Have you always wanted to experience driving down the Denali Park Road in Denali National Park? If so, now's the time to get your application in for this year's road lottery to see who will get that privilege in September during the park's prime leaf peeping season.

This year, park officials plan to open the 92-mile Denali Road to private vehicles on September 18, 19, 20 and 21, weather-permitting. Up to 400 vehicles per day will be allowed. The lottery system determines which lucky applicants will be allowed to drive their vehicles on the shuttle road on a given day.

Road lottery entries must be input on the web or postmarked between June 1-30, a month earlier than in previous years. The entry period was changed based on requests from previous road lottery participants, to provide more time to make arrangements for visiting the park.

The direct link to the online entry form is available until midnight on June 30, 2009 at this website. The entry fee payment of $10 may be made by credit card, or direct deposit from a bank account.

Entries are also being accepted by mail. Please be certain that:

• A legible return address, including a first and last name is on the envelope. This is needed for notification.

• Your desired dates, in order of preference, are written on the back of the envelope. If no dates are provided, dates of September 18, 19, 20, and 21 will be assigned in that order.

• A check of money order for $10, made payable to “National Park Service,” is included. This fee is non-refundable. Entries received without the $10 fee will be returned.

Entries submitted via regular mail must be postmarked no later than June 30, 2009 and must arrive in the park by July 7 to be included in the drawing. Submit entries early to make certain they arrive in time!

Only one entry per person is allowed, and duplicate entries will be disqualified.

Entries should be sent to:

Road Lottery
Denali National Park and Preserve
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755

Entries that arrive after the drawing will be returned. The names of individuals selected for permits will be posted on the park website by July 15.

Everyone who submitted an entry will be notified by U.S. mail on the status of their entry. Those who are selected for permits will also receive a letter confirming the day of their permit, with additional information on how to obtain the road permit and prepare for their visit to the park. A $25, non-refundable fee will be required on the day the permit is picked up at the park. In addition, permit holders must pay the park entrance fee of $20 per vehicle unless they have a federal recreation pass such as the Denali Annual Pass or the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Annual, Senior, Access, or Volunteer).

Permits are transferable -- that is, the person who was awarded the permit can give it to someone else if they are not able to participate that weekend.

The possibility of inclement weather in September is always a factor. Some years the road has only been partially open because of snow. Lottery participants are encouraged to visit the park website for updated road and weather information the day before or the morning of their permit. The Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River campgrounds will be open through the weekend, weather permitting.

Lottery information is available on the park website at www.nps.gov/dena or by calling park headquarters at (907) 683-2294 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily.