White Mountains National Recreation Area Update
The winter limitations will be in effect through April 30, unless modifications are announced for the winter-to summer transition in the spring.
During the winter, the White Mountains are open to the use of snowmobiles weighing up to 1000 pounds curb weight and up to 50 inches wide in addition to all forms of non-motorized use. Winter trails are open to both snowmobiles and nonmotorized users, except for the non-motorized Ski Loop Trail and Summit Trail leaving from Wickersham Dome Trailhead.
To better understand the winter limitations and winter recreation opportunities in the White Mountains National Recreation Area and the neighboring Steese National Recreation Area, the public can use the Winter Recreation Map. This map includes boundaries and trails to help with navigation, especially when traveling in areas that are not well-marked. Orange reflectors and tripod markers are placed along trails to help locate the trails but should never be relied on for route finding. To learn more about how to use the BLM’s maps to navigate using your smartphone’s GPS, even in areas without cellular reception, visit the BLM Georeferenced Maps webpage.
The BLM recreation staff maintain several multi-use trails for winter recreation and to access to 13 reservable public use cabins. We update this report throughout the winter to provide information about trail maintenance efforts and trail conditions.
Updates are generally published on Fridays to share the work the BLM has done each week.
Monitor this webpage and follow us on facebook: BLM-White Mountains National Recreation Area.
Conditions Update - November 14, 2024
This week, the BLM recreation team groomed the Ski Loop trail and the Wickersham Creek Trail, crossed Beaver Creek at Borealis-LeFevre Cabin and groomed Fossil Creek Trail to Caribou Bluff Cabin. They also finished the final touches to the new Yeager’s Cabin, so it is now available to reserve up to 45 days in advance on Recreation.gov.
The early snow event was a great start to winter by starting to fill in gullies and bumps, but it also created a large workload to clear the overwhelming amount of brush and trees that are weighed down by the heavy snow, blocking many sections of the trails. Some trails may be impassable without considerable work to clear the brush and trees. As the winter progresses, we will continue to update the trail list below as the BLM works on the trails.
Trail users can expect deep snow, bumpy conditions, steep gully crossings, wind drifted snow, and hazardous stream crossings due to open water and thin ice. Visitors should use extra caution while traveling during this early season due to the warm temperatures and snow that is saturated with rain. Although there is enough snow to travel, most creeks, ponds and rivers are still not safe, making a majority of the trails in the White Mountains difficult to follow. Please use caution.
The area is remote, so visitors should be prepared for the unexpected. Even when planning for a day trip, always be prepared to spend the night. Equipment problems, rapidly changing weather conditions, or unexpected mishaps can leave you stranded far from help. Check out the Know Before You Go tab below for tips and resources to help you prepare.
For more details, please call BLM to speak to one of the White Mountain National Recreation Area trail crew at (907) 474-2200.
Elliott Highway Trails
- Colorado Creek Trail - OK Condition - 11/6/2024 – The trail head has 8 inches of snow with conditions improving as you get closer to the Colorado Creek Cabin with roughly 12 inches at the cabin. In the first 10 miles, the trail is bumpy, has multiple steep gullies, and has overflow creeping into the trail in some areas. Side hilling is necessary to navigate the trail.
- Wickersham Creek Trail - Good Condition - 11/14/2024 – Groomed and in great condition! Beaver Creek was frozen and the recreation team was able to cross safely with a route upstream to an island (gravel bar) and then across the Beaver Pond just upstream of Borealis-LeFevre Cabin. Roughly 24+ inches of snow makes for excellent conditions!
- Ski Loop Trail - Good Condition - 11/13/2024 –Groomed!
Steese Highway Trails
- McKay Creek Trail - Good Condition - 11/6/2024 – The trail has roughly two feet of snow and is brushed and packed to the Beaver Creek crossing, but the creek had open water so crossing is not recommended at this time. The trail crosses multiple steep gullies.
