In the Four Corners region, among the rugged mountains, mesas and deep canyons of the high desert there are pockets of desert wilderness where the soil is the only thing standing between travelers and a wealth of ancient Pueblo artifacts. In these lands, the ancient Pueblo people once settled villages with hundreds of family farms. Today, the area is rich with evidence of their small communities, but it’s also a hotbed for those looking to profit from illegally selling this priceless cultural heritage. more

If you thought it was fun deciphering big game tracks on your last trip to the wild, you’re going to love this. A guided tour of dinosaur tracks embedded in sandstone millions of years ago is part of the 3rd annual Amazing Earthfest this year around Kanab, Utah. The festival runs May 17 to 23 with events designed to celebrate the magnificent landscapes, diverse ecology, and cultural heritage of the Colorado Plateau. more

This is the final installment of a four-part series on the beautiful, threatened Otero Mesa from New Mexico writer and Southwest Regional Office Administrative Assistant Zoe Krasney. more