Bears Ears National Monument Faces Drastic Reduction, Threatening Wilderness and Cultural Heritage

Published July 16, 2026, 09:06 PM, Salt Lake City, UT – In a move that has ignited fierce debate and legal challenges, the White House has once again initiated efforts to drastically shrink Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. This marks the second significant attempt to diminish the monument’s boundaries in less than a decade, following an initial reduction in 2017 that was later reversed. The latest executive order, issued on July 12, 2026, proposes to cut Bears Ears by a staggering 91 percent, a decision that raises profound questions about the future of this iconic landscape and its irreplaceable cultural and natural resources. Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy, drawing on his extensive experience covering the monument since its inception, offers a comprehensive breakdown of five critical aspects that hikers and concerned citizens must understand regarding this unfolding controversy.

The scale of the proposed cuts is difficult to fully comprehend, affecting approximately 1.2 million acres. To put this into perspective, this vast area is roughly equivalent in size to Grand Canyon National Park. This reduction would effectively carve out significant portions of land that contain some of the most cherished and culturally significant sites within the monument. Among the prominent areas now slated to fall outside the monument’s protection are Grand Gulch, a renowned destination for backcountry hikers and backpackers, and Cedar Mesa, a region celebrated for holding one of the densest concentrations of Ancestral Puebloan architecture in the United States. Furthermore, Cheesebox Canyon, a breathtaking slot canyon, and Valley of the Gods, a sweeping scenic valley reminiscent of the grandeur of Monument Valley, would also be excluded. These omissions are not merely geographical; they represent a potential loss of access and an increased risk of degradation to sites that hold immense historical and spiritual value.

A primary, albeit contentious, driver behind the repeated efforts to shrink Bears Ears National Monument appears to be the potential for mineral extraction. Since the monument’s initial designation in 2016, opponents have frequently argued that its protected status obstructs access to valuable mineral deposits. While the precise extent of these deposits remains a subject of debate, historical exploration and renewed interest in certain minerals have fueled this argument. In 2017, the Trump administration explicitly cited mineral resources as a key justification for its boundary revisions. The current executive order continues this narrative, enumerating "critical minerals such as silver, copper, molybdenum, lead, uranium, vanadium, and zinc" as central motivations for reducing the monument’s size. The potential for increased mining activity in these areas, particularly uranium, carries a heavy historical burden.

The legacy of uranium mining in southeastern Utah is a complex tapestry woven with economic prosperity and devastating health consequences. During the mid-20th century, uranium mining provided a vital economic lifeline for communities like Monticello, which hosted a uranium mill from 1943 to 1960. However, for decades following the mill’s closure, residents of Monticello and surrounding areas experienced significantly elevated rates of certain cancers, a stark reminder of the environmental and health toll of unchecked resource extraction. The town of Moab also bears witness to this history, with the Atlas Mill processing uranium before its bankruptcy in 1998, leaving taxpayers to shoulder the substantial cost of environmental cleanup. The prospect of revitalized mining operations raises deep-seated concerns among local residents who have directly experienced the detrimental effects of such industries.

Beyond the territorial reductions, the latest executive order introduces a fundamental shift in how Bears Ears National Monument is managed. The original designation in 2016 by the Obama administration established the Bears Ears Commission, an independent advisory body composed of representatives from the five Native American tribes that originally petitioned for the monument’s creation: the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Ute Mountain Ute, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. This commission was designed to ensure that the federal government would consult with and incorporate the perspectives of these tribes, whose cultural and spiritual connection to Bears Ears is profound and millennia-old. The commission was intended to serve as a vital mechanism for co-management and informed decision-making, granting these ancestral stewards a direct voice in the stewardship of their heritage.

The current executive order, however, dismantles this collaborative framework. It proposes to expand the advisory committee to 15 members, diluting tribal representation to five seats. The remaining ten seats would be allocated to individuals representing local and county governments (four seats) and those directly appointed by the governor of Utah (six seats). These governor-appointed positions are intended to represent groups such as cattle ranchers, private landowners, and off-road vehicle operators. Given that many of these groups, along with the Utah state government and its congressional delegation, have historically opposed the monument’s designation and protections, this restructuring could fundamentally alter the monument’s management, potentially prioritizing extractive and recreational interests over the preservation of cultural and natural resources. This shift represents a significant departure from the principles of tribal co-management that were central to the monument’s establishment.

