Hurricane Sandy-related Park Closure Updates

We are posting park and trail closings and openings related to Hurricane Sandy here as we get them. Please honor agency park and trail closures. Going hiking?  You can help by reporting serious trail problems that you encounter by using this easy form.

And if you see a volunteer on the trail, please give them a "thank you."

Find additional reports from hikers on our Trail Conditions Forum.

Our Volunteers Are Out Clearing Sandy-damaged Trails in Parks

Status Reports (as reported by park managers and our volunteers).

Generally, the hardest hit trail areas are reported to be in southeastern New York and northern New Jersey. Reports have not been received for many trails. Areas known to be especially hard-hit include:

• Harriman State Park
• parks along or near the Palisades
• all areas in the New Jersey Highlands (Ringwood SP, Wawayanda SP, Norvin Green SF)
  
• Stokes State Forest
• High Point State Park
  

Parks reported to be generally OK (trails passable) include:

• Storm King
• Schunemunk (many blowdowns, but trails passable; hunting is in progress here)
• Minnewaska State Park Preserve
• Jockey Hollow in NJ is open
• Hudson Highlands State Park: As of Nov. 30, our olunteers report all trails now cleared/passable
  

Many state parks east of the Hudson River are reported to be generally ok; many Westchester County Parks have reopened. The Catskills also were generally lightly affected by this storm though some areas, including the summit of Slide Mountain, are reported as covered with blowdowns..

Hikers should be prepared to encounter obstacles, even on trails that have been cleared by volunteerss. Their first priority is to remove the biggest obstacles; tidying up will come later. You can help by reporting serious trail problems that you encounter by clicking here to use an easy form.

Below is the latest info for other popular trail destinations.

Harriman State Park
as of November 30

Trails that have been sufficiently cleared to be made passable (some minor obstacles may remain) include:

• Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail from the Bear Mtn Inn to Cat's Elbow (junction with Ramapo-Dunderberg on West Mtn);
• 1779 from its southern terminus to the washed-out Popolopen Gorge bridge (a small piece remains to be cleared just north of Rt. 6);
• all of the Timp-Torne except from the R-D to the A.T and the top of the Torne out to 9W;
• and the R-D from 9W to the TT trail just east of the Timp.
• Long Path from Skannatati to Times Square has been cleared by volunteer chain saw crew
• Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail, from 7 Lakes Drive to its west end
• Pine Meadow Trail from Reeves visitor center to Kakiat
• Kakiat Trail (Raccoon Brook Hills Trail to Stony Brook Trail)
• Hillburn-Torne-Sebago over Diamond Mountain to Seven Hills out to Sebago boat ramp.
• Popolopen Gorge between Rt. 6 and the water treatment plant
• Menomine Trail
• 1777W from 1777 to Popolopen Bridge
• Reeves Brook Trail (entire)
• Raccoon Brook Hills Trail (Reeves Brook Trail to Kakiat Trail)
• Stony Brook Trail (Kakiat Trail to Pine Meadow Trail)
• Seven Hills is all clear except for one blowdown just south of the gas pipeline

Bear Mountain State Park

These trails have been cleared:

• Appalachian Trail
• Major Welch Trail

Hudson Highlands State Park

• All trails reported passable as of Dec. 2.

as of November 19

The following trails are considered OPEN:

• Hoeferlin
• Wingdam
• Double Pond
• Laurel Pond
• Pump House
• Sitting bear
• Red Dot
• Cabin
• Turkey Ridge
• Black Eagle
• Terrace Pond South
• Yellow Dot (terrace pond area)

The following trails will remain CLOSED until they can be properly addressed for safety concerns:

• Appalachian
• Cedar Swamp
• Banker
• Lookout
• Old Coal
• Iron Mtn
• Terrace Pond Red
• Bearfort Waters/Clinton
• Spring North
• Terrace Pond North
• ENTIRE AS HEWITT STATE FOREST TRAIL SYSTEM

Pequannock Watershed Trail Updates
as of November 19

Open

• Fire Tower West (yellow): From trail head at parking area P2 on Clinton Rd. completely cleared to the Fire Tower.
• Newark Connector (blue): From Fire Tower West to Fire Tower Ridge to Hanks West to Hanks East.
• Fire Tower Ridge Trail (red/white): From trail head near Fire Tower to Blue Connector trail that leads back to P2.

Closed

• Hanks West and East remain closed
• Two Brooks remains closed. 

