Cape Cod National Seashore, Acadia National Park Closing With Hurricane Irene On The Way

Though Hurricane Irene was hundreds of miles away, officials at Cape Cod National Seashore and Acadia National Park on Saturday were getting for the lady's arrival, closing down facilities and urging visitors to be careful.

Most facilities at Cape Cod in Massachusetts were scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Saturday, with the oversand corridor in Provincetown and Truro to be cleared in time to close at dark, officials said.

Beach parking areas were to close at midnight. Additionally, several interpretive programs scheduled for Saturday were canceled.

Facilities at the national seashore were expected to remain closed and programs cancelled through Sunday. National seashore staff will monitor conditions throughout the storm event. Once the storm has passed, staff will assess damage and prepare facilities and operations for reopening.

Public safety is of utmost concern. Park visitors and neighbors are asked to remain off beaches, bluffs, and stairs. With the anticipated storm surge and high tide, conditions on the beaches, bluffs, and stairs may be hazardous.

Farther north in Maine, Acadia officials planned to close their campgrounds at 10 a.m. Sunday because of the hurricane's currently predicted path. The Duck Harbor Campground on Isle au Haut closed at 11 a.m. Saturday.

As for activities, the Frenchman Bay Cruise and Islesford Scenic and Historic Cruise Scheduled for Sunday was canceled.