Date: May 24, 2011
Contact: Kris Fister, (907) 683-9583
The 2011 annual road lottery in Denali National Park and Preserve will take place on September 16, 17, 18, and 19 (Friday through Monday), weather permitting. Each day 400 vehicles may use their day-long permits, obtained through the lottery system, to travel the Denali Park Road. If weather permits, the road may be open for its entire 92-mile length, offering exceptional opportunities for experiencing the heart of the park.
Entries must be made online at www.recreation.gov. The online entry form will be available at www.recreation.gov from 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2011 until midnight on June 30, 2011 (Alaska time).
Entries will no longer be accepted by regular mail.
The non-refundable entry fee payment of $10 will be charged to your credit card during the online application process. Lottery winners will be billed the $25 Road Lottery Fee at the time of the drawing. This fee will be refunded only if the Park Road does not open by 2:00 p.m., due to weather or road conditions, on the day of the permit.
Everyone who submitted an entry will be notified regarding the status of their entry via email. Those who are drawn in the lottery will also receive a letter confirming the day of their permit, with additional information on how to obtain the road permit and how to prepare for their visit to the park.
By July 15, the names of individuals drawn for permits will also be posted on the park website at www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/road-lottery.htm.
All permit holders must pay the park entrance fee of $20 per vehicle on the day of their permit unless they have a federal recreation pass such as the Denali Annual Pass or the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Annual, Senior, Access, or Volunteer). Go to www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm for more information.
Permits are transferable, i.e. the person awarded the permit can give it to someone else if they are not able to participate that weekend. The person transferring the permit must provide the original notification and a short note explaining the transfer to the new permit holder, who must bring that documentation to the park when they check in for their road permit.
The possibility of inclement weather in September is always a factor. Some years the road has only been partially open because of snow. Lottery participants are encouraged to visit the park website for updated road and weather information the day before or the morning of their permit.
The Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River campgrounds will be open through the weekend, weather permitting. Campsites are not included in the road permit, but can be reserved in advance via www.reservedenali.com or (800) 622-7275. Information on campgrounds and accommodations outside the park is available through the Denali Chamber of Commerce at www.denalichamber.com or (907) 683-4636.
Lottery information is available on the park website at www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/road-lottery.htm or by calling park headquarters at (907) 683-2294 from 8 a.m. -4:30 p.m. daily.
