Back Issues

• Between the Flatirons: Boulder highliners are the first to trek the “Thirst” between the First and Third Flatirons, balancing 450 feet above the ground. by Ariella Nardizzi
• A Secret Tibetan Army: At Camp Hale north of Leadville, the CIA lead a cover operation to train Tibetan freedom fighters in the hopes of liberating Tibet from China. by Justin Kiersky
• Greatest Show on the Prairie: On the eastern plains of Colorado, great prairie chickens performa mating ritual – a courtship best witnessed from a trailer in Wray. story and photographs by Josh Hardin
• Monument of Peace: A memorial and architectural wonder, the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya towers the surrounding meadows near Red Feather Lakes. by Eric Peterson
  

On the Cover Wind-whipped sand stirs as Logan Henning rigs a 384 foot highline across the Great Sand Dunes. photograph by Eli Bennett

• Building Roots A Moab non-profit constructs sustainable homes crafted from natural resources. by Ariella Nardizzi
• Joshua Trees of the Mojave A St. George photographer captures the best of Utah’s Joshua trees in early morning light, sunset hues and seasonal storms. photographs by Nathan St. Andre, story by Ariella Nardizzi
• Utah’s Cowboy Sculptor Springville’s Cyrus Edwin Dallin became a prolific sculpture, producing 260 works displayed across the country. by Ron J. Jackson Jr.
• Tasting History Dr. Tim Riley at the Utah State University Prehistoric Museum in Price cooks dishes inspired by prehistoric coprolite samples. by Bianca Dumas
  

On the Cover A spiky eastern Joshua tree stands tall at Beaver Wash Dam at sunset. photo by Nathan St. Andre

• Whooping Cranes Conservation photographer Michael Forsberg follows the whooping cranes migration, compiling the best images in his new book, Into Whooperland. story by Alan J. Bartels, photography byMichael Forsberg
• Villasur Massacre A 1720 Spanish expedition into the Nebraska Territory ends with a bloody battle at the confluence of the Platte and Loup Rivers. by Ron Soodalter
• Winter Greenhouse Surrounded by frost and snow, the Lorenzen greenhouse grows crops all year long, powered by a simple 10-inch squirrel fan. by Ariella Nardizzi
• Omaha Beef The nation’s oldest active indoor football team drives for another undefeated season in 2025 at the Slaughterhouse in Ralston. story by Tim Trudell, photography by John and Katie Myers

• A Vanished Town Along U.S. Route 6 in Price Canyon lies the ghost town of Caste Gate, a once bustling town for railroad families that continues to tell stories of a historic flood, a mine explosion and a Butch Cassidy heist. by Bianca Dumas
• Sacred Sites of South-Central Utah The third installment of our Rock Art series begins with the San Rafael Swell near Green River with sites that fueled a 10-year-old’s lifelong interest in the panels and its depicted people. by Ron J. Jackson, Jr.
• Cottonwood Canyon Road The 47-mile backroad from Cannonville to U.S. Highway 89 weaves through the landscapes of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. story and photographs by Dan Leeth

On the Cover Grosvenor Arch is named after National Geographic’s former president, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor. It stands 150 feet above the ground, spaning nearly 100 feet wide. photo by Dan Leeth

• A Home for Wild Horses Colorado’s wild horses find solace and freedom across the 23,000 acres of the Wild Horse Refuge near Craig, part of the Wild Animal Sanctuary’s mission to protect and preserve wildlife. by Peter Moore
• Dog Sledding on the Grand Mesa Sled dogs, mushers and skijorers race across the Grand Mesa for the annual Grand Mesa Summit Challenge, the highest altitude sled dog race in North America. story by Heidi Pool and Tom Hess photographs by Keela McCleneghan
• Salida’s Metalsmiths Nicole and Harry Hansen craft hand-forged jewelry and housewares, teaching guests how to make their own pieces from scratch at their shop in Salida. story by Majorie Ackerman photographs by H. Mark Weidman
• Skijoring in Ridgway Horses, cowboys and ski bums team up at the San Juan Skijoring competition in Ridgway. While teams come for the thrill and prize purse, crowds come to watch for victory – and wipeouts. by Tom Hess

• Winter Reading Roundup Nebraska Life’s picks of recent books will fill your winter hours with heartwarming stories, tales of perseverance and architectural wonders. by Lisa Truesdale and Ariella Nardizzi
• Cornhusker State on Canvas Ashley Spitsnogle memorializes the Husker’s 400th sellout game at Memorial Stadium, one of many live paintings from the Elkhorn artist. by Ariella Nardizzi
• Frontier Matriarchs Many took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862 to claim land in the Nebraska Territory, but few were owned by women who overcame societal barriers to become pioneers of the Great Plains. by Ariella Nardizzi
• Following the Eve Bowring Trail Sandhills ranch shines on with treasures and shadows of Nebraska’s pioneering first female U.S. senator. story by Matthew Spencer photographs by Chris Amundson

