What’s needed to protect sage grouse? Less grazing.
Two tribes are proving that reducing the impact of cattle on landscapes may be the key to saving the iconic bird.
Trump’s call for deep-sea mining off Alaska raises Indigenous concerns
“Whatever happens in the ocean, it really does affect our way of life.”
Wise-guy wolves, trekking in drag, talented tarantulas and Bigfoot takes a bow
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Where giant kangaroo rats — and other critters — thrive
Thanks to concerted conservation, California’s Carrizo Plain is once again home to rare wildlife.
See the West’s rich geologic past
An illustrated timescale of Earth focuses on the region’s landscapes, flora and fauna.
The AI Age perpetuates fossil fuel burning
Ancient energy sources power the future.
An EPA proposal would make it harder for tribes to protect their water
The agency’s plan would narrow water quality reviews and eliminate one of the few ways that tribes can their enforce treaty rights.
Would you pay 1% more for wildlife?
A bill in the Oregon Legislature would tax tourists for conservation.
How to find deep time in Seattle
A geologist connects Earth’s history to the amazing stones that clad the city’s buildings.
The Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater have a surprising link
Mysterious driftwood high in Grand Canyon caves hints at the legacy of Arizona’s huge impact crater.
Three books explore deep time and help us look forward
The future has already happened.
‘Train Dreams’ is an ode to the lonely labor of forestry
In the new film adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella, I saw my own Forest Service career reflected back at me.
‘My history is a blip’
#iamthewest: Giving voice to the people that make up communities in the region.
Lawmakers call for an investigation into Interior’s Karen Budd-Falen
House Democrats are demanding an ethics probe into the high-ranking Interior appointee over her financial ties to the massive Thacker Pass lithium mine.
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High Country News Classifieds
- JOB ANNOUNCEMENT February 5, 2026 Open Position: Trail Crew Supervisor – Southern Sierra Are you passionate about environmental conservation and leading trail work? The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) is looking for someone with outdoor leadership experience in training and […]
In This Issue
February 2026: The Recording Artists
Our February issue swings from the rich musical and social history of Black people in Portland, Oregon, to the ongoing conflict between imperiled sage grouse and cattle grazing on the sagebrush steppe of the Western U.S. Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program is running into problems because…
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Water
‘We’re basically slitting our own throat’: Montana rolls back water-quality standards
Skimpy snow makes life worse for skiers — and everyone else
Top Interior Department official has ties to Thacker Pass lithium mine
Wildlife
Alaska’s public lands are a political battleground
How pronghorn outran the ice age
“Legend-dairy” mountain peaks, visiting bears and remembering a blubbery blowout
Public Lands
The nation’s trails are disappearing
Congress passes environmental funding without Trump’s deep cuts
6 takeaways from our public-lands grazing investigation
Indigenous Affairs
What does ‘time immemorial’ really mean?
We need to talk about the pretendians in our midst
Colorado cannot heal until it confronts Sand Creek honestly
Communities
Digging out in the Palisades Fire burn zone
A year after the Eaton Fire, permit delays keep Black families from returning
These Americans were prosecuted for voting
Books
National parks aren’t just for tourists. They’re an essential home for wildlife.
The fallout from Ruby Ridge
‘It’s a story of hope’: Reflections on undamming the Klamath
In the News
An age-old monument faces modern threats
Scientists say Grand Staircase-Escalante isn’t reaching its full research potential.