The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is offering personal use firewood collection by permit beginning Oct. 15th.
“[The] 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,” said Deputy Refuge Manager Steve Miller
Woodcutting will be permitted along Swan Lake Road from the 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.
“We will be having the same thing as we have in the previous years,” said Miller. “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.”
Permits with designated cutting area maps and all special conditions can be obtained beginning Oct. 15th at the front desk and at a self-serve station outside the Refuge Headquarters front door on Ski Hill Road in Soldotna. Cutting is limited to trees that 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.
Excess limbs and woody debris must be piled outside and away from roadsides/rights of way, ditches, riparian areas, and campsites within campgrounds. Permits allow the 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.
The permit will expire, and these areas will close to firewood cutting on Mar. 31, 2025. 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.