About Canyonlands Natural History Association
Our Mission
Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is a non-profit organization, which exists solely to assist the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management in their education and visitor efforts. Proceeds from sales support these agencies’ educational, interpretive, and scientific programs on the Colorado Plateau.
What We Do
Chartered in 1967 as a 501(c)(3), CNHA works in partnership to operate stores at Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, Cedar Mesa, and Grand Gulch Primitive Area, Bears Ears National Monument, Manti-La Sal National Forest, and the Blanding Information Center. CNHA also staffs the Moab Information Center, the official multi-agency information center for southeastern Utah providing one-stop-shopping of area books, guides, maps, and gift items, which are also available through the Canyonlands Natural History Association online store.
CNHA has supported the parks and public lands of southeastern Utah since 1967. Our funding comes from memberships, private donations, and sales from our retail outlets and online store, and is used to support our partner agencies’ educational, interpretive, and scientific programs.
Since its inception, CNHA has donated more than $24 million to our public land partners’ educational and research efforts. To view or download CNHA’s 2023 income tax return, click here.
CNHA funds projects such as:
- Canyon Country Outdoor Education (CCOE)—CCOE is a cooperative venture between the National Park Service, local school districts, and nonprofit organizations in southeast Utah. CCOE provides local children with field trips to national parks and surrounding areas where they can safely experience a wide range of environmentally responsible activities, helping them understand and value natural and cultural resources.
- Student Conservation Association interns—The SCA program helps to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment. CNHA helps fund SCA internships at Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Hovenweep National Monument. SCA interns gain valuable experience and skills while living and working in an amazing environment.
- Interpretive brochures for visitors—Education is key to the enjoyment, appreciation, and protection of public lands. CNHA contributes to the publication of trail guides that help visitors appreciate and understand the parks and public lands in southeastern Utah.
Canyonlands Natural History Association is an official partner of:
Public Land News
December 2024 Newsletter
The History and Future of Public Lands video by Walt Dabney Timed entry at Arches National Park 2025 Winter visitor center hours Kindling Connections with Fire Fuels CNHA wins Nonprofit of the Year Science Moab on Tap Read the December 2024 Newsletter