Starting Friday, March
8, the National Park Service (NPS) is temporarily closing the
carriage roads in Acadia National Park to prevent damage to them
during the spring thaw. Carriage roads will be closed to all users
until further notice.
Warming
weather and wet conditions soften the carriage road’s gravel
surface and make them susceptible to damage. Walking, bicycling, and
riding horses in such conditions can cause ruts and potholes that
channel water and exacerbate erosion. The NPS will reopen the
carriage roads once the gravel surface dries out and becomes firm
enough to prevent damage.
In
the meantime, the NPS encourages visitors to explore Acadia’s
hiking trails and the Park Loop Road, which remains closed to motor
vehicles until April 15. When hiking, be prepared for icy conditions
and use traction devices on your footwear. When walking or biking the
closed sections of the Park Loop Road, exercise caution around closed
gates, watch for park vehicles and equipment, and be prepared to
encounter lingering ice and storm debris.
The carriage
roads, along with their coping stones, gatehouses, and stone-faced
bridges, are the best and most extensive example of broken-stone
roads in the United States. They provide access to both sweeping
vistas and close-up views of landscapes across the park.
For
current information about visiting Acadia National Park, please go to
www.nps.gov/acad or call 207-288-3338. Join online conversations on
Facebook (www.facebook.com/AcadiaNPS), Twitter
(twitter.com/AcadiaNPS), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/acadianps).
www.nps.gov
About
the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service
employees care for America's 428 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
and
on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice), Twitter
(www.twitter.com/natlparkservice), and YouTube
(www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice).