Unknown

• Trails on the west side of Clinton Rd not yet inspected.

New Jersey DEP is updating its list of park closures at: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/parks_open_close.html.

Palisades Interstate Park-NJ Section is maintaining a list of closed areas and trails at: http://www.njpalisades.org/. The Shore Trail is reported to be open as of Nov. 15., though sections, including the rock slide area, may be closed off. Hikers are cautioned to expect debris, rocks, fallen trees and eroded treadways, equal or worse in magnitude to last year’s storm. However, the roads leading down to the boat basins and picnic areas along the shore are closed to vehicles, so you are not allowed to drive down there, but you are allowed to hike down and then continue along the Shore Trail. 

Westchester County Parks is announcing park and trail closures at: http://parks.westchestergov.com/

November 7

NY State Parks (per their website)
Hudson Valley (Taconic and Palisades regions)

The following parks are closed until further notice:

NJ State Parks (per their website)

Closures:

Allaire State Park is Closed

Allamuchy Mountain State Park is Closed

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is Closed

Bass River State Park is Closed

Cheesequake State Park is Closed

D&R Canal State Park is Closed

Fort Mott State Park is Closed

Hacklebarney State Park is Closed

Island Beach State Park is Closed

Leonardo State Marina is Closed

Liberty State Park is Closed

Rancocas State Park is Closed

Round Valley Recreation area is Closed

Six Mile Run Reservoir Site is Closed

Stephens State Park is Closed

Stokes State Forest is Closed

Voorhees State Park is Closed

Washington Crossing State Park is Closed

Waterloo Village is Closed

Atsion Recreation Area: Open

Belleplain State forest: Open

Brendan T. Byrne State Forest: Open

Cape May Point State Park: Open

Forked River State Marina: Open

Grover Cleveland Historic Birthplace: Open

High Point State Park Day Use Area open; Cedar Swamp, Monument and Steenykill Trails are Open.

Hopatcong State Park: Day Use Area open; No power to park office

Indian King Tavern Historic Site: Open

Jenny Jump State Park: Day use Area open; Trails are closed

Kittatinny Valley State Park: Day Use Area open; Trails closed; Park Office Closed due to power loss

Monmouth Battlefield State Park: Open

Parvin State Park: Open

Princeton Battlefied/Thomas Clarke: Open

Ringwood State Park the following areas will open:

-Monksville Reservoir Section of Long Pond Ironworks State Park
-Jungle Habitat Section of Long Pond Ironworks State Park
-Green Turtle Pond Section of Long Pond Ironworks
-Ringwood Manor Section of Ringwood State Park

Rockingham historic Site: Open

Spruce Run Recreation Area: Front Area is open to the public. Patrons with boats stored in summer or winter boat storage now have access to their vessels during normal park hours.

Swartswood State Park: Day Use Area open; Campsites 1-20 open; Trails Closed

Twin Lights Historic Site: Open

Wallace House/Old Dutch Parsonage: Open

Walt Whitman House Historic Site: Open

Wawayanda State Park: Open; All trails are closed.

Wharton State Forest: Open

Worthington State Forest: Day Use/Camping Area is Closed. Dunnfield Creek is Open.

Other NJ Parks & Preserves

Tenafly Nature Center/Lost Brook Preserve: Trails Closed

November 6

Morristown National Historic Park & Jockey Hollow: Trails are closed.

Palisades Interstate Park: Shore Trail is closed.

November 5: Afternoon

Route 202 in Mahwah has been cleared and Ramapo Mountain County Reservation is now accessible.

New Jersey State Parks: Check their website for detailed updates: NJ Parks Website

Other Parks in New Jersey for which we have received info:
Tenafly Nature Center/Lost Brook Preserve: All trails closed as of Friday PM.

New York State Parks: Bear Mountain and Rockefeller State Parks now open. Tallman Mountain closed. Many Long Island parks closed. Many trails in Hudson Valley parks--Harriman, for example--are impassable or seriously blocked. Report serious trail problems that you may encounter.

Westchester County Parks: According to their website, most parks remain closed. For updates, visit Westchester Parks website

November 2 & 3: UPDATES

Bear Mountain, Harriman, & Sterling Forest State Parks:
Utilities remain out at these parks and most facilities and some park areas are closed.  The State Parks website indicates that Bear Mountain is closed. Park crews are at work. Otherwise, there is no official word on trails. However, a first-hand report by Trail Conference volunteer John Mack indicates the following:

Reeves Meadow: there is a sign that the Visitor Center will not be open this weekend.

