Eastern, western coastal areas of Slope open for snowmobile travel

Petroleum News

Snowmobile travel is now open on the eastern and western coastal areas of the North Slope for operators with valid off-road travel permits for state-owned North Slope lands, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mining, Land and Water said Oct. 24.

The division said it has documented snow conditions within those areas as appropriate for snowmobile travel, but "snow depths and soil temperature criteria for general winter off-road travel have not been met," and areas with low snow should be avoided.

Those with valid off-road vehicle permits issued by the Division of Mining Land and Water or the Division of Oil and Gas "may designate environmental staff to approve the use of snowmobiles without contacting the DNR permit issuing division" during the remainder of the 2024-25 winter season.

"Approval for off-road travel using summer approved vehicles and travel for winter route construction may be sought by contracting your DNR off-road travel permit issuing division."

--PETROLEUM NEWS