Picture of the view of the valley with the sun shining on the White Mountains' highlands in the distance. A few inches of snow covers the ground. The edge of the Moose Mountain Cabin frames the right side of the picuture.

White Mountains National Recreation Area Winter Trail Updates

Winter Recreation October 15-April 30

The winter limitations are in effect through April 30, unless modifications are announced for the winter-to-summer transition in the spring. Modifications will be included here and shared on facebook.

During the winter, the White Mountains are open to the use of snowmobiles weighing up to 1000 pounds curb weight and up to 50 inches wide in addition to all forms of non-motorized use. Winter trails are open to both snowmobiles and nonmotorized users, except for the non-motorized Ski Loop Trail and Summit Trail.

To better understand the winter limitations and winter recreation opportunities in the White Mountains National Recreation Area and the neighboring Steese National Recreation Area, the public can use the Winter Recreation Map. This map includes boundaries and trails to help with navigation, especially when traveling in areas that are not well-marked. Orange reflectors and tripod markers are placed along trails to help locate the trails but should never be relied on for route finding. To learn more about how to use the BLM’s maps to navigate using your smartphone’s GPS, even in areas without cellular reception, visit the BLM Georeferenced Maps webpage.

Map of the White Mountains National Recreation Area and Steese National Conservation area winter recreation facilities and access limitations.

The BLM recreation staff maintain several multi-use trails for winter recreation and to access to 13 reservable public use cabins. We update this report throughout the winter to provide information about trail maintenance efforts and trail conditions.

Updates are generally published on Fridays to share the work the BLM has done each week.

Monitor this webpage and follow us on Facebook: BLM-White Mountains National Recreation Area.

Conditions Update – December 5, 2025

Roughly 4 inches of new snow fell on the White Mountains trail system this week, helping to improve trail conditions.

Recreation staff worked hard to make progress breaking open the trail system this week. They broke and packed Wickersham Creek Trail to Borealis LeFevre Cabin and Fossil Creek Trail to Windy Gap Cabin.

All creek and river crossings traveled so far are solid with the exception of shelf ice on Fossil Creek at a couple of the different crossings. Recreation staff attempted to break out some of Windy Creek Trail but didn’t get far past the trail junction of Fossil Creek and Windy Creek Trail due to deep open water.

Traveling conditions are difficult due to:

ice/glaciation on trail

shelf ice and open water

steep gully crossings

While visiting the Whites, please be courteous to other trail and cabin users by sharing the trail and cleaning up after use. That includes cleaning up dog waste and straw left around cabins. Trapping season has begun, so take care not to disturb traps and keep your animals safe.

The White Mountains are remote with limited communication options, so visitors should be prepared for the unexpected. Even when planning for a day trip, always be prepared to spend the night. Equipment problems, rapidly changing weather conditions, or unexpected mishaps can leave you stranded far from help. Check out the tabs below for tips and resources to help you prepare.

Each week, as the BLM continues to work on the winter trails, we will continue to update the trail list below.

For more details, please call BLM to speak to one of the White Mountain National Recreation Area trail crew at (907) 474-2200 or 1-800-437-7021 (toll free) or stop by at 222 University Ave, Fairbanks. We are open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays).

Elliott Highway Trails 

Colorado Creek Trail - 11/12/2025 - not recommended until more snow. Only 3-5 inches of snow have fallen at the trailhead this season. Travel conditions are extreme with large gullies and ditches making travel very difficult.
Wickersham Creek Trail - 12/4/2025 – Packed trail to Borealis LeFevre Cabin with roughly 4 inhes of new snow. The trail is still rough but improving with most grasses and tussocks getting filled in and hardening up with current cold weather.
Ski Loop Trail- Groomed - 11/5/2025 - Packed with roughly an 8-inch base. Rocks, grass and brush are exposed in some areas.

Steese Highway Trails 

McKay Creek Trail - No Official Report, but there is sign of public use on McKay Creek Trail to Trail Creek Trail and Beaver Creek was solid.
Lower Nome Creek Trail - No report
U.S. Creek and Nome Creek Roads - No report.

Backcountry Trails 

Trail Creek Trail - 11/13/2025– Packed to Crowberry Cabin and Roughly 6-8 inches of snow. The trail is in decent condition to Lee’s Cabin, but there are many rough areas along the route due to the frozen ruts and gullies that can make travel difficult.
Bear Creek Trail - No report.
Big Bend Trail - No report.
Cache Mt. Divide Trail - No report
Fossil Creek Trail - 12/4/2025 – Packed and broke trail with roughly 3” of new snow from Borealis LeFevre Cabin to Windy Gap Cabin. Trail is still rough but improving and all creek crossings were mostly solid with the exception of some shelf ice at a few of the Fossil Creek Crossings.
Fossil Gap Trail - No report.
Moose Creek Trail - No report.
Windy Creek Trail - 12/4/2025 – Open Deep Water at the Fossil Creek Trail and Windy Creek Trail Junction. No report beyond that.

Yield priority pyramid for winter trail use. Motorized users are on the bottom of the pyramid and must yield to everyone. Next are bicyclists. Above them are pedestrians, including people with dogs, or on snowshoes or skies. All of these users must yield to people with horses or pack animals. Above them, at the top of the yield pyramid are dog mushers.

