Current Activities and Temporary Trail Closures

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a natural area requiring a variety of restoration and maintenance management activities to improve and maintain the health of the inland pine barrens. Examples of management activities requiring trail/area closure include vegetation mowing, tree removal, prescribed fire, herbicide application, trail work and invasive plant removal activities.

This section of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve website provides information about these management activities especially as they relate to public use of the Preserve. Because these activities can be potentially dangerous the public is not allowed into these Preserve areas while management is occurring. Preserve trails or areas may be closed for several days, weeks or even months depending on the scope of the management project. Closed signs along the trails and at trailheads will provide additional location details.

Below is a list of Preserve management activities occurring or planned to occur within the next 12 months and their locations. We would ask that Preserve visitors plan their visit with these activities and closures in mind and, for your own safety and visitor experience, please obey the area closed signs that are placed on the trails and at trailheads.

We appreciate your understanding as we conduct essential natural habitat restoration and encourage you to visit our other trail opportunities.

For several days during the weeks of March 19 – April 15 all of the trails in Karner Barrens East will be temporarily CLOSED to all public use while 23 acres of pine barrens are mowed with a large mowing machine called a hydro-axe.  This work will require trail closure for approximately 3-5 days.  Mechanical treatments of this type are part of the necessary and important management that takes place throughout the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.  For your own safety please obey all area CLOSED signs during this time.  Thank You.