Annual Road Lottery Opens June 1 At Denali National Park And Preserve

Published Date

June 1, 2012

Win a spot in the annual Denali Road Lottery and you can leave the bus behind to explore the park road this fall. NPS photo.

For the next 30 days you'll be able to enter for a chance to drive along the Denali Park Road this fall.

The 2012 annual road lottery in Denali National Park and Preserve will take place on September 14, 15, 16, and 17 (Friday through Monday), weather permitting. Each day 400 vehicles may use their day-long permits, obtained through the lottery system, to travel the Denali Park Road. If weather permits, the road may be open for its entire 92-mile length, offering exceptional opportunities for experiencing the heart of the park.

Beginning on 12:01 a.m. on June 1, 2012, until midnight June 30, 2012 (Alaska time) entries may be made online at this site. Entries can also be done by phone at (877) 444-6777 between the hours of 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Alaska time) from June 1 – 30, 2012.

The non-refundable entry fee payment of $10 will be charged to your credit card during the online or phone application process. Online and phone lottery winners will be billed the $25 Road Lottery Fee at the time of the drawing. This fee will be refunded only if the Park Road does not open by 2 p.m. on the day of the permit, due to weather or road conditions.

Entries will also be accepted by mail. Please be certain that:

· A legible return address, including a first and last name (this is needed for notification) is on the envelope. Include an email address if available, as it will allow for quicker notification.

· Your desired dates, in order of preference, are on the back of the envelope. If no dates are provided, dates of September 14, 15, 16, and 17 will be assigned in that order.

· A check or money order for $10, made payable to the “National Park Service,” is included. This fee is non-refundable.

Entries should be sent to:

Road Lottery

Denali National Park and Preserve

P.O. Box 9

Denali Park, AK 99755

Entries sent by mail must be received by the park by June 30, 2012, to be included in the drawing. Submit entries early to make certain they arrive in time. Entries that arrive after the drawing will be returned. Lottery winners entering by mail will be a sent a bill of collection for the $25 Road Lottery Fee, which must be paid by August 15.

Everyone who submitted an entry will be notified regarding the status of their entry via email or U.S. mail if an email address is not provided. Those who are drawn in the lottery will also receive a letter confirming the day of their permit, with additional information on how to obtain the road permit and how to prepare for their visit to the park.

By July 15, the names of individuals drawn for permits will also be posted on the park website.

All permit holders must pay the park entrance fee of $10 per person (for visitors age 16 or older) on the day of their permit 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). Go to this page for more information.

Permits are transferable, i.e. the person awarded the permit can give it to someone else if they are not able to participate that weekend. The person transferring the permit must provide the original notification and a short note explaining the transfer to the new permit holder, who must bring that documentation to the park when they check in for their road permit.

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. Campsites are not included in the road permit, but can be reserved in advance via this web page or 800- 622-7275. Information on campgrounds and accommodations outside the park is available through the Denali Chamber of Commerce or by calling 907- 683-4636.

Lottery information is available on the park website or by calling park headquarters at 907- 683-9532 from 8 am -4:30 pm daily.

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