Hurricane Irene Trail Damage
Reports and resources for trail damage from Hurricane Irene. For those who are wondering how the storm affected trails or are looking to head out for a hike, we've collected this list.
If you have a link you'd like to share, you can contact us by email or tweet us @njhiking.
Report hazardous trail situations to the NY-NJ Trail Conference.
We've attempted to have the most current info here, but your best bet is to call the park office to check for closings.
New Jersey / New York |
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Post-Irene Trail Updates for Hikers, Trail Volunteers - Check this page first for NJ and NY parks and trails. |
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - Some areas are still closed, check for updates.
1/19/12 update - Sunrise Mountain Road had a bridge washed out that will not be repaired over the winter. The road is normally closed in the winter from Dec 15 until the Spring, but this year will be closed for an extended time in the spring. Culvers Gap parking area located @ 206 & Sunrise Mtn Rd is open for both day and overnight parking, a free permit from Stokes is required for overnight however. [info via Dave D. call to park office] |
| Park Advisories - The NJ Parks and Forestry page lists individual park advisories, ongoing - not just Hurricane related. |
10/1/11 - Delaware and Raritan Canal S.P Towpath - Extensive damage, check page for updates on closed areas and photos. The D&R Canal towpath is closed north of 12th Street in Frenchtown to the end of the towpath in Alexendria Township. This is due to the collapse of the towpath. |
9/15/11 - Harriman Trail Bridges Post-Irene - Check this page if heading to Harriman/Bear Mountain. Many bridges are out with some crossings not possible. Recommend using the Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails map set to help plan a re-route around an impossible crossing. |
9/1/11 - Update on Parks Affected by Tropical Storm Irene - From the Palisades Parks Conservancy. |
Morris County NJ - Park closure list, check for updates |
Somerset County NJ - Park closure list, check for updates |
New Jersey Area - Articles, posts, misc. |
| 12/5/11 - Harrian S.P. Lemon Squeezer Loop - Hurricane Irene caused much damage in Harriman. HSP lost over 30 crossings / bridges. There are many downed trees. The large bridge at Stahahe with mile to go is completely gone. This make that creek unsafe to pass with dog and no poles. We went down to Highway 80 crossed on shoulder and came back in. It was 2 fences to get out and 2 fences to get back in. Two other creeks on loop the bridges were wiped out but passable. This made the end of the day very exciting! AT very well maintained, anything else is still showing signs of damage. [trail report via Joseph F.] |
10/11/11 - Harriman S.P. - I spoke to someone at the Bear Mountain office on friday (10/7) about access to Harriman roads and she said all roads are open. Don't believe it. Although Seven Lakes Dr. is open via a detour in Sloatsburg, Rte 106 is closed from Rte 17 and Arden Valley Rd. is closed at the Elk Pen (the Elk Pen is accessible).
We hiked the Arden-Surebridge trail to the Lemon Squeezer and the trail is beat up but OK. There are at least three places where the trail markers went down with the trees they were on. But we didn't have much trouble figuring out where the trail was heading. Island Pond is as beautiful as ever. [trail report via Paul] |
| 10/1/11 - Old Mine Road from Worthington North to DWG at Millbrook was open but closed from Millbrook North to Peters Valley. We had to cross back over the ridge heading East before we were able to drive North again to pick up rot 206 North. [trail report via Anthony Z.] |
| 9/26/11 - Columbia Trail - The Ken Lockwood gorge section has been quite badly torn up by Irene. Some short sections are for experienced mountain bikers only or you can always push your bike over them. [trail report via Mandy S..] |
| 9/11/11 The Tourne Park, Boonton, NJ Open - The trails at Tourne Park are open and in great shape. There were a few cleared blow downs on the red trail and some wet spots but overall they are just fine. We took the red trail for about 4.7 miles around Birchwood Lake and there is a very large overhead limb stuck up in the canopy and about to fall. Use caution when passing underneath on the red trail next to Birchwood Lake. [trail report via Mark J.] |
9/5/11 - Wells Mills County Park (Ocean County) - The White Blaze Trail was clear except for one very large tree that was easy to bypass. The Park did an outstanding job clearing the trails. [trail report via Anthony Z.] |
| 9/4/11 - Morristown N.P. - Jockey Hollow, Grand Loop Trail (White) - Trails covered with leaf litter and downed trees but still hike-able. There were also some downed tress along the entrance road (Tempe Wick) but crews had moved enough for them to be safe. A temporary bridge had been setup over a stream crossing, possibly in place of one that was completely washed away. Expect to be hopping over downed trees and bypassing some trail sections, but it's open. [trail report via Mark J.] |
9/4/11 - Jenny Jump State Forest - Trails were in very good shape, park has done a tremendous job of cleaning up. Full hike report and photos on the Gone Hikin' blog.
Summit Trail - all clear Ghost Lake Trail - all clear except for a large blowdown Orchard Trail - some of it is stream/trail combo but manageable with rock hopping. Large blowdown shortly before trail reaches gravel road. Jenny Jump Trail-A section of the trail is wet but passable. Quite a few large blowdowns. |
9/2/11 - Irene took toll on hiking trails - NorthJersey.com |
9/1/11 - Info for Stokes/Worthington via ranger info: Stokes: Cabins are fine, No Power yet, They have not been able to inspect Trails Worthington: No Power Yet, Many Roads closed by downed Trees and Power Lines [trail report via Anthony Z.] |
8/30/11 - New Jersey refuges remain flooded after Hurricane Irene - NJ Fish & Wildlife |
8/30/11 - Some state parks reopen, others still closed - NJ Herald |
8/29/11 - Manasquan Reservoir in Howell, NJ -The majority of the Perimeter Trail is closed from Mile Marker 2 - 5. It's open from Mile Marker 1 - 2. Rangers estimate a good week before they'd consider the entire trail safe for pedestrians and cyclists. [trail report via Linda F.] |
Delaware Water Gap - video of flooding, park damage |
Pochuck AT boardwalk after Irene - Photo of the AT boardwalk under water. Update: is now open and usable with caution, as it is slightly tilted. (Sept. 14) |
Catskills, Adirondacks, New England |
| Catskills - Hikers and maintainers are urged to stay out of the Catskills until further notice. Emergency operations are continuing and many roads remain impassable. Check the NYNJTC for updates. |
Adirondack closures - from NY DEC |
| Vermont Road Access and Trail Condition Updates - from Green Mountain Club |
| New Hampshire trail conditions - from Appalachian Mountain Club |
| New England Trail Conditions |
8/29/11- Hurricane Irene on the Trails - Updates and Information - Mostly Catskills, From Adventures in the Outdoors |
