The Russian River Campground reopened Monday after a nearly 10-month closure, but will close again in August for ongoing construction on the Russian River Campground Road.
The campsite and surrounding trail accesses are now open. Reservations for campsites can be made online.
According to a Forest Order published by Forest Supervisor Jeff Schramm last year effecting the closure, all areas of the campground were closed to clear the way for Qayaq Construction, who were tasked with reconstructing a mile of the access road. That effort included installing a retaining wall, expanding an existing shoulder, installing new pavement and railing and reinforcing the embankment and hillside along the Kenai River.
“Given the substantial nature of the work being performed, and the fact that operating heavy equipment near campers and other recreational users poses an obvious safety risk, it is necessary to close the Russian River Campground area to the public while the construction project is ongoing,” Schramm wrote.
Information on the United States Forest Service website says that the closure was also a result of spruce bark beetle mitigation.
Those efforts will be renewed when the campground again closes on Aug. 15.
For more information about Russian River Campground, visit fs.usda.gov/recarea/chugach/recarea/?recid=6647.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
