Road paving in Acadia National Park, a special luminaria presentation at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and a trail opening at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are some of the news events showing up across the National Park System.
Access to the summit of Cadillac Mountain has reopened as road work has paused for the summer/NPS file
Acadia National Park, Maine
The Cadillac Summit Road reopened Thurstoday as paving and culvert replacement work on the road pauses for the summer season. Because of the road’s uneven surface, bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to use caution when travelling on the road.
The construction, which includes repaving and culvert replacement, began last fall and continued into November when the contractor suspended work due to the onset of winter conditions. Throughout the spring, the contractor repaired culverts under the road and prepared the road for repaving. Single lane closures may continue throughout the spring, and the repaving of the road will resume at a later date.
The National Park Service expects Park Loop Road to experience single lane closures along Ocean Drive throughout the spring. Expect traffic delays and plan your visit accordingly.
Vehicle reservations will be required for Cadillac Summit Road from May 24 through October 22 this year. For the most up to date information on reservations, visit this page.
Memorial Day Weekend will feature a luminary event at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park/NPs file
Fredericks and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia
On Saturday, May 27, the National Park Service will host the 28th annual luminaria at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. The program runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., and is free to the public. In the event of rain, the luminaria will be moved to Sunday, May 28.
The luminaria honors those who died in the service of this country. Local scouts will light 15,300 candles in the cemetery — one for each grave there. In addition, a bugler will play “Taps” every 30 minutes during the evening as park staff in the cemetery relate stories about some of the soldiers.
The Fredericksburg National Cemetery was established in 1866 and remained open for military burials until 1945. It holds the remains of 15,243 soldiers, sailors, and Marines, most of whom died during the Civil War. At least 85 percent of the graves are unidentified, resulting in nearly 13,000 unknowns. The annual luminaria has served as a poignant tribute to the fallen since 1996.
The cemetery is located at the intersection of Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard. Attendees may park at the University of Mary Washington lot at the corner of William Street and Sunken Road. The Fredericksburg Trolley will provide shuttle service between the parking area and the cemetery. Accessible parking will be available in the visitor center parking lot at 1013 Lafayette Boulevard.
A separate, commemorative ceremony will be held at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29.
The Ramsey Cascades Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park/NPS file
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials say the Ramsey Cascades Trail and Ramsey Prong Road will be open Friday through Sunday each week, and on federal holidays. The trail and access to Ramsey Cascades will be closed Monday through Thursday to allow trail crews to safely finish ongoing trail rehabilitation.
Ramsey Cascades Trail has been closed since part of the trail was washed out during a flood event last summer. Trail crews rerouted 200 feet of trail, built and installed a new footlog bridge, and built four new trail structures damaged by the flood.
The remaining trail work is part of ongoing Trails Forever reconstruction efforts. Trail crews will finish repairs to the tread surface, drainage improvements, construction of trail structures, and removal of tripping hazards such as roots and rocks.
The Trails Forever program is a partnership established by the Friends of the Smokies and Great Smoky Mountains National Park to fund a permanent, highly skilled trail crew that rehabilitates high-use trails. In 2012, the Friends set up an endowment to support the program. To date, the Friends have contributed more than $2 million through the program, resulting in the full rehabilitation of Abrams Falls, Trillium Gap, Rainbow Falls, Alum Cave, Chimney Tops, and Forney Ridge trails.
Located in the Greenbrier area, the four-mile Ramsey Cascades Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park and is the only way to access the 100-foot Ramsey Cascades, the tallest waterfall in the park.