- Lower Nome Creek Trail - Good Condition - 11/6/2024 – The trail has roughly two feet of snow and is brushed and packed to the Nome Creek crossing, but the creek had open water so crossing is not recommended at this time. The trail crosses multiple steep gullies.
- U.S. Creek and Nome Creek Roads - no report
Backcountry Trails
- Trail Creek Trail - Good Condition - 10/29/2024 – Broke and packed the trail to Crowberry Cabin with 18-24 inches of snow along the entire route. No report of Beaver Creek crossing, but suspect there is still thin ice and hazardous conditions.
- Bear Creek Trail - no report
- Big Bend Trail - no report
- Cache Mt. Divide Trail - no report
- Fossil Creek Trail - Good Condition 11/13/2024 – Broke and groomed the trail to Caribou Bluff Cabin. Trail is in good condition with the exception of some open water (6-8 inches deep) on Fossil Creek between Fossil Creek Trail and the Fossil Gap junction.
- Fossil Gap Trail - Not Recommended at this time 11/6/2024- Trail has at least 12 inches of snow and is in good condition from Colorado Creek Trail Junction (3 miles) to the Beaver Ponds, but ponds still have thin ice with no route around.
- Moose Creek Trail - no report
- Windy Creek Trail - Good Condition to Wolf Run Cabin - 11/6/2024 – The trail has at least 12 inches of snow and is in good condition to Wolf Run Cabin. Beaver Creek was solid with a small amount of water in the slough on the south side of the crossing. No conditions report beyond the Wolf Run Cabin.
- Temporary Restrictions and Closures
-
No temporary restrictions or closures
- Winter Recreation October 15 - April 30
-
Reaching the heart of the White Mountains becomes much easier in the winter, when creeks, rivers, and bogs are frozen. In winter, visitors travel by ski, snowshoe, fatbike dog team and snowmobile to enjoy the 13 public-use cabins and 250 miles of groomed trails that make the White Mountains one of Interior Alaska's premier winter destinations.
Main points of access along the Elliott Highway include Wickersham Dome Trailhead at mile 28, and Colorado Creek Trailhead at mile 57. On the Steese Highway, main access is at McKay Creek Trailhead at mile 42.
Note that the U.S. Creek Road at mile 57 and the Nome Creek Road are not maintained during the winter, but they sometimes have regular use that packs trails.
During the winter season, the White Mountains are open to the use of snowmobiles weighing up to 1000 pounds curb weight and up to 50 inches wide in addition to all forms of non-motorized use. Winter trails are open to both snowmobiles and nonmotorized users, except for the non-motorized Ski Loop Trail and Summit Trail leaving from Wickersham Dome Trailhead.
Wheeled off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are not allowed on the White Mountains National Recreation Area’s trails during the winter. In general, wheeled motor vehicles are not allowed because they churn up rocks and create ruts through the snowpack. This degrades trails for other users and makes trail grooming operations more challenging. Although there is no winter maintenance, roads in the area remain open to wheeled OHVs and highway vehicles as conditions allow. Throughout the year, these areas are open to non-motorized use, including hiking, biking and equestrian use.
Check out the Know Before You Go below for tips and links.
Here are some resources to help you plan your visit:
- Summer Recreation May 1 – October 14
-
A typical summer season runs May 1 through October 14, but the transition into and out of winter is variable, so sometimes season modifications or other restrictions are announced.
During the short summers, visitors hike, float, hunt, fish, pan for gold and camp under Alaska's 'midnight sun.'
Nome Creek valley is one of the prime access points for summer recreation with access to two campgrounds, trails, a gold-panning area and a departure point for float trips on Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. It can be reached via the US Creek Road, Steese Highway Milepost 57. These gravel roads can be bumpy but are suitable for use by highway vehicles.
To protect sensitive resources, vehicles must remain on BLM routes designated for their use unless traveling in an area designated open to cross-country motorized travel. The entire area is open to all forms of non-motorized use, so feel free to explore off-trail.
The most popular places to ride OHV’s is in the Nome Creek tailings and the Quartz Creek Trail. Most managed routes are open to OHVs weighing 1,000 pounds or less curb weight and a maximum width of 50 inches. A few routes are designated for larger motor vehicles weighing up to 1,500 pounds curb weight and up to 64 inches wide, including the Quartz Creek Trail and the Wickersham Creek Trail to Lee’s Cabin from the Wickersham Dome Trailhead. Please be aware that many large OHVs, ARGOS, and four-door side-by-side UTVs are too large for use on most routes and cross-country travel on BLM-managed lands.
E-bikes are allowed on all motorized routes and two designated trails:
Most of the cabins become difficult to reach in the summer, but a few are regularly used such as Fred Blixt Cabin and Lee’s Cabin.
Check out the Know Before You Go tab below for tips and links.
Here are some resources to help you plan your visit:
- Trail Maps
-
Web Map: The new interactive Alaska Travel Management web map includes information on routes and cross-country travel areas. Toggle on and off trail and area layers for winter or summer, scroll across Alaska and zoom in to get detailed information. You can even create custom georeferenced PDF maps for use in the field by selecting print PDF.
Georeferenced PDF maps: these digital maps are designed for use on smart phones and tablets. With a free app the map shows your current location even if cell coverage is not available. Learn more about how to use these free digital maps and browse the full collection of BLM georeferenced PDF maps.
- Know Before You Go
-
Visitors are at their own risk and should be prepared for any situation and extreme weather conditions. Weather and trail conditions change rapidly.
Share a trip plan (State Troopers form) with family or friends before you head out
Please check back here for updates before you head to the field and follow our Facebook page for regular and emergency updates.
- Check the weather before you head out.
- Check the highway conditions on 511.alaska.gov before you head out.
- Download our maps for White Mountains on your phone for off-grid use.
- Bring more water, food, and fuel than you should need for your trip.
- Bring a satellite communication device, more than one if possible.
- Plan for mechanical breakdowns and weather conditions to deteriorate rapidly.
- If you become stranded, do not separate from your party.
- Alaska is Bear Country: No matter the season, always remain bear aware.
- Special Rules
-
The following activities are prohibited in the White Mountains National Recreation Area:
- use of motorized equipment for mineral collection for personal use
- camping at one site for a period longer than 10 days in any calendar year
- discharging of firearms within one-quarter mile of public recreation cabins, campgrounds, as well as across or along roads and trails
- leaving burning or smoldering campfires unattended
- constructing permanent or semi-permanent structures, including cabins, caches, water dams or diversions without written authorization from the BLM authorized officer (subject to valid existing rights)
- Campgrounds and Cabins
-
Campgrounds
No reservations.
Three campgrounds are open from late-May until the snow flies in October: Cripple Creek Campground, Mount Prindle Campground, and Ophir Creek Campground.
Cabins
Reservation required. Maximum 3-night stay.
Use of the 13 public use cabins requires reservations through Recreation.gov.
Two trail shelters are free of charge and used on a first come, first served basis.
- Planning and Projects
-
Borealis Basecamp Tour Proposal Review
Thank you for your participation! The BLM received over 250 comments during the public input period July 29-August 28 that will be used to help review a special recreation permit application by Borealis Basecamp, LLC for more snowmachine tours and new helicopter day tours in the White Mountains National Recreation Area.
Public comments are used to identify issues, impacts and information to include in the environmental assessment of the proposed tour activities.
Read the BLM announcement seeking public input.
Go to the project website on ePlanning to learn more about the proposed activities.
Learn more about planning in the BLM.
Search the BLM NEPA register for active projects in the BLM Eastern Interior Field Office.
- Contact Us
-
For up-to-date information or questions about visiting the White Mountains or other BLM-managed lands here are some ways you can reach us:
- (907) 474-2200 or 1-800-437-7021
- EasternInterior@BLM.gov
- Visit our BLM Public Room at the Fairbanks District Office, 222 University Ave., Fairbanks, Alaska