Areas of the Russian River Campground reopened Friday for nonmotorized winter recreation.
The Chugach National Forest announced Friday on Facebook that the campground would be reopened, with reservations for the Barber Cabin set to resume Saturday.
The closure was implemented in August and prohibited vehicle and pedestrian traffic for ongoing “extensive construction work.” When the campground was closed, the Forest Service wrote that it was expected to reopen Dec. 1.
The construction project, to reconstruct 1 mile of the road, involves the creation of new retaining walls above and below the road, expansion of the shoulder, and installation of a new surface and railing, a release said at the time. These improvements are intended to both improve access for users and protect nearby “critical salmon habitat” from hillside erosion. The campground has been repeatedly closed for the work in the spring and fall since 2022.
The campground will close again on March 1 for more construction.
For more information about the Chugach National Forest or updated forest orders, visit fs.usda.gov/chugach.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
