News

The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce the selection of Siikauraq Whiting as the new superintendent for Western Arctic National Parklands, which administers Kobuk Valley National Park, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, and Noatak National Preserve.

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.

Fall subsistence Resource Commission meetings in Kotzebue, AK -- Kobuk Valley SRC and Cape Krusenstern SRC dates announced. Kobuk Valley Subsistence Resource Commission to Meet October 30-31, 2023 Cape Krusenstern Subsistence Resource Commission to Meet November 1-2, 2023

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 (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.

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

On Monday, June 24th, Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve personnel working at Coal Creek Camp observed the Coal Creek Camp Mess Hall fully engulfed in fire.

The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting public input on the Chilkoot National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP), which will provide a framework for managing and developing the trail over the next 20 years.

Fire Management staff plans to burn piles of woody debris not suitable for firewood from Sunday, March 31, through Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The piles are located on NPS lands surrounding two allotments near Nation Bluff, below the confluence of the Nation and Yukon Rivers, approximately 53 miles downstream of Eagle along the Yukon River. Fire staff will ignite approximately 30 piles and monitor them over multiple days, until no heat remains. As this is a planned ignition, please do not report smoke from this prescribed burn as a wildfire.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve set a visitation record in 2023, one of 20 national parks to do so last year. Glacier Bay welcomed 703,659 visitors in 2023.

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.

The Superintendent is continuing a closure issued on July 25, 2023, of the Smith/40-Mile Public Use Cabin and rescinding the previous closure of the Kandik Public Use Cabin.

Denali National Park and Preserve rangers conducted a rescue on Peak 11,300 on the West Fork of the Ruth Glacier on Sunday, May 21, 2023.

Denali National Park and Preserve rangers have located a climber who fell from a 16,000 foot ridge on the West Buttress to the Peters Glacier on the evening of Friday, May 19. The patient was evacuated from 15,100 feet with minor injuries.

Denali National Park and Preserve rangers began an aerial and ground search for a climber who fell from the 16,000 foot ridge on the West Buttress to the Peters Glacier on the evening of Friday, May 19.

Denali National Park and Preserve will open the Park Road to private vehicle traffic as far as Mile 30, the Teklanika Rest Area, on Friday, April 25, 2025.

The Superintendent of Denali National Park and Preserve has determined that there is not adequate snow cover for the use of snowmobiles for traditional activities in most of the 1980 additions to Denali National Park and Preserve on both sides of the Alaska Range. 

Denali National Park and Preserve plans to conduct prescribed burning of slash piles around the park entrance area between March 3 and May 1, 2025, dependent on weather and conditions on site.

Effective Saturday, February 15, 2025, the superintendent has authorized opening the Denali Park Road to the Mountain Vista Rest Area (mile 12) for travel by private vehicles and commercial vehicles with permits.

The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Subsistence Resource Commission will meet at the park’s Visitor Center in Copper Center, Alaska, and by teleconference on Tuesday, February 25, and Wednesday, February 26, 2025, to consider a range of issues related to subsistence hunting and fishing in the park.

The Superintendent of Denali National Park and Preserve has determined that there is adequate snow cover for the use of snowmobiles for traditional activities in all areas of the 1980 park additions except the portion from the West Fork of the Chulitna River to the Southwest Preserve.

The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce the selection of Siikauraq Whiting as the new superintendent for Western Arctic National Parklands, which administers Kobuk Valley National Park, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, and Noatak National Preserve.

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

Please do not feed wildlife.

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