09/10/2026
UPDATE 9/10/26 Amber Lake Trail: through a *chain* (!!) of DNR permitting folks, we have NOW learned the following.
A $1200+ easement-amendment fee is necessary to change the northeast jog to aforementioned-problematic Sister Lake terminus at Oilwell Road (see amended map below in comments). The seismic trail directly west out to Chigjuk Creek and Oilwell Road junction with the PCNPO new Forks/Shulin trail would require this easement amendment process. There are additional fees involved including a DNR preliminary survey which we have asked for a total estimate and awaiting that probably next week. Curry Ridge Riders has already applied for the annual Polaris trail improvement grant to help fund such costs but we will not know yes/no until mid-October. DNR no longer waives fees for non-profits.
https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/lands/easements/
OR
perhaps Curry Ridge Riders could help clear/improve Amber Lake Trail as far as the seismic trail with the volunteer help of property owners where the first two-thirds of Amber Lake Trail from MP105, leaving the seismic route and Bunco Creek crossing up to trail users. (see circle on map in comments below). Then we could just maintain/groom that section of the trail and the rest up up to area property owners to connect the rest of the way to access Oilwell Road at Chigjuk Creek terminus and PCNPO trail juncture.
We will know more about the total costs involved to change the easement next week--stay tuned
UPDATE 8/7/26: Curry Ridge Riders has learned much this week about governments and Amber Lake Trail. The MatSu Borough finally got around to responding that the majority of Amber Lake Trail is not borough, it is state jurisdiction! So start over contacting DNR Permitting Department this week for an understanding what process is required for trail rehabilitation and routine grooming. We were in for a few surprises and you are probably too: DNR no longer waives permitting fees for nonprofits and that means a $240/year mandatory permit fee coming from somewhere anually. Added to that, the current trail as-is easement is prescribed as 5 feet (even if it really isn't now due to overgrowth). To operate snowcats within the easement it would have to be at least 10 feet wide and we'll be learning more about what that will take in a telephonic conference call next week including any additional fees to do so. Unfortunately, this new process of permitting via the state will delay trail-grant applications to help fund the heavy work needed...need to have proof of "landowner approvals" first---but we're on it. Stay tuned.
ORIGINAL POST: Curry Ridge Riders was approached last winter by Amber Lake property owners for inclusion to maintain and groom the Amber Lake Trail in the future inasmuch as trail juncture is just north of MP105 along the Trapper Creek Winter Trail, (aka "Rabbideaux). We are glad to entertain the possibility but much restoration and widening for the trail would be needed to support snowcat/grooming drag operations safely. To that end, we have located a trail improvement grant that would fund rehabilitation costs but the application deadline is coming up fast!
To make this happen for the upcoming winter, we need to hear now from current Amber Lake trail volunteer crewmembers for more information and also need letters of support why CRR should improve and groom Amber Lake Trail, some history of how the trail benefitted their needs over the years including practical use and financial gains for the community to back up the grant application.
If you would like to contact us or contribute to the cause, our hotline/message telephone number is 907-689-7669 (monitored weekly in off-season) or you can email us at: [email protected] (monitored daily) or our postal mail address is P.O. Box 13218, Trapper Creek AK 99683 (1-2 weeks for receipt).
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