These roads and facilities at the Delaware Water Gap will be closed for winter
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is open year-round, but effective Jan. 2, the park will close most visitor facilities and some park-owned roads on both sides of the Delaware River.
There also will be reduced maintenance at some visitor use sites and parking areas at many sites will either go unplowed after a storm or be a the bottom of the priority list until other roadways and vital facilities are snow-free.
“Plowing and treating the main roads through the park is our top priority when we have snow and ice," said Bill Tagye, chief of facility management.
The park has more than 150 miles of dirt and paved roads which are ranked based on whether they provide critical access to and through the park, such as emergency access, as well as providing routes for residents to get to their homes within park boundaries.
Park staff stressed that even high priority roads may be closed temporarily if conditions deteriorate faster than road crews can keep up with or in the event of equipment failures or breakdowns. If that occurs, these roads will be reopened as soon as park staff can get them cleared for travel.
There are also areas which will be closed through the winter based on several factors including winterization of water supply systems, reduced custodial and maintenance staff, safety requirements, resource protection and other priorities for snow and ice removal.
The winter-long closures will go into effect on Jan. 2, 2024, or at the first significant snowfall, whichever comes first. Most sites will reopen on April 15 while others will reopen in May.
New Jersey roads
In New Jersey, the priority roads which will remain open include Route 602 from Millbrook Village to the NPS boundary; NPS Route 615; Old Mine Road between Flatbrookville and Pompey Ridge Road; Pompey Ridge Road to Route 615 and Old Mine Road between Millbrook and Flatbrookville.
Old Mine Road from the Worthington State Forest boundary to Millbrook Village, and the dirt section of the road near Van Campen Inn, will be closed for the winter.
There will be no winter maintenance of Old Mine Road (no plowing although the road will be open if there is no snow) between Mettler Road and the intersection with Route 206 on the northern end of the park.
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Jager Road, from Old Mine Road to the park boundary, will also receive no winter maintenance.
Among other roads on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River, Blue Mountain Lakes Road will remain open to the parking area for the Blue Mountain Lakes trail and will be closed to vehicles beyond that point for the season.
Mountain Road will be closed to vehicles for the winter, but visitors may walk, snowshoe, or cross-country ski on the road to visit Buttermilk Falls.
Pennsylvania roads
On the Pennsylvania side of the park, US Route 209 is the top priority road for winter maintenance and treatment.
River Road will be closed just south of park headquarters prior to forecast snow and/or ice events and will not be reopened until priority routes are clear and safe and conditions permit. Zion Church Road will be plowed after River Road has been opened.
For those wishing to hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski in the park, the trails will remain open during the winter, but trailhead parking will depend on conditions and may be limited in some areas and road closures may also affect access to some trails. Parking areas will not be cleared of ice and snow until after all priority routes are clear and safe for travel.
The winter closure includes the parking lot and access road to Dingmans Falls. While restrooms will be closed, the trail will remain open and visitors may walk, ski, or snowshoe to the falls.
At Raymondskill Falls, the upper parking lot will close Jan. 2 - or the first significant snowfall - but the lower parking lot will remain open, as conditions permit. Restrooms will also be closed.
The Cliff Park trailhead parking area will receive no winter maintenance and will be open as conditions allow. Trailhead restrooms will be closed until May.
Along the McDade Recreational Trail which follows the river from Milford south to Smithfield Beach, parking area will be plowed after all other roads and facilities have cleared. However, Jerry Lees and Venturo trail access area will receive no winter maintenance.
Access to the Delaware River will be available at Dingmans Access, Milford Beach and Bushkill Access. Because Old Mine Road will be closed beginning Jan. 2, the Turtle Beach and Poxno Island boat launch areas will also be closed.
These river access areas will be closed temporarily during a storm and re-opened after priority routes are clear and safe for travel.
Users are also warned that river ice may limit access depending on conditions and the NPS does not clear river ice from launch areas. Eshback Access will remain open as conditions permit but will receive no winter maintenance.
For visitors, restrooms are available at Kittatinny Point Picnic Area, Blue Mountain Lakes parking area, and Millbrook Village in New Jersey and at Dingmans Access, Bushkill Meeting Center, Bushkill Access, Hidden Lake, Toms Creek, and Milford Beach area in Pennsylvania.
All other restrooms with running water will be closed for the winter including outdoor spigots.
This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Delaware Water Gap roads, facilities to close for winter
