Date: April 16, 2015
Contact: Kris Fister, (907) 683-9583
Continued mild weather has aided the park’s spring road opening crew in providing access further into the park for park visitors. The park road will open for travel to Mile 30, the Teklanika Rest Area, by 10:00 am on Saturday, April 18, weathr permitting.
Snow conditions are variable for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter recreational activities, and are changing rapidly with increasing temperatures and longer days. The spring road opening crew has reported sightings of moose, caribou, Dall sheep, coyote, fox, lynx, ptarmigans, and golden eagles. There have been no bear sightings yet this spring.
Vault toilets are available for visitor use at the Teklanika Rest Area, the parking areas on both sides of the Savage River and the Mountain Vista Trailhead (rest area) east of the Savage River Campground. Other park facilities west of headquarters, including the campgrounds, remain closed until later in May.
Visitors should expect to encounter snow, ice, and mud on some portions of the road, particularly in shaded sections. Motorists are also advised to be alert for National Park Service personnel steaming culverts along the side of the road, and for heavy equipment being used in the road opening operations.
Weather conditions can change rapidly at this time of the year, and the road may open and close several times. Visitors are encouraged to contact the park for updated road and weather information. For those interested, follow the progress of the Denali road crew as they plow westward along the 92 mile park road to Kantishna. Photos are also periodically posted on the park’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DenaliNPS.
The Bear Loop in the Riley Creek Campground at Mile 0.2 is open, and camping is free until May 15th. A vault toilet is provided in the loop that remains open year-round, and campers can obtain water at the Murie Science and Learning Center. Water and sewer services will not be available until mid to late May.
The Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) at Mile 1.3 is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm for visitor information and backcountry permits through May 14th.
Additional park information is available by calling (907) 683-9532 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm daily.
