NPS - National Park Service

04/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2026 18:51

Portions of Denali National Park and Preserve to be Closed to Snowmobile Use Due to Insufficient Snow beginning April 20

Date:
April 17, 2026
Contact: Amber Smigiel, Public Affairs Officer

DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska - Beginning April 20, the superintendent of Denali National Park and Preserve will close portions of the preserve to snowmobile use for traditional activities because of inadequate snow cover.

The closure applies to the area from the Southwest Preserve to the West Fork of the Chulitna River.

Snow conditions remain adequate for traditional snowmobile use from the West Fork of the Chulitna River to Windy Creek and North of the Alaska Range. Riders, however, should anticipate additional closures as warming temperatures continue to reduce snowpack.

Park managers also advise riders to use caution. Open water is present in river corridors, and snow conditions are changing rapidly. Visitors are reminded that all lands within the former Mount McKinley National Park remain permanently closed to all snowmachine under federal regulation. Maps and GPS coordinates for the park and preserve boundary are available on the park website.

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NPS - National Park Service published this content on April 17, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 18, 2026 at 00:51 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]