Winter solstice is a time for planting seeds
At the turning of a season, a writer finds a sense of possibility.
Colorado cannot heal until it confronts Sand Creek honestly
To move forward, Coloradans must face the massacre’s trauma and begin to repair trust.
‘It is quite difficult to maintain a Colorado Christmas tree farm’
#iamthewest: Giving voice to the people that make up communities in the region.
Mexican wolves are rebounding, but are they ready for delisting?
A new bill from Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar looks to remove endangered species protections.
Going bananas in Portland, any portabella in a storm, and squirrels gone wild in California
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Washington approves over 99% of archaeological permits, records show
As tribes struggle to protect their heritage, the nation’s leading state archaeologist says she lacks the authority to stop development projects.
‘We’re basically slitting our own throat’: Montana rolls back water-quality standards
The EPA approved Montana’s weaker standards for nutrient pollution during the government shutdown.
Colorado wolves are on the move
Almost two years after reintroduction began, wolves are nearing the state’s southern and western borders.
Skimpy snow makes life worse for skiers — and everyone else
The sport may seem selfish, but it reminds us why good snowpack matters.
Top Interior Department official has ties to Thacker Pass lithium mine
Karen Budd-Falen’s family ranching operation agreed to sell water rights to the company developing the controversial Nevada lithium project.
Water across the West at risk as Trump targets national monuments
A new study found that about 83% of water passing through public lands uses monument designation for its only protection.
How the gaming economy helps tribes navigate shifting policies
Tribal sovereignty and prosperity are tied to gaming’s sovereign source of income.
Get to know the western spotted skunk
‘The stench kind of permeates everything’: What it takes to study a stinky, secretive skunk
National parks aren’t just for tourists. They’re an essential home for wildlife.
Pick up this new book on Yosemite for the photos but stay for the captivating animal stories.
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High Country News Classifieds
- JOB ANNOUNCEMENT December 12, 2025 Open Positions: Six Field Project Specialists Are you passionate about environmental conservation and connecting people to the outdoors? The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) is looking for someone with outdoor leadership experience in training and […]
In This Issue
December 2025: Wild Harvest
In an ambitious partnership with ProPublica, we revisit a topic that has occupied High Country News since our earliest days as a black-and-white tabloid — livestock grazing on the nation’s public lands. Forget romantic visions of lonesome cowboys; federal grazing programs today benefit a very,…
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Water
The big data center buildup
Will this threatened frog stop drilling near Denver?
Why Colorado River negotiations are so difficult
Wildlife
Congress made it easier to ignore grazing’s harm to public lands
The mystery of wildlife and a world beyond our understanding
The West’s vanishing porcupines
Public Lands
How ranchers accused of breaking the rules dodge oversight
The wealthy profit from public lands, and taxpayers pick up the tab
How we reported Free Range, our grazing investigation
Indigenous Affairs
Western climate litigants keep fighting
Can AI translate Native languages in times of disaster?
How I found hope while reporting on a metal fest
Communities
‘Our mission is to change the world through eco-cultural tourism’
Aspen ‘eyes’ keep us accountable to the natural world
Heavy metal is healing teens on the Blackfeet Nation
Books
The fallout from Ruby Ridge
‘It’s a story of hope’: Reflections on undamming the Klamath
Denver’s storied tradition of sex work, then and now
In the News
Indigenous people are an indivisible part of America
The story of Thanksgiving is about coming to terms with a difficult truth: the American experiment came at a great cost to Native Americans.