Gold Mint Trailhead off limits until mid August

HATCHER PASS -- Access to the popular Gold Mint Trail, located at Mile 14 Hatcher Pass Road, is closed to vehicles until mid August, as construction crews expand and pave the parking lot and upgrade the restrooms. According to Alaska State Park's Chief of Field Operations Pete Panarese, the upgraded parking lot will require day-use fees by winter. Panarese said the fees will likely be about $5 for daily parking and $40 for annual statewide parking passes. In the future, Panarese indicated that there may be camping fees at certain areas in Hatcher Pass as well.

"These fees go toward grooming snowmachine trails and other activities we do up here," Panarese said. Some of the improvements include facilitating easier access to the mountain for snowmachiners so that they will stay off Hatcher Pass Road. State Parks currently hires a professional groomer to maintain the snowmachine trails. The groomer is presently paid through a state grant, funded by snowmachine registration fees.

As for hikers, skiers and horseback riders, the actual Gold Mint Trail is unaffected by the new construction.

"We're not planning on doing anything with the trail at present because we just recently brushed it back, so people don't get hit in the head by branches."

The day-use fees will also go toward plowing and maintaining the parking lot and cleaning the bathrooms.

Panarese asked for the public's cooperation in observing the closed trailhead. He said parked cars and pedestrians could hinder and slow the project due to the daily operation of heavy equipment and other construction site hazards.

Vehicles that are parked in the parking lot may be impounded and removed at the owner's expense. As a last resort, violators could also receive $100 fines by park rangers.

For more information contact the Mat-Su State Park Office at 745-8931.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.