 acres, each with fire rings, picnic tables, shade structures, and fencing. Camping would be restricted to designated areas with fees.
Gooseberry Mesa Designated Dispersed Campsites: Designation and improvement of up to 25 dispersed campsites with fire rings, tent platforms, picnic tables, signage, and fencing. Access roads to these sites will be upgraded or constructed and only designated fire rings will be permitted.
Overnight Dispersed Camping Restriction Area: Prohibition of dispersed camping on approximately 15,087 acres of BLM land between La Verkin and Zion National Park, with camping limited to designated areas only. Signage, fencing, and route restoration will support enforcement.
Restoration of Dispersed Campsites: Restoration of 30 previously user-developed dispersed campsites and other impacted areas through erosion control, seeding, recontouring, and route closures. Signage will be installed to protect these areas.
The BLM has identified several potential resource issues that will be considered in the environmental assessment, including water resources and quality, cultural resources, Native American concerns, paleontology, socioeconomics, floodplains, wetlands/riparian zones, wildlife (excluding USFW listed species), migratory birds, threatened and endangered plant and animal species, vegetation, livestock grazing, rangeland health, recreation, and visual resources.
The public is encouraged to participate in the scoping process by providing feedback and information relevant to the project. The BLM is specifically seeking input on the following questions:
What other alternatives should BLM consider?
What resources may be impacted by authorizing the project and what are the potential impacts?
What other projects might result from authorizing the project?
What environmental, economic, or other data should the BLM consider?
What cumulative activities or impacts are occurring in the area?
Should the BLM coordinate with any other people, groups, or agencies?
Comments can be submitted on or before May 30th, 2025, through the BLM’s ePlanning website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2037941/510.
Following the public scoping period, the BLM will use the gathered information to develop an Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzes the potential impacts of the proposed actions and any considered alternatives. A draft of the EA will be made available for public review and comment before the BLM finalizes the document and issues a decision.
