News Releases

Due to staffing challenges, the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center Visitor Center will be closed on January 18th and January 25th.

The National Park Service has selected long-time NPS employee Jeff Rasic as the Alaska Region Science Advisor and lead for the Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit (CESU) for Alaska. Jeff comes to the position from Gates of the Arctic National Park and Yukon-Charley Rivers Preserve (YUGA) where he has served as the Chief of Integrated Resources Management since 2013.

The National Park Service (NPS) today announced a proposal to amend regulations for hunting and trapping on national preserves in Alaska.   The proposed regulation would reverse the 2020 Alaska Hunting and Trapping rule, which authorized several controversial sport hunting practices, including bear baiting. The new regulation would reduce visitor use conflicts and concerns over potential safety issues related to bear baiting and would also restore consistency between harvest practices allowed in national preserves and NPS management policies with respect to natural processes, abundances and wildlife behavior.

The first fire of 2022 in Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve was discovered yesterday, June 21. The lightning-caused Wormy Fire (#334) is estimated at 9.5 acres, approximately 21 miles west-northwest of Wiseman.

Mark Dowdle selected as Superintendent for Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Greg Dudgeon to serve as the superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park starting in July 2021. Dudgeon currently serves as acting deputy regional director overseeing the management of 15 national parks, preserves, monuments and national historical parks in Alaska.

The National Park Service has updated park compendiums for 2021.

Congratulations to Chief Ranger/Pilot Scott Sample, the 2020 recipient of the National Park Service Wright Brothers National Aviation Safety Award. This award "recognizes an individual or organization within the NPS at the park, regional, or national level who proactively promotes an open-minded attitude in the prevention of aviation mishaps and accidents, works diligently to correct and improve aviation safety deficiencies, and effectively communicates the actions and results to others." It is given annually to aviation specialists who exemplify excellence in the field of aviation safety.

Alaska's National Parks are inviting comment on proposed changes to parks’ Compendiums. The Compendium is a compilation of all designations, closures and restrictions adopted under discretionary authority within the regulations covering national parks.

The National Park Service announced a final rule that amends its regulations for hunting and trapping in Alaska national preserves, removing prohibitions adopted in 2015 on harvest practices, which are otherwise permitted by the state of Alaska and federal law. This rule provides for Alaska residents who rely on state law to engage in their traditional hunting practices.

The National Park service reports that 3.3 million visitors to national parks in Alaska spent $1.5 billion in the state in 2023. That spending resulted in 21,274 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $2.3 billion

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The National Park Service (NPS) today announced a final rule that amends its 2020 regulation for sport hunting and trapping in Alaska national preserves. The new rule, which applies only to sport hunting, prohibits bear baiting due to significant public safety concerns. The final rule reflects extensive engagement with stakeholders, Alaska Native Tribes and Corporations, local and state leaders, and the public

SKAGWAY, AK— Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is announcing today that the Chilkoot Trail on the U.S. side of the border will be open to mile 4.0 for the 2024 season. Work completed by the park last year and this spring will extend the amount of trail that will be open to the public this summer.

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 2,023,881 visitors to national parks in Alaska spent $1,160,600,000 in the state in 2022. That spending resulted in 16,450 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $1,785,800,000.

Alaska’s national parks have received millions of dollars to conduct climate change and infrastructure work in parks across the state.

The National Park Service has selected long-time NPS employee Jeff Rasic as the Alaska Region Science Advisor and lead for the Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit (CESU) for Alaska. Jeff comes to the position from Gates of the Arctic National Park and Yukon-Charley Rivers Preserve (YUGA) where he has served as the Chief of Integrated Resources Management since 2013.

Denali Park, AK – An avalanche killed Denali National Park and Preserve staff member Eric Walter while he was backcountry skiing on a north-facing slope near Mile 10 on the Park Road on Thursday, May 4.

The National Park Service’s Cape Krusenstern National Monument Subsistence Resource Commission will be meeting in Kotzebue on Wednesday and Thursday, February 22-23. The meeting is open to the public.

The National Park Service’s Kobuk Valley National Park Subsistence Resource Commission will be meeting in Kotzebue on Thursday and Friday, February 23-24. The meeting is open to the public.

David Alberg selected as National Park Service deputy regional director for Alaska