10/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/23/2024 15:51
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MIDDLESBORO, Kentucky - National Park Service crews have worked hard to remove downed trees along Cumberland Gap National Historical Park's trail system. To date, park staff along with a 12-person sawyer task force have cleared over 500 trees from about 10 miles of trail.
"I really appreciate all the work from our staff and the sawyer crew that has gone into restoring safe access to our trails" said Superintendent Lisa Baldwin. "We know how important Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is to the community for recreation, exercise, and as an escape from the everyday chaos."
The 12-person crew has team members from Arches National Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Fire Island National Seashore, First State National Historical Park, Grand Teton National Park, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites and Shenandoah National Park. Crews have focused on clearing trees from trails to improve access to the park's backcountry and wilderness area. There are still several trails in the park that have not yet been cleared and have hazardous conditions along the trail. Most of the park's buildings appear undamaged; however, the Pinnacle Restrooms sustained substantial damage.
Current park conditions as of 10/22/2024:
Hiking Trails:
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park preserves the historic Cumberland Gap, a key point for crossing the Appalachians that became known as the First Gateway to the West. Located where Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia meet, the park's 24,000 acres includes 85 miles of hiking trails, front and backcountry camping, a historic Appalachian settlement, cave and rock formations, and 14,000 acres of managed wilderness. The visitor center in Middlesboro, Kentucky, is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily. Entrance is free. For more information visit our website or Facebook page.www.nps.gov
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