Hiking Alaska News: 4 trail closures in Southcentral Alaska for 2022 (two current, two upcoming)

I had started sharing news about these trail closures individually on Facebook, but there are enough of them that I figured it makes more sense to type up a quick post. Two of the closures are active, as of this writing, while two more are coming up in August:

1. Rabbit Lake trail is closed July 19-26, 2022 (approximately)

Per the Alaska State Parks Facebook page, the Rabbit Lake/Rabbit Creek trail is closed for about a week, starting on Tuesday, July 19. So in theory the closure will last through about the 26th, but you should check out the Alaska State Parks Facebook page for updates.

Also per that FB page, the closure won’t affect the Sunnyside Flattop trail that starts from the same trailhead. So it’s the Rabbit Lake trail that’s closed, not the trailhead itself.

2. Briggs Bridge (in Eagle River) closed through August 6, 2022

A chunk of Eagle River Loop Road (in Eagle River, of course) is closed through August 6 for permanent repairs related to damage from the 2018 earthquake. That includes repairs to Briggs Bridge, which of course means access to the Eagle River Greenbelt/Barbara Falls trailhead isn’t available until repairs are complete.

More details are available on Alaska Navigator.

3. Russian River Campground will be closed August 1, 2022 – June 1, 2023

These closure dates are approximate, but you can expect the closure to last until at least next spring, anyway. Crews will be working on the campground access road, improving its resistance to frost heaves and making it safer for pedestrians and vehicles alike. They’ll also be erosion-proofing land along the banks of the river.

Long story short, until the repairs are complete you won’t be able to access the Russian Lakes trail.

You can see the US Forest Service’s announcement about the closure here.

4. Albert Loop (Eagle River Nature Center) seasonal closure is coming — mid-August?

This closure isn’t unusual; the Albert Loop trail, near the wonderful Eagle River Nature Center, passes very close to Eagle River itself (the actual river, not the community). Because of this, the trail is briefly closed every year to reduce the risk of bear encounters when the fish are running.

As of this writing the seasonal closure hasn’t yet been announced, but it typically starts in mid August. You can check the Friends of Eagle River Nature Center Facebook page for updates, or call the nature center — and of course the closure will be posted at the ERNC building too.