Denali National Park is seeing one of their earliest park road openings since the early 1980s.
Mild spring weather and low snow and ice levels have assisted the efforts of the road crew to open the park road this year. The portion of the road between Savage River and the Teklanika Reststop at mile 30 will open for traffic on Saturday morning at 8 am.
Park officials report that snow conditions have deteriorated but there is still good snow for skiing on north facing slopes. Visitors in the last couple of weeks traveling out to Savage River have reported sightings of lynx, caribou and moose. There have been no bear sightings yet in the Park.
Construction of new toilets at the Teklanika reststop is slated to begin in May. Visitors will see evidence of the upcoming construction as the travel to the reststop.
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead for weather and road information as spring weather is variable and sudden snowstorms can close the road at times.
