Denali National Park and Preserve has temporarily closed the Savage River Campground at Mile 13 of the Denali Park Road following a series of wildlife encounters near the site.
Park staff discovered a deceased young moose near the campground. A cow moose has remained in the vicinity following the animal’s death, and a grizzly bear has also been spotted in the area. Officials closed the campground at 10:30am on Thursday, May 28th and say it will remain shuttered until further notice while staff monitor conditions and assess public safety.
All visitors with reservations for tonight have been relocated to other campgrounds within the park.
Park managers are continuing to evaluate conditions to determine when the site can safely reopen. Officials warn that both animals present a serious danger to visitors. Bears will often aggressively defend carcasses, and cow moose are known to behave defensively, particularly when protecting young. Wildlife near food sources can behave unpredictably, and visitors are urged to maintain safe distances and follow all instructions from park staff.
Anyone holding existing reservations at Savage River Campground during the closure period should contact reservedenali.com or call 866-761-6629 for information about rebooking or refunds.
For the latest campground status and park updates, visitors can check the official park website at nps.gov/dena.
