Date: May 23, 2016
Contact: Lynn McAloon, (907) 683-6381
Denali National Park and Preserve Road Lottery Staff would like to remind the public that the entry period for the 2016 Denali road lottery will be ending soon.
The public lottery entry period has been open since May 1 online at recreation.gov and will end at 11:29 pm, May 31(Alaska time). Entries are also accepted by phone at (877) 444-6777, 6 am – 8 pm (Alaska time) May 1 - 31. Entries are no longer accepted by regular mail.
The 2016 annual Denali National Park and Preserve Road Lottery will take place Sept. 16-20.
Public Road Lottery days are Sept. 16, 18, 19 and 20 (Friday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday).
Saturday, Sept. 17 is Military Appreciation Day, dedicated to active duty service members and their families stationed in Alaska. The permits will be distributed to military personnel through their internal channels.
Road Lottery and Military Appreciation Day offer visitors a unique way to experience the park, the opportunity to travel in their private vehicles along the 92mile Denali Park Road. During the summer season, private vehicles are only permitted along the first 13 miles of the road; visitors who wish to explore the park’s backcountry board one of the park’s shuttle buses to traverse miles 13 to 92.
On public Road Lottery days, 400 permit-holders may use their day-specific permits, obtained through the lottery system, to travel the Denali Park Road in their personal vehicles.
A non-refundable entry fee of $10 will be charged to a credit or debit card during the online or phone application process. Permit winners will be charged a $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.
Entrants will be notified of their status regardless of the results. Entrants whose names are drawn will be notified by June 18. Each permit winner will receive an email confirming the day of the permit, as well as information about how to obtain the road permit and prepare for a successful visit to the park.
Every permit holder must pay the park entrance fee ($10 per person age 16 or older) on the day of the permit unless the permit holder, or one of the permit-holder’s vehicle passengers, has a Denali Annual Pass or a federal recreation pass. Learn more about nationwide park passes (Annual, Senior, Access or Volunteer), or U.S. Military Annual Pass. Federal recreation passes may also be purchased, or the one-time entrance fee paid, when collecting your permit at the Denali Park Visitor Center.
Military personnel who wish to participate in Military Appreciation Day are encouraged to read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section at the bottom of the Road Lottery page. Park and military leadership will work in partnership to distribute the 400 passes for Military Appreciation Day.
Oversized vehicles are restricted on certain portions of the Denali Park Road. More information about specific size limits is available in that same FAQ section linked above.
The possibility of inclement weather is always a factor. In the past the park road has only been partially open for Road Lottery because of snow. Lottery participants are encouraged to email the park or call 907-683-9532 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 Road Lottery weekend, weather permitting. Campsites are not included in the road permit, but can be reserved in advance via reservedenali.com or 800- 622-7275.
Information about campgrounds and accommodations outside the park is available from the Denali Chamber of Commerce at denalichamber.com or 907- 683-4636.
Learn more about the Road Lottery online or by calling the park at 907- 683-9532, 9 am - 4:00 pm daily.
