Posts Tagged ‘campsites’

A proposed closing of COE campgrounds and campsites is a sign of tough economic times.

Almost all federal agencies have taken a hit and that includes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Little Rock Arkansas District of the Corps operates 178 public parks and access areas — and a number of the sites in those parks, will be closing this year.

It’s part of tightening the belt on the federal level.

The Little Rock District of the U-S Army Corps of engineers announced 29 parks will face some sort of a reduction and that includes closing 248 camping sites out of the 1,227 sites available at Greers Ferry Lake.

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SALIDA, Colo. – Outside magazine selected the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) as one of the top five state parks in the nation. The AHRA is a 152-mile Colorado State Park that features one of the nation’s best whitewater boating locations as well as one of the state’s premier brown trout fisheries.

The popular outdoor magazine said that the AHRA is renowned as one of the nation’s most popular locations for rafting and kayaking on the Arkansas River – calling it “the most commercially rafted stretch of river in the country.”

Outside magazine notes that state parks never get their due because of the attention focused on the country’s great national parks, including Yosemite, Great Smoky and Rocky Mountain National Park. However, there are more than 7,800 state parks around the nation that include 44,000 miles of trails and 220,000 campsites. The magazine also pointed out that 740 million people visited state parks and preserves in 2010, compared to 276 million for national parks.

“We are thrilled that Outside magazine selected the AHRA as one of the top five state parks in the nation,” said Rob White, the AHRA’s park manager. “Everyone associated with the AHRA, the employees, the outfitting community and our dedicated volunteers work hard to ensure that the AHRA provides the highest quality experience for all of our visitors, including anglers and whitewater boaters.”

In early spring, late summer, and deep into the fall months anglers relish the many eddies, ripples and deep pools the Arkansas offers. While on a typical spring or summer day, hundreds of private and commercial rafts and kayaks will challenge the churning rapids or glide through the calmer sections of the Arkansas. AHRA visitors also enjoy camping, picnicking, wildlife watching, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and even gold panning along the river’s shores, deep canyons, broad valleys and towering mountain peaks found within the upper Arkansas River valley.

The other top four state parks selected by Outside were: Big Basin Redwoods State Park in California; Itasca State Park in Minnesota; Adirondack Park in New York; and DuPont State Forest in North Carolina.

The AHRA is managed through a cooperative effort between Colorado State Parks and the Bureau of Land Management. Formed in 1989, this partnership allows agencies to provide visitors with recreation opportunities and care for significant natural resources of the Upper Arkansas River Valley.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife gets everyone outdoors! Attracting more than 12 million visitors per year, Colorado’s 42 State Parks are a vital cornerstone of Colorado’s economy and quality of life. Colorado State Parks encompass 224,447 land and water acres, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in the state. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a leader in providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, protecting the state’s favorite landscapes, teaching generations about nature and partnering with communities. Colorado State Parks also manage more than 4,300 campsites, and 63 cabins and yurts. For more information on Colorado State Parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit www.parks.state.co.us.

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that all Connecticut State Parks will close at sunset on Saturday (Aug 27) due to the approach of Hurricane Irene and that all state park campgrounds will close at noon on Saturday unless weather conditions dictate an earlier closing. State Parks and campgrounds will remain closed until further notice.

“Hurricane Irene is forecast to hit Connecticut on Sunday afternoon and will be a powerful, dangerous storm,” said Governor Malloy. “Although I recognize the inconvenience of having to pack up and leave earlier than planned or having to cancel a day at the parks with family, it is imperative that all of our state residents and visitors be in a secure, safe location until this storm passes. I urge everyone to monitor weather conditions and be prepared for all contingencies.”

“We know that many families have reserved camp sites for this weekend and have been looking forward to spending time with families and friends. This storm, however, looks like it is going to impact the entire state,” said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty. “Given the latest information available, closing our parks and campgrounds is the safe thing to do.”

Campers will be able to receive full refunds for the nights they will not be able to use their reservations. Campers can find information on how to obtain a refund by visiting the DEEP Camping website (www.ct.gov/dep/camping) and selecting Camping Reservations or by going directly to the ReserveAmerica website (www.reserveamerica.com). Campers may also call ReserveAmerica’s toll free number at 1-877-668-CAMP (2267).

The 14 state park campgrounds – which provide more than 1,400 campsites – are:

American Legion State Forest, Barkhamsted
Black Rock State Park, Watertown
Devils Hopyard, East Haddam
Green Falls (Pachaug State Forest), Voluntown
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold
Housatonic Meadows State Park, Cornwall
Kettletown State Park, Southbury
Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent
Macedonia Brook State Park, Kent
Mashamoquet Brook State Park, Pomfret
Mt. Misery (Pachaug State Forest), Voluntown
Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme
Salt Rock Campground, Sprague