Spring Road Opening

 
 
 
 

Spring Road Opening Blog

 

About This Blog

Every spring, Denali's road warriors set out in heavy equipment to clear a winter full of ice and snow from the park road. Periodic photos and updates let the public track their progress as we prepare first for the public opening and then for the start of the bus season in mid-May.

SRO Update for April 5, 2023

April 05, 2023 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

The road crew reached Pretty Rocks (Mile 45.4) this week. Snow and wind has caused new drifting, and crews are now headed back east, clearing drifts and reopening the road along the way.

 

SRO Update for March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

Road crews reached Sable Pass (Mile 39) and worked to clear new snow drifts this week.

 

SRO Update: March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

Spring road opening is underway at Mile 27.

 

SRO Update: April 15, 2022

April 15, 2022 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

Crews have completed the trip west to Pretty Rocks (Mile 45.4). The work will continue as they clear drifting snow and open up ditches.

 

SRO Update: April 8, 2022

April 08, 2022 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

The crew reaches East Fork Bridge (Mile 43).

 

SRO Updates for Spring, 2021

April 14, 2021 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

A series of short updates from the road crew's progress in the 2021 Spring Road Opening work.

 

SRO Update: May 8, 2020

May 08, 2020 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

Crews remain a few days away from Mile 66 (Eielson Visitor Center).

 

SRO Update: May 1, 2020

May 01, 2020 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

The crews reach Stony Creek, although snow conditions are unusually difficult in the western end of the park.

 

SRO Update: April 24, 2020

April 24, 2020 Posted by: Paul Franke, Road Crew Supervisor

A spring snowstorm caused a set-back, but the road crews continue to work westward.

 

SRO Update for April 11, 2019

April 11, 2019 Posted by: Paul Franke, East District Roads & Trails

The road has been plowed fully, but new snow out west and ice build-ups mean some areas remain saturated from surface to the road bed.

 

SRO Update for March 28, 2019

March 28, 2019 Posted by: Paul Franke, East District Roads & Trails

The road opening is going along smoothly. We finally found some snow west of Toklat. There are 6 to 8 foot drifts heading up Highway Pass and there appears to be more snow in general.

 

SRO Update for March 21, 2019

March 21, 2019 Posted by: Paul Franke, East District Roads & Trails

An extremely warm late winter means limited snow, but areas of thick ice.

 

SRO Update for March 14, 2019

March 14, 2019 Posted by: Paul Franke, East District Roads & Trails

On Sunday, March 17, road crews will head west from Mountain Vista (Mile 13) to remove snow and ice from the road.

 

SRO Update for May 17, 2018

May 17, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

Spring Road Opening (SRO) 2018 finally comes to a close!

 

SRO Update for May 15, 2018

May 15, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The end nears, with plow crews on the north side of Wonder Lake.

 

SRO Update for May 10, 2018

May 10, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The crew deals with tough conditions along Eielson Bluffs and finds non-stop snow drifts throughout the western end of the park road.

 

SRO Update for May 1, 2018

May 01, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The road crew battles a spring snowstorm as they reach Eielson Bluffs.

 

SRO Update for April 25, 2018

April 26, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

A comparison where SRO was in late April the past six years.

 

SRO Update for April 19, 2018

April 19, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

Starting up Highway Pass from mile 57.5. The snow depth is starting to increase significantly, as it usually does in this area, but with the higher snow amount in comparison to the past several years it has slowed us down even more.

 

SRO Update for April 7, 2018

April 07, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

We hope to make it to East Fork bridge by the end of the day but the amount of snow will determine our westward progress .

 

SRO Update for April 3, 2018

April 03, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

Starting up Tattler grade. Crews were able to use the rotary snow blower through the entirety of Igloo Forest which will pay off in large dividends throughout the spring and summer.

 

SRO Update for March 28, 2018

March 28, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The crew started to find an ice lens over the road and now we will be chaining up the grader and welding ice cleats on the dozers. While this takes place the snowblower is making its way through the campground and Igloo forest so the timing is good.

 

SRO Update for March 23, 2018

March 23, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

Today's crew made it to upper Hogan and continued cleaning up from this weeks snow storm. They've passed through the multiple drifts from Primrose to Hogan and are putting the finishing touches on that segment of road.

