The Eastern portion of Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area was reopened as of noon today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Campgrounds in the area were closed due to the Card Street fire.
Those reopened included:
- Hidden Lake Campground
- Upper Skilak Campground
- Engineer Lake Campground
- Lower Ohmer Campground
- Jean Lake Campground
- Kelly Lake Campground
- Peterson Lake Campground
- Watson Lake Campground
All hiking trails in the eastern portion of the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area are also now open, including:
- Kenai River Trail
- Hideout Trail
- Hidden Creek Trail
- Bear Mountain Trail
- Vista Trail
- Seven Lakes Trail.
The Kelly Lake, Upper Ohmer, Engineer Lake and Doroshin Bay cabins will be open and available to the public beginning on Saturday, June 27.
Skilak Lake Road’s east entrance remains the only one open.
The west entrance at the Sterling highway remains closed to milepost 9.4 due to ongoing suppression efforts, mop-up activities and the presence of fire personnel for the Card Street Fire.
Lower Skilak campground and boat launch along with Bottenintnin Lake day use areas remain closed.
Fire danger on the Kenai Peninsula remains very high.
Open camp, cooking, and warming fires along with charcoal grills are prohibited on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
