******All Visitors: The park will be hosting its 10th Anniversary celebration on Saturday May 20. Many activities are planned for this day for all ages. Please come join us for the celebration! Check our website for more information.
Cautions: Icy conditions exist under the thin layer of new snow on lower (east side) Chimney Rock trail to the junction of Elk Falls trail. Spikes/traction devices may be useful for hikers on this section. These same underlying icy conditions exist on Lions Back trail and some north facing slopes on West Meadow. Bear Paw continues to have sections of seasonal packed snow, but they are easily navigated.
Some creek crossings may continue to have ice flows (currently under a shallow layer of snow). Be aware especially when coming down these trails.
Lower and Upper Mason Creek canyon is mostly snow covered (shallow). Previous ice flows over the trail in the lower canyon have melted during the past few weeks.
Notes: Lions Head trail is closed until August 1.
Trails leading out into the national forest are on seasonal closure.
Lower trails: These will include Staunton Ranch (SR), lower Mason Creek (MC), Davis Ponds (DP), Chase Meadow (CM), Historic Cabins (HC), Dines Meadow (DM), the connector trail between Staunton Ranch and Border Line trails, all climbing access and the access road: The new snow on these trails has mostly melted and trail conditions are drying rapidly. Expect some patches of snow in shady areas, but traction devices are not needed.
Upper trails: These will include upper Mason Creek (MC), Bear Paw (BP), Old Mill (OM), Border Line (BL), Scout Line (SL), Marmot Passage (MP), Chimney Rock (CR), Elk Falls (EF), Lions Back (LB), West Meadow (WM) and Bugling Elk (BE): Although these trails have melted out significantly over the past week, the fresh layer of new snow re-established shallow snow packed conditions. The highest trails (BP, upper MC, WM and CR) still retain seasonal hard packed snow and icy sections prior to the new snowfall. These trails will continue to thaw this week and expect mixed conditions with long stretches of packed snow and some icy spots.