Recapture Canyon

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Coordinates: 37°35′N 109°25.5′W / 37.583°N 109.4250°W / 37.583; -109.4250 Recapture Canyon is a canyon along (a tributary of the San Juan River) east of Blanding, San Juan County, Utah, United States. It is an archaeological site, and is located on federal land.[1] The Bureau of Land Management closed it to motorized vehicles in 2007 due to damage caused by illegal trail construction.[1]

Recapture Canyon contains dwellings, burial sites, and artifacts of the Ancient Pueblo peoples, including cliff dwellings built between 1150 and 1300 AD.[2]

On Saturday May 10, 2014, San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman organized a protest aimed at legally opening the trail to all-terrain vehicles.[3] The protest attracted several militia members from the Bundy ranch.[4] BLM undercover agents documented the illegal ride. Lyman was convicted of misdemeanor trespassing, for which he served ten days in jail and paid restitution of $96,000. On December 22, 2020 Lyman was pardoned by President Donald Trump.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Gulliford, Andrew (12 February 2014). "Recapture Canyon and an illegal ATV trail". High Country News. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  2. ^ McCombs, Brady (May 9, 2014). "Gov. Herbert: Uphold Laws During ATV Protest", Associated Press. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  3. ^ "'Bundy Affair' Rides Again in Utah Canyon Protest". ABC news. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Canyon ride tests access to BLM land". USA Today. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  5. ^ Dunphey, Kyle (2020-12-22). "Utah Rep. Phil Lyman receives presidential pardon for ATV ride on protected land". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
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