• Painting the Town Fruita artist Pavia Justinian captures the people, businesses and community of the Western Slope through her outdoor murals and sculptures. story by Heidi Pool and Tom Hess
• Legend and Lore The history of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park comes alive with crystal balls, frozen bodies, haunted rooms and one nightmare that became a cult classic. story by Peter Moore photographs by Erik Makić
• 30 A Jewish Grandmother’s Legacy At Safta in Denver, Chef Alon Shaya crafts culinary delights inspired by his grandmother’s recipes, his Jewish heritage and the flavors of the Middle East. story by Shlomit Ovadia photographs by Anne Stephenson
• 42 Home on the Range Poets, bards, yodelers, singers and musicians come together in Golden for the Colorado Cowboy Gathering, a celebration and love for Western culture. story by Corinne J. Brown photographs by Bill Patterson

• Cocoa Bean-to-Bar Utah’s chocolate scene is rich with delectable tastings and artisan treats made fresh from the bean. by Jacque Garcia
• Lost and Found Across 50 years of his career, Tom Till has captured Utah’s landscape mysteries, once thought undiscovered and those seemingly found. story and photographs by Tom Till
• Switching Gears Explore six auto museums with curated automotive collections from across the Beehive state. story and photographs by Bianca Dumas
  

• The Long, Hard Winter The first blizzard hit on Dec. 13, 2022, the start of 120 consecutive days of blistering snow across the Nebraska Sandhills. story and photographs by Nicole Louden
• Small Town Vintage ReMain in Springfield brings new life to antique wares and vintage home goods, revitalizing Main Street’s corner store. story and photographs by Becky McCarville
• From Farm to Fork In Waterloo, Ellsworth Crossing celebrates Nebraska farmers by featuring over 100 different farmers, ranchers and producers. story and photographs by Tim Trudell
• Homemade Heartland Delights Explore these eight Nebraska-made products and businesses just in time for the holiday season. by Ariella Nardizzi

• Equipping the Huskers Behind-the-scenes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, equipment managers ready Husker teams for practice, game day and travel. story by Brady Oltmans / photographs by Jeremy Buss
• Outlaw Sam Bass After a successful $60,000 haul in Big Springs, Sam Bass and his crew faced off against the law, unknowingly betrayed by one of their own. by Ron J. Jackson, Jr.
• Buck’s Bar Venice’s only bar brings big crowds as new musicians and talented artists perform each weekend. story by Jackie Fox / photographs by Jeremy Buss
• Photographer Don Brockmeier For over 40 years, photographer Don Brockmeier has found serenity as he documents Frontier County wildlife and nature near his home in Eustis. story by Tom Hess / photographs by Don Brockmeier

• Starry, Starry Nights A San Luis Valley drive-in finds new life with creative lodging, movies and lawn chairs. by Eric Peterson
• Moose Encounters Local wildfires and mountain climates encourage Colorado’s reintroduced moose population to grow. by Peter Moore
• Life and Loss Along the Rio Grande The Rio Grande River along Highway 149 shares the history of a family and the loss of a son and brother. by Jennifer Young Perlman
• Craig: Digging Deeper Between coal mining, dinosaur bone discovery and western memorabilia, Craig finds its place in history. story by Tom Hess photographs by Joshua Hardin
• Custer Country Life The Sangre de Cristo Mountains backdrop historic and unique ranches and farms in Custer County. by Lisa Truesdale
• Changing Seasons Stormy clouds, muddy rains and auburn leaves signal a welcome change to seasons of both nature and life, inviting reflection, growth and new beginnings. story and photographs by Dean Allen

• Sweet Prairie Hay Twenty years of raking hay stirs up memories and traditions at an Ellsworth ranch.
• story and photographs by Nicole Louden
• Here’s the Scoop From classic flavors to new creations, these Nebraska ice cream shops serve up delicious frozen treats. by Alan J. Bartels
• Dragstrip Diaries Time slows down for 4-second runs as drivers line up to race at Kearney Raceway Park. by Cheyenne Rowe
  Road Trip with Dennis From Burwell to Crawford, a Nebraska road trip brings a friend home to his favorite hunting spot. by Janice Golka
• Healing on Horseback The horses at Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy in Gretna offer support, skills and training for participants with a range of abilities. by Tim Trudell