Frequent changes to this page, hit reload/refresh if you have looked at it recently.
Watch this page for possible trail closings. Our answering machine (212/685-9699 after 6pm) will be updated as information is received. Park phone numbers are found on the back notes of most of our map sets, in the NY and NJ Walk Books and most other hiking guides.
| 8/27/99 | Everything except Storm King is now open. It is closed indefinitely (see below). Campfires are still banned in the Catskills and Kittatinnies and many other parks. The status of LI trails is unknown. For LI info, contact the LI Greenbelt Trail Conference at 516/360-0753. |
| 8/26/99 | DEC has opened the Stewart Airport Buffer lands to public
use.
All trails in PIPC parks (Harriman, NJ Section, High Tor, Sterling Forest) are now open. The exception in Storm King which will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Black Rock Forest is open. Schunemunk and Taconic Region (Fahnestock, Hudson Highlands) are still closed but we are hopeful they will make the decision to open tomorrow, Friday. |
| 8/23/99 | Harriman State park got less than 1 inch of rain over the
past two weekends combined. The ban on both sides of the Hudson continues.
We need heavy and steady rain -- several days worth. A tropical storm
would be good! The Catskills are open (no fires) but basically nothing
south of that in NYS. Most NJ trails are, however, open. Time for many of
you NYers to explore the Garden State! The situation in Storm King State
Park is serious. They found unexploded shells exposed by the fires and
PIPC expects the park to be closed to all uses for a very long time. Fires
are still burning there. Overall, not a good summer.
H. Neil Zimmerman |
| 8/17/99 | Indefinite Trail Closing on Storm King Mountain PIPC Park
Land
See West Hudson Trail Map 7. All trails are closed east and north of Route 9W including Stillman Trail, Bluebird Trail, Howell Trail, Bobcat Trail and Stillman Spring Trail. Due to recent fires brought on by drought, Palisades Interstate Park Commission has discovered some unexploded ordnance. Experts have been brought in to review the location of such ordinance and determine when it will be safe for trail re-opening. All five parking areas are closed. No hiking in this area until further notice even if the fire ban is lifted. |
| 8/17/99 | The DEC lands near Stewart Airport are now closed to all. |
| 8/5/99 | Hudson Highlands, Fahnestock and Hubbard-Perkins are now closed to all except thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Black Rock Forest is also closed. |
| 7/29/99 | Schunemunk is now closed. |
| 7/29/99 | Hudson Highlands, Fahnestock and Hubbard-Perkins will remain open. Please use extreme care - no smoking, no fires, actively advise people you meet about the need to be careful. Report any suspicious behavior or events immediately to the park office, 914-225-7207 or park police, 914-889-4100. The park would rather have the responsible eyes of seasoned hikers helping to keep an eye on the irresponsible people who would probably disobey a ban. Camping is not allowed in any of these parks, except at the public campground in Fahnestock. |
| 7/27/99 updated 7/28/99 |
All trails in the PIPC Region are closed. This includes: Rockland County Long Path, Harriman-Bear Mountain., Sterling Forest, High Tor, Storm King, and the NJ section. The Appalachian Trail remains open to thruhikers ONLY. Minnewaska remains closed. Fires are reported in Minnewaska, Harriman and on High Tor. Black Rock has re-opened, at least for now. Black Rock, Schunemunk and most East Hudson areas (Hudson Highlands, Fahnestock, Taconic) remain open -- repeat, SO FAR. Rockefeller State Park in Westchester is closed. Catskills also open as are other areas of the Shawangunks. Northern NJ hiking trails on state land remain open with fire bans. |
| 7/21/99 | Many parks on Long Island are closed - call before assuming they are open. The NY Walk Book has many relevant phone numbers |
| 7/19/99 | Minnewaska (below) is closed again - except for trail around
the lake
All of Black Rock Forest is closed. Call 914-534-4517 before going there to hike. |
| 7/6/99 | Minnewaska (below) is now open again |
|
The high fire danger in our area has begun to affect hiking trails. This past weekend, Minnewaska State Park Preserve closed many of their backcountry foot trails. Specifically: Jenny Lane, High Peter's Kill, Old Smiley and the Long Path from Lake Awosting to Mud Pond. Other trails and trail sections remain open. Until we have significant rain, you should call Minnewaska (914/255-0752) or any other park before you plan an outing. |
| 4/11/99 | Friday, 4/9/99 there was an 800-acre fire in Worthington State Forest, just south of AMC's Mohican Outdoor Center. AT hikers had to be evacuated. |
| 4/7/99 | The danger of fire in our park lands is increasing. Recently there have been two hiker/camper caused fires in Harriman (8 and 14 acres) and two fires near the AT in Putnam County (probable cigarette butt out car window and suspicious origin). |
Please be careful and on the lookout!
Last updated: 02/23/01