Cabins and Campgrounds

Campgrounds

Three campgrounds are open from late-May until the snow flies in October:

Cripple Creek Campground

Mount Prindle Campground

Ophir Creek Campground

No reservations. Visitors can pay fees using the Scan & Pay app on a mobile phone. Because there is no cell phone reception at the site, you will need to download the required Recreation.gov mobile app prior to traveling to the Campground, selecting the Scan & Pay option.

Cabins

Reservation required. Maximum 3-night stay.

Use of the public use cabins requires reservations through Recreation.gov.

Two trail shelters are free of charge and used on a first come, first served basis.

Winter Recreation October 15 - April 30

Reaching the heart of the White Mountains becomes much easier in the winter, when creeks, rivers, and bogs are frozen. In winter, visitors travel by ski, snowshoe, fatbike dog team and snowmobile to enjoy the 13 public-use cabins and 250 miles of groomed trails that make the White Mountains one of Interior Alaska's premier winter destinations.

Main points of access along the Elliott Highway include Wickersham Dome Trailhead at mile 28, and Colorado Creek Trailhead at mile 57. On the Steese Highway, main access is at McKay Creek Trailhead at mile 42.

Note that the U.S. Creek Road at mile 57 and the Nome Creek Road are not maintained during the winter, but they sometimes have regular use that packs trails.

During the winter season, the White Mountains are open to the use of snowmobiles weighing up to 1000 pounds curb weight and up to 50 inches wide in addition to all forms of non-motorized use. Winter trails are open to both snowmobiles and nonmotorized users, except for the non-motorized Ski Loop Trail and Summit Trail leaving from Wickersham Dome Trailhead.

Wheeled off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are not allowed on the White Mountains National Recreation Area’s trails during the winter. In general, wheeled motor vehicles are not allowed because they churn up rocks and create ruts through the snowpack. This degrades trails for other users and makes trail grooming operations more challenging. Although there is no winter maintenance, roads in the area remain open to wheeled OHVs and highway vehicles as conditions allow. Throughout the year, these areas are open to non-motorized use, including hiking, biking and equestrian use.

Check out the Know Before You Go below for tips and links.

Here are some resources to help you plan your visit:

Summer Recreation May 1 – October 14

A typical summer season runs May 1 through October 14, but the transition into and out of winter is variable, so sometimes season modifications or other restrictions are announced.

Modifications will be included here and shared on facebook.

During the short summers, visitors hike, float, hunt, fish, pan for gold and camp under Alaska's 'midnight sun.'

Nome Creek valley is one of the prime access points for summer recreation with access to two campgrounds, trails, a gold-panning area and a departure point for float trips on Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. It can be reached via the US Creek Road, Steese Highway Milepost 57. These gravel roads can be bumpy but are suitable for use by highway vehicles.

To protect sensitive resources, vehicles must remain on BLM routes designated for their use unless traveling in an area designated open to cross-country motorized travel. The entire area is open to all forms of non-motorized use, so feel free to explore off-trail.

The most popular places to ride OHV’s is in the Nome Creek tailings and the Quartz Creek Trail. Most managed routes are open to OHVs weighing 1,000 pounds or less curb weight and a maximum width of 50 inches. A few routes are designated for larger motor vehicles weighing up to 1,500 pounds curb weight and up to 64 inches wide, including the Quartz Creek Trail and the Wickersham Creek Trail to Lee’s Cabin from the Wickersham Dome Trailhead. Please be aware that many large OHVs, ARGOS, and four-door side-by-side UTVs are too large for use on most routes and cross-country travel on BLM-managed lands.

E-bikes are allowed on all motorized routes and two designated trails:

Most of the cabins become difficult to reach in the summer, but a few are regularly used such as Fred Blixt Cabin and Lee’s Cabin.

Check out the Know Before You Go tab below for tips and links.

Here are some resources to help you plan your visit:

Trail Maps

Web Map: The new interactive Alaska Travel Management web map includes information on routes and cross-country travel areas. Toggle on and off trail and area layers for winter or summer, scroll across Alaska and zoom in to get detailed information. You can even create custom georeferenced PDF maps for use in the field by selecting print PDF.

Georeferenced PDF maps: these digital maps are designed for use on smart phones and tablets. With a free app the map shows your current location even if cell coverage is not available. Learn more about how to use these free digital maps and browse the full collection of BLM georeferenced PDF maps.

Know Before You Go

Visitors are at their own risk and should be prepared for any situation and extreme weather conditions. Weather and trail conditions change rapidly.

Share a trip plan (State Troopers form) with family or friends before you head out

Please check back here for updates before you head to the field and follow our Facebook page for regular and emergency updates.

Check the weather before you head out.
Check the highway conditions on 511.alaska.gov before you head out.
Download our maps for White Mountains on your phone for off-grid use.
Bring more water, food, and fuel than you should need for your trip.
Bring a satellite communication device, more than one if possible.
Plan for mechanical breakdowns and weather conditions to deteriorate rapidly.
If you become stranded, do not separate from your party.
Alaska is Bear Country: No matter the season, always remain bear aware.

Special Rules

The following activities are prohibited in the White Mountains National Recreation Area:

use of motorized equipment for mineral collection for personal use
camping at one site for a period longer than 10 days in any calendar year
discharging of firearms within one-quarter mile of public recreation cabins, campgrounds, as well as across or along roads and trails
leaving burning or smoldering campfires unattended
constructing permanent or semi-permanent structures, including cabins, caches, water dams or diversions without written authorization from the BLM authorized officer (subject to valid existing rights)

Planning and Projects