Mission

Educate elected officials on the importance of protecting national monuments in the region, and preserving contiguous habitat. Provide Tribal officials and Senator staffers an opportunity to discuss management for Grand Staircase-Escalante and other national monuments.

Our flight path took us over some of the most stunning and ecologically rich areas in the region—including Cottonwood Canyon, Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, Kodachrome Basin, the Paria-Hackberry Wilderness Study Area, the winding Paria River, and even a glimpse of the San Juan River. These intertwined features and landscapes are critical habitat for wildlife, treasured spaces for outdoor recreation, and hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning to many Indigenous communities.

Originally designated as a national monument in 1996 by President Clinton, Grand Staircase-Escalante was protected to preserve its vast scientific, ecological, and cultural value. It’s remarkable, remote, and rugged terrain also made it the last region in the lower 48 to be mapped, and remains one of the most biologically and archaeologically rich areas in the country. Unfortunately, protections were reduced in 2017, shrinking the national monument size in half, and opening the door to mining and other extractive threats. But with President Biden’s 2021 restoration, protections have been reinstated - once again safeguarding sacred lands, critical habitats, and thousands of years of human history.

EcoFlight is proud to be part of the effort to keep these lands wild, intact, and accessible for future generations. Thank you to our passengers for your time in the air - we hope it offered a deeper connection to these landscapes, and a new perspective on why they matter so much.

Click for photos from the flights and geo-referenced flight photos