Many Allegany State Park snowmobile trails open today

Many Allegany State Park snowmobile trails officially open today, while others remain closed due to thin snow cover.

“Higher elevations have retained more snow,” said John Larson, Quaker Area park manager. “Lower elevation areas, especially around the Red House Area, have thin snow cover.”

Park staff have been rolling some of its snowmobile trails earlier this week to help establish a base, Larson said. Seasonal-use gravel roads have not been rolled because they have been in use by motorists during hunting season.

Park regulations require a minimum of 3 inches of snow to ride snowmobiles, Larson said. Riding snowmobiles in the park after dark requires a permit which can be obtained from the Park Police located in Red House Administration Building.

Larson said the park hasn’t received any measurable snowfall following the period of steady rain that the park received this past weekend. He added the warm ground and rain have “significantly impacted last week’s snowfall” and caused the formation of spring seeps which cross trails and can cause significant  snow loss or ice formation.

The Red House Bike Path is not open for use by snowmobiles at this time due to very low snow levels, Larson said.

ASP Route 1 between Red House and Quaker is not open to snowmobiles yet either. The road will open to snowmobile traffic once there is adequate snowfall.

Larson cautioned early-season snowmobile riders to be alert while riding and watch out for grooming equipment which only runs in the daylight.

After snow showers forecast for tonight and Thursday, Friday should be sunny with a high of 36. There’s a chance of snow showers before noon on Saturday, changing to rain. A few snow showers are forecast Christmas eve night. Christmas will be partly sunny, with a high near 39. There’s a chance of rain and snow Sunday night. Showers are forecast Monday with a high near 48.