Park Closes Trails Due to Active Bears

By Sentinel Staff

Bear activity along the Indian River corridor has caused the National Park Service to close several trails in the Sitka National Historical Park through at least Wednesday.

People should look for posted alerts or closures at each trailhead and ‘‘respect these limited closures when you see a trail is posted as closed,” the Park Service said in a news release.

The Russian Memorial Loop trail in the park’s east unit is closed. The Riverview Trail also is closed between Sawmill Creek Road (to the north) and the pedestrian bridge over Indian River (to the south). The Totem Trail loop remains open, but bear encounters are possible, NPS said.

Park management will reevaluate bear activity each day. Check nps.gov/sitk/planyourvisit/conditions.htm to find out whether the closure has been extended.

To find tips for staying safe in areas where bears are active go to nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm.