--Webcam for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
--The late exit and overnight permit number for Red Rock Canyon is 702-515-5050. If there is any chance that you will be inside the park after closing, be sure to call this number so that you don't get a ticket.
--The scenic drive loop is back to opening its gates at 6 AM instead of 7 AM.
JOSHUA TREE:
The seemingly never-ending rock fields of Joshua Tree. Photo (Archived) by Dana Hickenbottom
-Forecast and average temperatures for Joshua Tree National Park.
--Webcam for Joshua Tree National Park.
NORTHWEST:
The South and North (left to right) Early Winter Spires of Washington Pass. Photo by Dana Hickenbottom
--The North Cascades Highway and Washington Pass are now open! The highway that provides access to many classic climbs opened on Friday, April 24th at 8pm and there was no shortage of anxious climbers waiting for those gates to open. This includes one of our new guides, Kevin Hogan, and his climbing partner Doug Seitz who had their eyes set on the impressive North Face of Graybeard. They had quite the experience on the climb and summitted after 12 hours on the face. To read the full report of their harrowing ascent click here.
AAI Guide Kevin Hogan leading the steep ice on Graybeard. Photo by Doug Seitz
--The Washington Trails Association has an update regarding the proposed closure of the Cascade River Road out of Marblemount on the North Cascades Highway. A closure of this road would effectively block access to many incredible peaks in the Cascade Pass and Boston Basin area. To read more about this potential closure and to write the Skagit County Board of Commissioners to request that the road remain open click here.
--Forecast for the West Slope of the Cascades.
--An up-to-date ski and snow report for the Northwest may be found here.
--Up-to-date Pacific Northwest Ice Conditions may be found here.
--The Tieton River climbing areas have been closed for the season due to nesting raptors. To read more about this closure, click here.
--Webcams for Chamonix Valley, Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
Denali Park Road to Open to Mile 30 on Friday, April 24
Mild spring weather has facilitated the efforts of the National Park
Service road crew and other park employees to open the road and park
facilities to park visitors. The portion of the Denali Park Road between
the Savage River (Mile 15) and the Teklanika River Rest Area at Mile 30
will open for travel by private vehicles at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 24,
weather permitting. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead for updated road
and weather conditions before driving to the park.
Motorists should expect to encounter snow, ice, and mud on some portions of
the road, particularly shaded areas. Please be alert for heavy equipment
being used in road opening operations and park personnel working on the
edges of the road. There are vault toilets at the Savage River parking
areas and chemical toilets at the Teklanika River Rest Area for visitor
use. Other facilities west of the park headquarters, including campgrounds,
are scheduled to open mid-May.
The road will be open to Mile 30 through Tuesday, May 19. Beginning on
Wednesday, May 20 the shuttle bus system will provide access beyond the
Savage River to as far west as the Toklat River (Mile 53). The first
fifteen miles of the park road will continue to be open for travel by park
visitors in private vehicles throughout the summer season.
Snow conditions for skiing and mushing have deteriorated, but there is
still good snow on north-facing slopes. Visitors have reported numerous
wildlife sightings, including lynx, wolves, caribou, moose, Dall sheep,
ptarmigan, golden eagles, and snowshoe hare.
Visitor information and backcountry permits are available at the Murie
Science and Learning Center (Mile 1.3) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The Riley Creek Campground is open for free camping until May 15, but water
and sewer services are currently not available. A vault toilet is provided
for campers in the open loop, and water can be obtained at the Murie
Science and Learning Center.
Denali National Park and Preserve collects an entrance fee year-round. The
entrance fee of $10 per person or $20 per vehicle is good for seven days.
The majority of the money collected remains in the park to be used for
projects to improve visitor services and facilities. Interagency Federal
Recreation Passes such as the Annual, Senior, and Access Pass, and the
Denali Annual Pass are also valid for entry into the park. Visitors can pay
entrance fees and purchase passes at the Murie Science and Learning Center.
Additional information can be obtained by calling the park at (907)
683-2294 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily or on the web at
www.nps.gov/dena.