Silvermine Lake: parking lot is closed off.

Blowdowns and 'leaners' are to be expected on trails and woods roads throughout the parks, so volunteers and hikers should be extra cautious.

Westchester:Teatown Lake Reservation: Nature Center closed; boardwalk closed; many other trails passable; most County parks remain closed (per website)

New York City  Parks:

Most are expected to reopen on Saturday, Nov. 3. Updates on NYCParks website.

New Jersey:

Tenafly Nature Center/Lost Brook Preserve: All trails closed as of Friday PM.

Ramapo Mountain County Reservation: Rt. 202 past the park is closed this morning, so park is not accessible. No other details available as of 10:30am

According to NJ DEP, the following state parks will reopen as follows on Friday Nov 2, 2012:

• Atsion and Batsto within Wharton State Forest;
• Belleplain State Forest and Parvin State Park.
• High Point State Park day use area only will reopen in the morning; trails are closed pending inspection.
• Only the front of Spruce Run Recreation Area is open to the public. Patrons with boats stored in summer or winter boat storage now have access to their vessels during normal park hours.
• Princeton Battlefield/Thomas Clarke will be opened as well

The following NJ parks have reopened in full or in part:

• Hopatcong State Park, Day Use Area
• Grover Cleveland
• High Point State Park Day Use Area
• Worthington State Forest, Dunnfield Creek
• At Ringwood State Park, the following areas are open:
  -Monksville Reservoir Section of Long Pond Ironworks State Park
  -Jungle Habitat Section of -Long Pond Ironworks State Park
  -Green Turtle Pond Section of Long Pond Ironworks
  -Ringwood Manor Section of Ringwood State Park
  
• Swartswood campground open, Campsites 1 - 21 are open. Bathroom is also open with hot showers. Day use area and trails still closed.
  

Note from NJDEP: All areas will be posted with trail closure signs until they have been able to be checked

Hudson Valley (Taconic and Palisades regions)
Per State Parks website: The following parks are still closed until further notice

• Rockefeller State Park Preserve
• Franklin Roosevelt State Park
• Bear Mountain
• Tallman Mountain
• Taconic Outdoor Education Center
• Taconic - Copake Falls Campground

November 1: UPDATES

New Jersey: Many state parks remain closed

Hudson Valley (Taconic and Palisades regions)
Per State Parks website: The following parks are closed until further notice (TC note: details are sketchy as some park offices--notably Bear Mountain/Harriman--have been affected by power and phone outages. We are working on getting more specifics.):

• Rockefeller State Park Preserve
• Franklin Roosevelt State Park
• Bear Mountain
• Tallman Mountain
• Taconic Outdoor Education Center
• Taconic - Copake Falls Campground

Please note that due to storm damage and power outages, services may be limited and roadways/trails impassable at all other parks.

October 31: UPDATES (3pm)

Catskills: DEC reports that Hurricane Sandy had only minor impact on DEC-managed lands in the Catskills and Adirondacks. Hikers, hunters, campers and others should expect to encounter wet and muddy trails, blowdown, especially in higher elevations, and high waters at stream crossings.

Mid-Hudson: Walkway Over the Hudson State Park has reopened.

Scenic Hudson parks: Esopus Meadows Preserve remains closed to the public due to storm damage. All other parks are open (except for West Point Foundry Preserve, still closed for construction). Clean-up is ongoing, so please exercise caution when visiting.

New York City:

All NYC parks, playgrounds, beaches, and recreation centers remain closed until further notice due to hazardous conditions. The winds remain strong and the hurricane has compromised many of the trees inside parks and along sidewalks.

People are urged to stay out of parks and proceed with caution on tree-lined sidewalks in the event of falling trees or branches. To report downed trees or branches, please call 311, text 311692, or use the park department's online forestry service request  form.

Long Island: All state parks in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and many state forests remain closed according to OPRHP and DEC websites.

October 28: CLOSINGS

New Jersey State Parks Closed as of Noon Sunday, Oct. 28 and may remain closed until Thursday. NJ Parks Website

Many New York State parks are closing due to Hurricane Sandy. Please visit www.governor.ny.gov for the most up-to-date information on the state's emergency response.

NYDEC Recommends that all hikers be out of the woods by Sunday evening, Oct. 28). Keep up with Catskills updates

Scenic Hudson announces all of its parks are closed as of Sunday evening. They will be announcing updates on their Facebook page.