Understanding local opinion on Bears Ears National Monument reveals a complex and often contentious landscape, far more nuanced than a simple dichotomy of support and opposition. A primary argument against the monument’s designation has been that it was imposed without adequate consideration for local sentiment. Indeed, the governments of several towns within San Juan County, including Bluff, Blanding, and Monticello, have consistently voiced opposition to maintaining Bears Ears as a national monument. San Juan County itself has frequently, though not monolithically, opposed its designation.

However, this narrative omits critical dimensions of "local" perspective. The definition of who constitutes a "local" voice in this context is itself a deeply debated issue. Bears Ears National Monument directly abuts the ancestral and current lands of several tribes, including the Navajo Nation and portions of the Ute Mountain Ute reservation. These tribes, along with the Hopi, Zuni, and Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, were the driving force behind the petition to create the monument and subsequently joined legal efforts to restore its original boundaries. Their deep historical and spiritual ties to the land undeniably render them integral stakeholders.

Furthermore, the question of geographical proximity and influence is also a factor. While Bears Ears is situated within San Juan County, the monument garners significant support from Grand County, located immediately to the north. Moab, the county seat of Grand County, lies approximately two hours from the core of Bears Ears. While this may seem a considerable distance, by the vast standards of southern Utah, it is akin to being in the adjacent town. The Grand County government has been a staunch advocate for Bears Ears, recognizing the vital role that public lands, including national monuments, play in its outdoor recreation-based economy.

Even within San Juan County, the sentiment has not always been uniformly opposed to the monument. The county commission’s political control has shifted periodically since the monument’s creation. A pivotal moment occurred in 2018, when a voting rights lawsuit led to the redrawing of electoral districts, resulting in the election of the county’s first-ever majority-Navajo commission. Following this shift, San Juan County’s stance evolved to support the designation of Bears Ears. Upon President Biden’s election, the county actively urged him to reinstate the monument’s original boundaries.

Examining public opinion across Utah as a whole provides further insight. While the state government and its congressional representatives have persistently fought against the establishment of Bears Ears, a broader segment of Utah’s population appears to hold a more favorable view. A poll commissioned by an environmental nonprofit in the preceding year revealed that an impressive 71 percent of Utah voters expressed support for preserving Bears Ears as a national monument, indicating a significant disconnect between the vocal opposition from state leadership and the sentiment of the general populace.

Given the history of legal challenges surrounding the monument’s status, it is highly probable that the latest executive order will once again be settled in the courts. When the Trump administration first reduced Bears Ears in 2017, a broad coalition of plaintiffs, including numerous environmental nonprofits, the five petitioning tribes, and the outdoor apparel company Patagonia, filed lawsuits. These legal battles were ongoing when President Biden took office and restored the monument, rendering the suits moot. However, several of these litigants have publicly indicated their intention to pursue legal action once more. Organizations such as Earthjustice and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance have confirmed to Backpacker magazine their plans to file suit.

Their core legal argument centers on the interpretation of the Antiquities Act of 1906. They contend that while the Act empowers presidents to establish national monuments, it does not grant them the authority to unilaterally shrink or rescind existing ones. Legal experts acknowledge that a literal reading of the statute appears to support this interpretation. However, they also note that courts have historically shown considerable deference to presidential power in matters of executive action. Consequently, the ultimate outcome of these legal challenges remains uncertain, with the potential for protracted litigation that could once again define the fate of Bears Ears National Monument.

For over a decade, Backpacker magazine has diligently followed the evolving landscape of Bears Ears National Monument, and this commitment to reporting on the status of America’s protected public lands will continue unabated. The ongoing efforts to alter the boundaries and management of Bears Ears underscore the persistent tension between conservation, tribal sovereignty, economic interests, and recreational access in the American West. As this complex narrative unfolds, the preservation of this extraordinary natural and cultural treasure hangs in the balance. For the latest updates on this critical issue and other developments concerning America’s national monuments, readers are encouraged to visit backpacker.com.