The area under consideration is circled in yellow/NPS graphic
For 20 years, the staff at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska has been considering the area between the Nenana River and George Parks Highway for trails and other "recreational infrastructure." Now the park wants to hear your thoughts on that matter.
The National Park Service is thinking of improving recreational access to the Nenana River corridor in Denali/NPS
The Park Service is currently exploring initial ideas for possible hiking and multiuse trails, campsites, and winter recreation opportunities in the Nenana River corridor. The goal of these potential developments would be to provide easily accessible on-trail recreational opportunities for multiple uses, varying skill levels, and a wide diversity of user groups. Additional information can be found on the Denali National Park website.
A virtual meeting will be held Wednesday, November 10, 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Alaska time via the Microsoft Teams platform. The meeting is intended to introduce these exploratory ideas and for the park staff to hear from the public regarding their preferences for trails and recreational opportunities in the Nenana River corridor. In addition to attending the meeting, members of the public are invited to provide comments October 27 – November 24 via the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment page for the project.
The initial vision for the Nenana River corridor includes trails and other developments that provide a readily available visitor experience in an incredibly scenic natural area. Some visitors may see the area as an introduction to Denali's backcountry. The area would be less 'managed' or 'tame' than the entrance area, but not as intimidating as the park's trailless backcountry. Although the area would still be in the frontcountry it would have a remote feel in that the presence of development, traffic, and the busy nature of the entrance area quickly recede as one leaves the trailheads. Developments wouldn't dominate the remote, scenic aspects of the area, but would facilitate visitor access to and enjoyment of the natural landscape. A wide diversity of user groups (e.g., hikers, families, community members, people with accessibility needs) could feel as though they truly experienced the natural beauty of Denali National Park in an approachable area without the same degree of development, visitor guidance, and busy energy as the entrance area. -- NPS
How to Attend
Wednesday, November 10, 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Alaska Time
Join with a web browser on your computer or phone (no Microsoft account required, though you may also join with the Teams app if you have it on your computer or mobile device). If you do not have an internet connection, you may call in on your phone for audio only: 1-202-640-1187 Phone conference ID: 417 587 573#
How to Submit Comments
Comments will be most helpful if they are received before November 24. The NPS requests that comments be submitted via the PEPC page for the project: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/nenanarivertrails
Comments may also be mailed to:
Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve
PO Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755
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Comments
Pleaser count this email as favoring user friendly developement in the Nenana River Corridor, from a retired professional seasonal NPS and USFS Wilderness ranger. I worked seasonally all over the northen half of Denali under Superitendent Cunningham, in the summer of 1980, as I recall. Dr. Carl Sharsmith, on sabatical from Yosemite that summer, stayed in my assigned patrol cabin at Sanctuary. Dr. Gordon Haber had a wolf den in the area too, and Wayne Merry was over from Atlin Lake to see his kids, so it was a very educational summer for me! Wilderness access management is my specialty, and I've concluded that our overcrowded parks need all the diversionary help they can get from immediatly adjacent areas, such as the Methow where I've retired at the east entry to NOCA. See my book: SKI TRAILS AND WILDLIFE for details.