Acadia
National Park Prepares for Summer Season
Park
Loop Road opens for season and carriage roads close for spring thaw
BAR
HARBOR, MAINE, April 21, 2015 – The National Park Service has
opened the Park Loop Road at Acadia National Park to all vehicles for
the 2015 summer season. The park’s carriage roads will be closed
to all public access and use starting on April 22, 2015, to protect
their gravel surface, which softens during the spring thaw, from
post-holing and rutting inadvertently caused by walkers and
bicyclists. The carriage roads within the park will remain closed to
all public access until the National Park Service determines they are
firm enough for reopening.
This
winter’s heavy snowfall coupled with cold spring temperatures
caused the National Park Service to postpone the Park Loop Road
opening, which is normally scheduled for April 15. The National Park
Service has not determined an opening date for the park’s unpaved
roads, which are normally scheduled to open on May 15. Visitors
travelling on roads closed to private vehicles should be cautious of
park snow removal equipment and vehicles operating during the day.
Since
1992, the National Park Service and Friends of Acadia have invested
large sums of public and private funds to rehabilitate and maintain
45 miles of historic carriage roads in Acadia National Park.
Experience has proven that closing the carriage roads for a short
time during the spring allows the gravel surface to drain adequately
and become firm. This helps prevent the development of post-holes
created by footsteps and ruts created by bicycle tires while the
surface is soft. The temporary closure protects visitors from unsafe
conditions and preserves the carriage roads by preventing impacts to
their gravel surface. Visitors should be aware that entering the
closed area is in violation of 36 Code of Federal Regulations 1.5(f),
which may result in citation or arrest.
“The
record snowfall this winter has been challenging, and we appreciate
the understanding and cooperation of visitors as we prepare for
another busy summer season at Acadia National Park,” said
Superintendent Sheridan Steele.
Visitors
should check the park website (www.nps.gov/acad)
or call 207-288-3338 for updates on the status of road conditions.
Visitors can also stop by the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, which is
open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
About
the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service
employees care for America's 407 national parks and work with
communities across the nation to help preserve local history and
create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at
www.nps.gov,
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The
National Park Service will celebrate its centennial in 2016 and is
using this opportunity to invite a new generation of Americans, and
those who already know and love the parks, to discover what national
parks and other public lands mean to them through the Find Your Park
campaign. To learn more or get involved, visit www.findyourpark.com.
