For people who live, work, and play in mountains and forests in the Intermountain West, ecosystems disturbances affect quality of life. Yet, navigating the diverse array of often-contradictory local and regional stakeholder perspectives can challenge natural resource management. Values and concerns about natural resource conditions and objectives can vary widely within and across communities and often change over time. Further, individuals, groups, and communities often seek multiple and conflicting resource objectives at the same time. Drawing on research from Colorado communities experiencing mountain pine beetle disturbance as well as Utah mountain communities anticipating population growth and climate change, findings and observations are offered in this presentation regarding navigating human dimensions of forest resource management.