Certain fees for campground sites and public use cabins in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge will increase this summer, the refuge announced Thursday.
A news release from the refuge says that starting on May 17, campsite fees will increase by $5 per night and cabin rentals will increase by $10 per night. At the same time, the Skyview Loop at Hidden Lake Campground will become reservation only — bookable online at recreation.gov — and have a $10 reservation fee charged in addition to the campground fee.
Other campsites at Upper Skilak Campground and Hidden Lake’s Lake Loop and Ridge Loop will remain first come, first served.
All campground fees at Hidden Lake Campground will be $15 per night. At Upper Skilak Campground, drive-in sites will be $15 and walk-in sites will be $10.
For public use cabins, historic cabins will be $45 per night and contemporary cabins will be $55.
Historic cabins are Big Bay, Big Indian Creek, Caribou Island, Doroshin Bay, Nurse’s Pipe Creek and Vogel Lake.
Contemporary cabins are Dolly Varden, Engineer Lake, Kelly Lake, McLain Lake, Pincher Creek, Snag Lake and Upper Ohmer Lake.
Other refuge campgrounds that aren’t already included in the fee system will remain free, the release says.
“The changes are necessary for Kenai Refuge to continue providing high-quality visitor services and programs to the local community and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who enjoy the refuge annually,” it reads.
For more information, fws.gov/refuge/kenai.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
