State closes two campgrounds due to beetle-kill spruce

Two state campgrounds have been closed because of dangers posed by beetle-kill trees.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Alaska’s Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation announced that the Byers  (BY-ers) Lake campground in Denali State Park and the South Rolly Campground in the Nancy Lake State Recreation area are closed.

Numerous standing dead trees have fallen in the campgrounds, and officials say the risk of additional trees falling makes the campgrounds unsafe for use this season.  The campgrounds are expected to remain closed for most of the summer, and possibly into next year.

Alaska State Parks is pursuing federal funds to contract private businesses to remove trees affected by spruce beetles.  Tuesday’s statement says the tree removal will be timed to reduce the risk of further beetle infestation, and that the effort to take down affected trees is being conducted in coordination with the Division of Forestry.

In Denali State Park, the closure also affects the Byers Lake and Cascade Trails.  The public use cabins will remain open, but access will be restricted.  The public use cabins at Nancy Lake will also remain open.

More information is available at Alaska state parks dot org.