News Release

Adapting Operations in Response to Local Health Guidance - Visitor Services Will Be Delayed

Date: April 17, 2020
Contact: Jan Maslen, 907-822-7206

Copper Center, AK. In response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of Alaska and in support of federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve anticipates delays in the normal onboarding, training and deployment of its seasonal workforce.

As of April 17, 2020, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve can offer limited visitor services, primarily those that support visitor or resource protection and federal subsistence permits. Wrangell-St. Elias staff are in the process of developing alternative visitor services to adapt to social distancing guidelines, including the issuance of federal subsistence permits for the upcoming fishing and hunting seasons. A public announcement detailing federal subsistence permit issuance will occur on or before May 1, 2020.

The following services and operations will be delayed, in response to guidance from the CDC and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Visitor services such as interpretive programs, in-person trip planning, in-person backcountry information, bear resistant food container loans, and public restrooms at the Slana Ranger Station, Copper Center Main Visitor Center, Chitina Ranger Station, and the Kennecott Visitor Center are delayed and the earliest that in-person visitor services will resume in these areas is July 1, 2020.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at our visitor centers and contact stations is our priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and to create ways to provide services safely. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website https://www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm and social media channels.

Outdoor spaces at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve remain accessible to the public where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidelines.

Watch for more information on times, dates, and locations for subsistence permit issuance on our website.

The NPS encourages people to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Wrangell-St. Elias, including:

• The Wrangell-St. Elias website at https://www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm.

• On-line Junior Ranger program at https://www.nps.gov/wrst/learn/kidsyouth/be-a-juniorranger.htm

• Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WrangellSt.EliasNPP/

Visitors can also call 907-822-5234, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm to obtain information about the park. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.