Photos of rock slide courtesy of Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game.

(CHITINA, Alaska) – A rock slide has occurred on the O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek Trail about three miles beyond the O’Brien Creek bridge at the start of the trail. The slide, consisting primarily of slate, is significant and unstable, with the possibility of continued movement. It is currently unsafe for crossing by four-wheeler or on foot.

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) and the Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) urge the public not to cross the slide. If individuals do cross the slide, they do so at the risk of being injured during crossing or being trapped beyond the slide. Due to operator safety concerns and the location of the slide, DOT&PF will not be able to clear the slide during the 2019 fishing season. DOT&PF tentatively plans to address the rock slide this fall.

The O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek Trail is frequently used by dip netters traveling by four-wheeler. The popular Chitina Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery is open periodically between June 7 and September 30. The schedule can be found on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website here.

In 2018, DOT&PF, in cooperation with Chitina Dip Netters Association and ADF&G, improved and maintained several miles of the trail with plans to continue improvements in the fall of 2019. This slide will now be added to the work list for these trail improvements.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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