National Park Service acquires land adjacent to Idaho’s City of Rocks National Reserve – Idaho Capital Sun

Officers with the Nationwide Park Service introduced Wednesday they’ve acquired 105 acres of land adjoining to Metropolis of Rocks Nationwide Reserve.

The land is situated alongside the northeastern boundary of Metropolis of Rocks in Graham Canyon and consists of Prepare Rock and different granite outcrops, a portion of Graham Creek, aspen groves and moose habitat, in accordance with a press launch issued by the Nationwide Park Service.

On prime of the Nationwide Park Service land acquisition, officers introduced the Idaho Division of Parks and Recreation is buying a further 260 adjoining acres that had been held by The Conservation Fund nonprofit. 

Collectively, the 2 purchases will add greater than 360 acres of public leisure entry to the Graham Canyon space. 

“This buy has been a superb instance of federal and state companies, The Conservation Fund, and personal landowners coming collectively to protect an space of distinctive magnificence and pure and cultural sources,” mentioned Tara McClure-Cannon, appearing superintendent of the Metropolis of Rocks Nationwide Reserve, in a written assertion. “This buy additionally establishes new leisure entry for the general public in southern Idaho. The general public can begin having fun with the property instantly, nevertheless, the brand new entry street isn’t slated to be constructed till summer season 2023. These seeking to expertise the brand new property will be capable to hike in alongside the proposed entry easement from the county street on the east facet or hike in from Indian Grove.” 

The general public could acquire a map of the brand new property from the Metropolis of Rocks customer middle. If circumstances are proper this winter, the brand new land might present choices for cross-country snowboarding and snowshoeing within the coming months, Nationwide Park Service officers mentioned. 

Metropolis of Rocks is situated close to Almo, Idaho, simply north of Idaho’s border with Utah. The world attracts climbers, backpackers and hunters and is thought for the tall spires and steeple rocks that emigrants noticed on the California Path, which handed via what’s now Metropolis of Rocks.