The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is offering personal use firewood collection by permit beginning October 13th.
“Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is going to be opening up some areas for firewood harvesting and this is for harvesting of dead and downed trees and several areas. We have dropped beetle killed spruce trees and they’re going to be available for personal use. Firewood collection starting next Friday, that the 13th of all days,” said the Deputy Refuge Manager Steve Miller.
Woodcutting will be permitted along Swan Lake Road from junction of Swanson River Road to Paddle Lake Trailhead, Swanson River Road from Dolly Varden Campground north to Swanson
River Landing, Funny River Road from MP 4 to MP 9.5, Dolly Varden Campground, Upper and Lower Skilak Road including Engineer Lake Road and portions of Upper and Lower Skilak
Campgrounds, Ohmer Campground, Jims’ Landing and Skihill Road.
No wood cutting is allowed along the Refuge Service Entrance Roads additional regulations apply consult the area map for details.
Permits with designated cutting area maps and all special conditions can be obtained beginning October 13th, 2023, at a self-serve station outside the Refuge Headquarters on Ski Hill Road in
Soldotna.
Cutting is limited to trees which are dead and down within the designated permit areas. Standing trees may not be felled. Vehicles are prohibited beyond the shoulders of the main roads. ATVs
are prohibited.
Permits allow collection of up to five cords of firewood for personal, non-commercial use per household.
All other wood cutting on the Refuge is prohibited, except dead and down wood may be used for campfires while camping on the Refuge.
The permit packets, designated cutting area maps of areas open to firewood, and instructions for completing permits will be provided at a self-serve station outside Refuge Headquarters at 33398
Ski Hill Road, Soldotna.
“We will be having the same thing as we have in the previous years. We’ll have permits available out at our front door and you can fill them out and either drop them in the box out front or bring them inside. And if you have any questions about maps, feel free to come inside and ask any questions you might have,” said Miller.
The permit will expire, and these areas will close to firewood cutting on March 31, 2024. Weather conditions or depletion of wood for cutting may prompt the Refuge Manager to close
areas earlier.
The Refuge Headquarters office hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday – Friday. For further information, contact Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters by calling (907) 262-
7021.
*Excess limbs and woody debris must be piled outside and away from roadsides / rights of way, ditches, riparian areas, and campsites within campgrounds.