{"id":15239,"date":"2014-06-20T03:45:25","date_gmt":"2014-06-20T09:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=15239"},"modified":"2025-09-08T15:50:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T20:50:29","slug":"san-rafael-swell-state-park-or-national-monument-designation-in-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/06\/20\/san-rafael-swell-state-park-or-national-monument-designation-in-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"San Rafael Swell – State Park or National Monument Designation In The Future?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheThe San Rafael Swell<\/span><\/p>\n

I have a fondness for the San Rafael Swell area of Emery County, Utah. I’ve posted about it before with images of the scenery there, some of the birds I see and photograph in the area and I’ve even posted images of a Midget Faded Rattlesnake<\/span><\/a> that made me jump backwards about 8 feet when I unknowingly got so close to it that it rattled at me.<\/p>\n

I also wrote about it asking people to sign a petition to stop the sale or leasing of land within the Swell for oil and gas drilling<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you don’t love deserts, dry washes, canyons, petroglyphs<\/span><\/a>, hoodoos, mesas, hidden valleys, reefs, cliffs or sandstone you might want to stop reading here.<\/p>\n

But I do, I am fascinated by the area and by\u00a0all of the geological features and creatures found there. Juan Palma, BLM Director pulled those oil leases back in November and\u00a0I felt joy about that announcement. \u00a0I was relieved that the area wouldn’t be subjected to the pollution, noise and habitat destruction that oil drilling causes.<\/p>\n

I also felt\u00a0trepidation about the San Rafael Swell area\u00a0because nothing within this state that is filled with stones is written in stone except the ancient pictographs and petroglyphs.<\/p>\n

\"MaleLazuli Bunting in the San Rafael Swell<\/span><\/p>\n

I have hoped that President Obama would finally give the San Rafael Area the long awaited designation of becoming a National Monument. That would protect this area for everyone.<\/p>\n

That hasn’t happened… yet. I still have hope about that. Earlier this week though the Salt Lake Tribune ran a story about the possibility of Utah’s State Park expanding the boundaries of Goblin Valley State Park into the San Rafael Area.<\/p>\n

My first preference would be the National Monument designation but the Swell could also be protected by becoming part of the state park system.<\/p>\n

I truly hope that this beautiful desert gem can be protected. The area deserves to be.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

See these two articles in the Salt Lake Tribune:<\/p>\n

Utah studies expanding Goblin Valley State Park into San Rafael Swell<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Trib Talk: Goblin Valley expansion in the works?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I also felt trepidation about the San Rafael Swell area because nothing within this state that is filled with stones is written in stone except the ancient pictographs and petroglyphs. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":154919,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1012,380,1015,26],"tags":[4471,4083,6530,5817,195,3466,988,8172,10047,10052,10049,3430,1828,10048,2599,4035,333,2517,10050,10051,2600],"class_list":["post-15239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-emery-county","category-lazuli-buntings","category-san-rafael-swell-area","category-utah","tag-bird-watching","tag-birding","tag-bunting","tag-buntings","tag-canyons","tag-cliffs","tag-conservation","tag-deserts","tag-dry-washes","tag-geological-feature","tag-hidden-valleys","tag-hoodoos","tag-lazuli-bunting","tag-mesas","tag-national-monument-designation","tag-nature-photography","tag-petroglyphs-2","tag-preservation","tag-reefs","tag-sandstone","tag-state-park"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/san-rafael-swell-mia-mcpherson-1616.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-3XN","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6192,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/09\/26\/lazuli-buntings-near-the-san-rafael-river\/","url_meta":{"origin":15239,"position":0},"title":"Lazuli Buntings Near The San Rafael River","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 26, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I have enjoyed photographing Lazuli Buntings (Passerina amoena) near the San Rafael River at the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area. These images were taken in the spring when the males were high on perches singing to attract females.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Morning at the San Rafael River campground, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/san-rafael-swell-mia-mcpherson-5166.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/san-rafael-swell-mia-mcpherson-5166.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/san-rafael-swell-mia-mcpherson-5166.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/san-rafael-swell-mia-mcpherson-5166.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1633,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2010\/12\/15\/lazuli-bunting-males\/","url_meta":{"origin":15239,"position":1},"title":"Lazuli Bunting Males","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 15, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Male Lazuli Buntings resemble bluebirds but they are smaller and the blues are a different hue than the Mountain, Eastern and Western Bluebirds.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lazuli Bunting male perched on Greasewood, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lazuli-bunting-male-mia-mcpherson-pigweed-4407.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lazuli-bunting-male-mia-mcpherson-pigweed-4407.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lazuli-bunting-male-mia-mcpherson-pigweed-4407.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lazuli-bunting-male-mia-mcpherson-pigweed-4407.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8133,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/04\/17\/shades-of-blue-wildflowers-birds-sky-and-sea\/","url_meta":{"origin":15239,"position":2},"title":"Shades of Blue – Wildflowers, Birds, Sky and Sea","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week I was Thinking Pink so this week I thought I would focus on the shades of blues found in wildflowers, birds, the sky and seas.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great Blue Heron in the Gulf of Mexico at Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-adult-mia-mcpherson-5727.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-adult-mia-mcpherson-5727.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-adult-mia-mcpherson-5727.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-adult-mia-mcpherson-5727.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10127,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/11\/04\/the-san-rafael-swell-blm-keep-oil-and-gas-drilling-out-and-keep-the-wilderness-intact\/","url_meta":{"origin":15239,"position":3},"title":"The San Rafael Swell – BLM Keep Oil And Gas Drilling Out And Keep The Wilderness Intact","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"More environmental studies are needed before these lands in the San Rafael Swell are leased, before a well is drilled. Before it is too late to save a species from extinction.","rel":"","context":"In "Rattlesnakes"","block_context":{"text":"Rattlesnakes","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/rattlesnakes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Petrified sand dune in the San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/san-rafael-swell-sculpted-by-time-mia-mcpherson-2259.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/san-rafael-swell-sculpted-by-time-mia-mcpherson-2259.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/san-rafael-swell-sculpted-by-time-mia-mcpherson-2259.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/san-rafael-swell-sculpted-by-time-mia-mcpherson-2259.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1389,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2010\/11\/20\/utah-rocks-really\/","url_meta":{"origin":15239,"position":4},"title":"Utah Rocks – Really!","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 20, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"The Fremont and Barrier Canyon cultures created this rock art on the face of the rock wall at Buckhorn Wash in the San Rafael Swell area of Utah","rel":"","context":"In "Buckhorn Wash"","block_context":{"text":"Buckhorn Wash","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/buckhorn-wash\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Buckhorn Wash - The Alcove Paintings, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/alcove-paintings-mia-mcpherson-san-rafael-swell-pictograph-utah-1853.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/alcove-paintings-mia-mcpherson-san-rafael-swell-pictograph-utah-1853.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/alcove-paintings-mia-mcpherson-san-rafael-swell-pictograph-utah-1853.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/alcove-paintings-mia-mcpherson-san-rafael-swell-pictograph-utah-1853.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5134,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/06\/03\/juvenile-common-raven\/","url_meta":{"origin":15239,"position":5},"title":"Juvenile Common Raven","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This bird is easily identifiable as a juvenile Common Raven because of the short tail, the pink on the gape and the violet-blue eyes.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Common Raven juvenile back view with a head turn, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/common-raven-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3162.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/common-raven-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3162.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/common-raven-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3162.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/common-raven-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3162.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15239\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/154919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}