Tis the season to get out and enjoy the winter weather and Denali National Park and Preserve management has determined that there is adequate snow cover for the use of snowmachines for traditional activities in areas of the 1980 park additions that are south of the crest of the Alaska Range from the southwest preserve to the North Fork of the Eldridge Glacier, according to a press release. All other areas south of the Alaska Range in Denali National Park, including the Broad Pass/Cantwell area, remain closed at this time due to inadequate snow coverage.
All areas of the 1980 park additions north of the crest of the Alaska Range are currently open to snowmachining for traditional activities.
Riders are reminded that all lands within the former Mount McKinley National Park on both the north and south sides of the Alaska Range are closed to all snowmachining use by federal regulation. Overall, riding conditions are variable. It is the rider’s responsibility to avoid locations where damage to vegetation or soils could occur, or where vegetation is taller than the protective snow cover.
Riders are reminded that federal regulations require that riders do not intentionally disturb or frighten wildlife, operate a snowmachine that makes excessive noise, operate a snowmachine without a headlamp and red tail lamp one half hour before and after sunrise/sunset or when persons and vehicles are not clearly visible for 500 feet, and operate a snowmachine in excess of 45 miles per hour or race.
Additional information and maps with GPS coordinates for the park and preserve boundary are available on the park website.
Park information and backcountry permits are available on the web or by calling (907) 683-9532.
