Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance
Projects & Initiatives
AOAA projects focus on protecting public access, supporting responsible land management, and ensuring Alaskan voices are represented in land-use decisions across the state.
Alaska State Forest Expansion
Proposals to expand or designate new state forest lands have raised important questions about how access, recreation, and multiple-use management would be handled under long-term forest management plans. While state forests can provide important benefits, changes in land designation may also affect how motorized and non-motorized access is managed, permitted, or restricted over time.
The Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance has been engaged in reviewing state forest expansion proposals, monitoring agency processes, and encouraging transparency and public involvement. AOAA’s focus is ensuring that existing access, traditional use, and recreational activities are fully considered before decisions are made, and that any changes to land status do not result in unintended or unnecessary access loss. AOAA continues to monitor state forest proposals to support balanced, multiple-use outcomes that reflect on-the-ground realities and community needs.
Alaska Long Trail National Scenic Trail Designation
The proposed Alaska Long Trail and its potential designation as a National Scenic Trail (NST) raised significant concerns about long-term land management, access, and local control. While the concept of a statewide trail has broad appeal, the NST designation introduces federal involvement that could affect existing uses, access rights, and decision-making processes across a wide range of state, federal, and local lands. The Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance engaged by reviewing proposal materials, educating the public on what an NST designation could mean in practice, and encouraging informed participation in the planning process. AOAA raised concerns about how motorized access, traditional use, private land interests, and community input would be addressed under a federal designation. AOAA continues to monitor developments related to the Alaska Long Trail to ensure that access impacts are fully considered, public processes are transparent, and Alaska-based voices remain central to any future decisions.
Whittier - Horsetail Falls Access
In spring 2025, motorized access in the Whittier area was temporarily shut down, affecting long-standing recreational use and access routes relied on by local residents and visitors. The closure raised concerns about how access decisions were communicated, the clarity of authority and process, and the broader implications for motorized recreation in the area.
The Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance engaged by monitoring developments, gathering information, and tracking agency actions to better understand how and why the shutdown occurred. AOAA continues to monitor the situation to ensure future access decisions are transparent, clearly justified, and consider established use, community input, and multiple-use principles.
Knik River Public Use Area
The Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance was actively involved in advocacy related to proposed management and regulatory changes for the Knik River Public Use Area, an area relied on by a diverse range of users. AOAA worked to inform the public about proposed actions, encouraged meaningful participation in the public process, and raised concerns about access impacts, clarity of regulations, and the need for management decisions to reflect real-world use. Through sustained engagement, AOAA helped amplify community voices, contributed to greater public awareness, and reinforced the importance of balanced, multiple-use management. This advocacy resulted in increased scrutiny of proposed changes and a clearer understanding among decision-makers of how access decisions affect users, local communities, and long-standing recreational traditions.
Ken & Patti Barber Shooting Range
The Ken & Patti Barber Shooting Range is a designated public facility that provides a safe and managed location for shooting sports and firearms training in the Mat-Su area. Discussions and proposals related to access, operations, and long-term management of the range raised concerns about continued public availability and the importance of maintaining designated recreation facilities.
The Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance monitored developments related to the range and emphasized the importance of preserving lawful public access, clear communication, and thoughtful management decisions. AOAA’s involvement focused on ensuring that access considerations, user needs, and the role of designated facilities in reducing dispersed impacts were fully understood during discussions. AOAA continues to monitor issues related to shooting range access and management to support responsible, long-term use.
John Sturgeon Navigable Waters Case
The John Sturgeon case became a landmark legal issue for public access in Alaska, addressing whether the federal government could restrict travel on state-owned navigable waters within federal conservation units. The case stemmed from enforcement actions taken against Mr. Sturgeon for using a hovercraft on a navigable river, raising broader questions about state sovereignty, access rights, and federal overreach.
The Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance supported advocacy efforts surrounding the case by helping raise awareness of its implications for access across Alaska and emphasizing the importance of protecting lawful use of navigable waters. The case ultimately resulted in a U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming that Alaska retains authority over its navigable waters, reinforcing access rights for Alaskans and setting an important precedent for future land and water management decisions. AOAA continues to reference this case as a reminder of how access rights can be affected — and defended — through legal and policy processes.