 

SRO Update for March 20, 2018

March 20, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

After making it to mile 18 for a brief moment yesterday, we've retreated to HQ regrettably today. While on our way west from the Savage box on Sunday morning we found heavy snow and large drifts. Once today's snow is done falling, we will re-plow our way to mile 18 and continue on.

 

Plowing Update for February 2, 2018

February 02, 2018 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

Plowing begins on the Denali Park Road

 

SRO Update for April 17, 2017

April 17, 2017 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The road is open for public traffic as far as Teklanika River (Mile 30) and the weather has been one beautiful, sunny day after another. Night-time lows continue to fall into the low teens, so hikers or cyclists should be prepared for a big temperature range.

 

SRO Update for April 10, 2017

April 10, 2017 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

SRO 2017 remains on schedule, with plowing crews around Toklat River (Mile 53). The road remains quite soggy from Teklanika onward. Once it firms up, the crew can begin thinking about opening the road to all traffic.

 

SRO Update for April 7, 2017

April 07, 2017 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The advanced plow team is on Polychrome Mountain, hoping to allow maintenance staff to Toklat (Mile 53) soon. The road recently opened to Savage River (Mile 15) for all public traffic, and should open to Teklanika soon, barring bad weather.

 

SRO Update for April 3, 2017

April 03, 2017 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

Recent warm weather raises the possibility of flooding, though so far conditions have been nowhere near as bad as 2013.

 

SRO Update for March 27, 2017

March 27, 2017 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Superviser

The crew made it to Tek rest stop last night. They encountered more snow as they moved west of Tek flats and into the forest. The crew is rushing to Igloo Creek, as a warm spell coming up this week could cause meltwater to flow across the road if ice isn't removed near the bridge.

 

SRO Update for March 23, 2017

March 23, 2017 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The crew makes it to Sanctuary River, and plans for an opening to Savage River for public traffic by next week, weather permitting.

 

SRO Update for March 21, 2017

March 23, 2017 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

Though plowing occurs in early March to get the road open to Mountain Vista (Mile 13.5), regular Spring Road Opening updates typically begin on March 21 each year.

 

SRO Update for April 20, 2016

April 20, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The final SRO update for 2016, as the plows have already reached the end of the road!

 

SRO Update for April 15, 2016

April 15, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The road crew contemplates the earliest-ever finish to Spring Road Opening.

 

SRO Update for April 13, 2016

April 13, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The crew has made it to Mile 66, Eielson Visitor Center. Bear sightings are becoming frequent!

 

SRO Update for April 11, 2016

April 11, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The road crew continues to make speedy progress.

 

SRO Update for April 7, 2016

April 07, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The park road opens to Mile 30 for private vehicle traffic, making 2016 one of, if not the, earliest Tek openings!

 

SRO Update for April 4, 2016

April 04, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

Making faster than usual progress, the road crew hopes to open to Teklanika River (Mile 30) later this week, assuming good weather.

 

SRO Update for March 30, 2016

March 30, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

With a warm and dry forecast, the road crew hopes to have the road from Savage to Tek in good shape and open before long. The current forecast suggests warmer, drier weather, which will help the dirt road dry out and harden it for traffic.

 

SRO Update for March 28, 2016

March 28, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The road crew pushes into Igloo Forest, while spring weather threatens a rain/snow mix all week.

 

SRO Update for March 23, 2016

March 23, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew Supervisor

The second update from a spring-like start to plowing out the road.

 

SRO Update for March 21, 2016

March 21, 2016 Posted by: Riley Tingue, Road Crew

SRO 2016 kicks off right after a delightful weekend snowstorm!

 
 

Plan a Spring Visit

  • a woman walking a dog on a paved road
    Plan a Spring Visit

    Snow can linger, but spring is sure to bring sunlight and comparatively warm temps. Plan a trip before the busy summer season!

  • a mostly white bird hides in the snow
    Birds by the Seasons

    In late spring Denali fills with the songs of a diversity of birds. Explore this section to learn about which birds to expect when.

  • numerous pink flowers at the foot of a shrubby hillside overlooking a gravelly river bar
    Current Conditions

    Find out how much of the road is open for you to drive, which campgrounds are open, and more.

 

Stories and Articles about the Denali Park Road

 
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    Last updated: April 9, 2019

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