The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has lifted most of the area closure except for those areas burned in the Swan Lake Fire.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has lifted most of the area closure except for those areas burned in the Swan Lake Fire.

Great news for outdoor enthusiasts as we enter the first week of October and the fire management returns to the local Division of Forestry. 

As of today, the Kenai NWR is opening Vista Trail, Doroshin Bay Cabin, Hidden Lake and Hidden Lake Campground and East Fork Moose River in addition to what we previously opened. The closure area is also being reduced to the fire perimeter. Skilak Lake Road, Upper and Lower Skilak Roads and the Kenai River remain open for access through the closed area. Trapper Joe Cabin and Big Indian Cabin remain closed just because we cannot provide access via Mystery Creek Road. Upper and Lower Skilak Campgrounds remain closed even though they are outside the burn perimeter until we can remove the beetle killed trees in these two areas. We expect to open these campgrounds by mid-October. Marsh Lake Trail remains closed because it crosses into the burn area.