Federal Subsistence In Upper Copper River Opens May 15th Says Park

 

Chitina Fishwheel (Country Journal Archive, 2007)

Subsistence Fishing Permits Available for Upper Copper River Residents 

Release Date: May 4, 2026

Contact: wrst_public_affairs@nps.gov

COPPER CENTER, Alaska – Federal subsistence fishing in the Upper Copper River District will open on May 15. This fishing permit allows eligible rural residents to fish for salmon and other fish to feed themselves and their families under federal subsistence regulations. It is not a sport fishing permit or commercial fishing permit.

 

Starting May 4 through May 11, phone lines will be open (907-822-7284) to request permits for pick up before the visitor center opens Monday, May 11. Only one permit will be issued per household for a given subdistrict and a permit is required before fishing begins. Subsistence fish wheels should be registered by the owner through either the National Park Service or the Glennallen office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  

 

A government-issued photo ID and proof of your primary residence is required. Documentation can include a voter registration card or a recent utility bill listing your physical address.

 

Pre-Season permit event at the visitor center in Copper Center Saturday, May 9

• Applicants can pick up permits and register fish wheels at the Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center located on Mile 106.8, Richardson Highway.  
• To reduce wait times and expedite issuance, applicants are encouraged to call ahead to 907-822-7284 to request a permit. Permits requested in advance for the preseason event will be printed and available for pick up with photo I.D.  
• Please note that this event is for qualified permit applicants only. Regular visitor services will not be available on May 9.

 

Visitor Center in Copper Center will open daily starting Monday, May 11

• Beginning May 11 and throughout the season, permits will be available for pick up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week.
• Calling ahead is strongly encouraged to reduce wait times.  Please call 907-822-7250 for permits starting on May 11. Note that permits requested late in the day may not be available for pick up until the following day.  

 

Slana Ranger Station opens daily Sunday, May 24

• Fishing permits and fish wheel registration will be available at the Slana Ranger Station beginning May 24 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week.
• Applicants do not need to call ahead at this location.  

 

Chitina Ranger Station – limited hours

• Permits and fish wheel registration will be available at the Chitina Ranger Station on Saturdays, staffing dependent. Please call ahead to the park at 907-822-7250 to confirm if the ranger station is open.  

   

Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters (Tok), 907-883-5312  

• Permits will be available at the Tetlin NWR office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.
• Applicants do not need to call ahead at this location.
• Fish wheel registration is not available at the Tetlin NWR office. Please plan to register your fish wheel in Slana, Copper Center, or Glennallen.

 

A separate announcement on permit events will go out to Kennecott-McCarthy area residents.

 

Permit applicants must be federally qualified subsistence users. To be eligible for a permit, you must have lived in Alaska for the previous 12 months, your primary permanent residence should be in rural Alaska and your community or area must be listed for the intended species and location in the “Customary & Traditional Use Determination” (C&T) column of the Federal Subsistence Management Regulations Booklet for the Harvest of Fish and Shellfish:https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries.  

Rural residents of the following areas and communities are eligible to fish for salmon in the Glennallen Subdistrict: the Prince William Sound Area and residents of Cantwell, Chickaloon, Chisana, Dot Lake, Dry Creek, Healy Lake, Northway, Tanacross, Tetlin, and Tok, and those individuals living along the Alaska Highway from the U.S./Canada border to Dot Lake, along the Tok Cutoff from Tok to Mentasta Pass, and along the Nabesna Road.

Rural residents of the following areas and communities are eligible to fish for salmon in the Chitina Subdistrict:  Cantwell, Chickaloon, Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy Lake, Kenny Lake, LowerTonsina McCarthy, Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Northway, Paxson-Sourdough, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin, Tok, and Tonsina, and those individuals living along the Tok Cutoff from Tok to Mentasta Pass, and along the Nabesna Road.

The ADF&G 2026 Prince William Sound and Copper River Salmon Forecast predicts a weak Chinook run. The park will monitor and assess the run in-season. Please note that there is currently no Special Actions or Federal harvest restrictions at this time.

For more information, contact the visitor center in Copper Center at 907-822-7250.