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About three weeks ago, the Babylon Fire broke out in southeastern Utah. The blaze prompted the National Park Service (NPS) to close areas of Canyonlands National Park to keep visitors safe. Now, as containment efforts near completion, the NPS has decided to reopen the Needles District while keeping other sites off-limits.
Canyonlands National Park Reopens Needles District After Babylon Fire Burns Over 107,000 Acres
On July 18, the NPS reopened the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park together with State Highway 211, the main road leading to this area. This district was closed on June 28 as the Babylon fire began to spread in areas near the park.
The Needles District was named after the colorful spires of the Cedar Mesa Sandstones, which resemble thick needles.
The federal agency urged all visitors to evacuate immediately and closed the Needles Visitor Center. In addition, the agency blocked the release of backcountry overnight and day-use permits along with reservations for the Needles Campground.
While the Needles District has now reopened to the public, other Canyonlands National Park sites remain closed. This includes Elephant Hill as well as Lavender and Davis Canyon Roads, which will remain off-limits for bikes and vehicles. This NPS site isn't the only protected area recently affected by the Babylon Fire.
More Protected Areas Reopen Near Canyonlands National Park
On Friday, July 17, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reopened the Monticello Field Office on Highway 211. In addition, the Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest has reopened the area southeast of Blue Mountain Ranch Road and Recapture Road. This includes both the Devils Campground and all Forest Service lands, roads, and trails in the southeast area.
It is crucial to note that these places are still under Stage 2 fire restrictions. According to the U.S. Forest Service, this means visitors are prohibited from igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using campfires both in and outside recreation sites, such as campgrounds and picnic areas. Smoking is also banned, along with other activities such as operating acetylene or other open-flame torches and using motor vehicles off established roads.
These restrictions are now in place to reduce the risk of wildfires amid dry conditions in the region. The Babylon Fire has already burned over 100,000 acres.
The Babylon Fire Has Already Burned Over 100,000 Acres
The U.S. Forest Service-Manti-La Sal National Forest published a post on Facebook stating that, as of July 18, theBabylon Fire is 82% contained and has burned a total of 107,173 acres. The fire started on June 26, 2026, and was caused by lightning.
"Containment on the Babylon Fire increased from 62% to 82% yesterday, with new progress achieved along the west and northeast perimeters. Crews continue constructing fireline, along with mop-up, actively patrolling, and suppression repair, focusing on the eastern edge of the fire and recently completed burnout areas," the post reads.
According to the post, workers are also focusing on road repair on the south and east sides of the fire, with crews having already constructed over 25 miles of fireline.
Babylon Fire Key Information (July 18, 2026)
"Firefighters continue to work around hazardous conditions, including fire-weakened trees and snags that can fall without warning. Despite recent rainfall, drought conditions, heavy fuel loading, and critically low fuel moisture continue to support rapid fire spread when winds increase," the post adds.
The Babylon Fire isn't the only wildfire that has recently affected NPS sites.
U.S. Wildfires Have Led To Several NPS Closures In 2026
In March 2026, the Rabbit Creek Fire forced temporary closures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These included the following:
- Rabbit Creek Trail from Abrams Creek Campground to Hannah Mountain Trail
- Cooper Road Trail from Abrams Creek Campground to Little Bottoms Trail
- Backcountry Campsite 16 (Scott Gap) and 93
- Abrams Creek Campground Road
More recently, in mid-May, Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park was closed after a massive fire, prompting the NPS to evacuate its staff. The blaze burned down over 18,000 acres, about one-third of the island. The fire was ignited after a 67-year-old sailor crashed his boat on the island's rocks. The boat soon caught fire, and the flames quickly spread to the nearby vegetation. Unfortunately, this led to significant damage to local flora.
Following the events, the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks wrote in a Facebook post, "The fire burned across roughly one-third of Santa Rosa Island, impacting grassland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and vulnerable island habitats. In moments like this, long-term inventory and monitoring programs give park staff the baseline they need to assess damage, track recovery, and understand impacts to rare, endemic, threatened, and endangered species."
While the Babylon Fire now appears to be almost fully contained, the NPS advises visitors to exercise caution when visiting Canyonlands National Park and other protected areas recently affected by the blaze. Visitors planning trips to Canyonlands or nearby protected areas are urged to check the official websites for the latest advisories and fire restrictions to stay safe during their trip.
