Mission

Use flight to educate and advocate for the America's Red Rock Wilderness Act with SUWA and the Zuni Tribe.

The San Rafael Swell rises several thousand feet from the surrounding desert lowlands and is crisscrossed by seemingly endless canyons, mesas, and tilted strata. This large, kidney-shaped uplift is a major geographic feature of south central Utah and is home to sacred cultural sites spanning thousands of years. Additionally, the varied elevations and topography support desert ecosystems ranging from riparian corridors to broad grasslands across 700 square miles. This varied landscape offers exceptional recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, boating, and technical canyoneering where people from around the world can experience solitude and adventure while making meaningful connections to the landscape.

We began our flight in Green River and headed towards the massive flatirons of the Eastern Swell. Passing by Mexican Mountain, we peered down into the shadowy Black Box Canyons of the San Rafael River, getting a broad perspective on lands that were permanently protected as designated Wilderness areas through the hard work of many devoted individuals and organizations back in 2019. Coming into view from the north we could see Buckhorn Wash - the home of one of the most significant pictograph panels in the entire region. As we turned southward, the morning light on the Western Swell highlighted the complex terrain and kaleidoscope of colors characteristic of the Eagle Canyon and San Rafael Knob Wilderness Study Areas - places currently under consideration for protection in America's Red Rock Wilderness Act. This important piece of legislation would protect over 8 million acres containing sacred cultural sites, irreplaceable wildlife habitat, and help curb global climate change. We also saw important riparian areas like Muddy Creek and some of the consequences of uranium mining in the areas like Tomsich Butte and Temple Mountain- a testament to the value and importance of protecting our public lands for generations to come.

EcoFlight’s partners are working to protect areas still at risk from development and environmental degradation with tools like wilderness designation and thoughtful travel management plans. This is critically important because human-caused climate change is intensifying aridity, placing stress on wildlife and vegetation communities. Additionally, unfettered off-highway-vehicle use can endanger sensitive cultural sites and lead to increased erosion and environmental degradation.

Photos from the flights.