NPS Adjusts 2015 Denali Road Lottery Dates to Host Military Appreciation Day

Date: April 20, 2015
Contact: Kris Fister, [phone]

The 2015 annual road lottery in Denali National Park and Preserve will take place on September 17, 18, 20, and 21 (Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday), weather permitting. The park's annual Military Appreciation Day for service members and their families stationed in Alaska has been scheduled for Saturday, September 19 this year.

Each day 400 vehicles may use their day-long permits 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.

Road lottery entries can be made online at www.recreation.gov beginning at 12:01 am on May 1 until midnight, May 31, 2015 (Alaska time). Entries may also be done by phone at [phone] between the hours of 6:00 am –8:00 pm (Alaska time) from May 1 - 31.  Entries are not accepted by regular mail.

Military Appreciation Day permits will be distributed to military personnel through their internal channels. Road lottery permit and park entrance fees will be waived for active members of the military on that day.

The road lottery non-refundable entry fee payment of $10 is charged to a credit or debit card during the online or phone application process. Winners will be charged the $25 road lottery fee to the same card at the time of the drawing in June. The $25 fee will not be refunded if the park road does not open on the day of the permit due to weather or road conditions.

Everyone who submitted a road lottery entry will be notified about their entry status.Those who are selected will also receive an email confirming the day of their permit, with additional information on how to obtain the road permit and prepare for their visit to the park. By June 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.

Permit holders for the road lottery must pay the park entrance fee of $10 per person (for visitors age 16 or older) on the day of their permit unless they have a federal recreation pass such as the Denali Annual Pass, America the Beautiful –National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Annual, Senior, Access, or Volunteer) or the free U.S. Military annual pass. Additional information on these passes is available at www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm.

Road lottery permits are transferable prior to use, 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 contact the park 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 road lottery and Military Appreciation Day period, 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.comor 907- 683-4636.