featuring Steve Allen
In association with
Conservation, Advocacy, and Legacy for America’s red rock wilderness
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A Life In the Desert
A Life in the Desert is the story of legendary explorer, historian, and Wilderness activist Steve Allen and his efforts to help protect public lands in Southern Utah.
Steve is the ultimate desert rat. He has tackled first descents of technical slot canyons, written beloved guidebooks, and explored over 75,000 miles of southern Utah, documenting every step of the way. Despite Utah’s world-renowned red rock landscapes, these public lands are threatened by politicians and industries that see it as a place to exploit for short-term gain. Steve’s unmatched knowledge and dedication to these remote lands shows viewers what is truly at stake.
Blending environmental advocacy, captivating history, and intimate storytelling, A Life in the Desert is a tribute to a remarkable life lived in wild places and a call to safeguard those spectacular landscapes and living history for future generations. Protect Wild Utah!
America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act
This visionary legislation would designate more than 8 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land in Utah as wilderness – the highest form of protection for federal lands.
Who is Steve Allen
Steve Allen is the author of the popular Canyoneering series of hiking guides and the comprehensive two-volume Utah’s Canyon Country Place Names. He has been a fierce champion for land protection and has worked with environmental groups, including SUWA, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Bears Ears Partnership, Western Resource Advocates, the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and others.
Steve’s acclaimed presentations “The Legend Speaks” and “Fifty Years in the Canyons” have been presented in cities and at universities across the nation.
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He has led countless advocacy trips that introduced many of our strongest wilderness supporters to the beauty and fragility of canyon country. He has opened minds and transformed opinions through his intimate knowledge of the land and the stories that he brings to life.
Currently, Steve is a “Declarant” or Expert Witness in three lawsuits that have the goals of protecting existing National Monuments and stopping efforts by the State of Utah to sell-off or privatize federal public lands. His deep knowledge of threatened landscapes is an essential asset to these efforts.
Through this documentary, we will preserve not only Steve’s legacy but also his essence and passion, certain to inspire future generations of Wilderness defenders.
“We have to save what we have.
Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.”
– Steve Allen
In association With
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
“SUWA is proud to support A Life in the Desert and sees it as a tool in the Protect Wild Utah movement’s collective voice for wilderness. Through this story, we hope to inspire renewed passion, advocacy, and understanding for the irreplaceable lands that define the soul of the desert.”
– Scott Braden
SUWA Executive Director
“I started exploring southern Utah in the 1960s, when the idea of land protection was new. Over the years I witnessed the changes to, and often the defilement of, public lands. In 1984 I became a member of SUWA, which was then a small organization. My goal then was to put my knowledge of canyon country to use as an advocate for Wilderness. My goal now is to share my story and emphasize the need to continue the fight to protect it.”
– Steve Allen
“In following Steve Allen into the wilds of Utah over the years, I have come to appreciate his passion and fierce devotion to the public lands of Southern Utah. He looks to convey that passion and his deep understanding of the history of the land and the people who have called those lands home, past and present, to all of us. We come away with a deeper understanding of why we must all be involved in the protection of the Red Rock Wilderness.”
– Marcey Olajos
“I have been hiking with Steve for 28 years and have witnessed first hand how his passion and intimate knowledge of Southern Utah have helped safeguard these invaluable lands for future generations. Steve’s is a compelling story because his dedication to and understanding of every corner of Red Rock Country is simply unparalleled.”
– Joro Walker
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Council of Advisors
Through the development of this project we have gathered a Council of Advisors who stand behind the film and will help shape its direction, impact, and advocacy.
Scott Braden
Executive Director,
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Bert Fingerhut
Former Chairman,
The Wilderness Society
Marcey Olajos
Board Chair,
Center for Biological Diversity
Joro Walker
Senior Attorney,
Western Resource Advocates
Shelley Silbert
Executive Director (ret.)
Great Old Broads for Wilderness