Hamilton County

When will Moose River Plains open this year? ⛺

It depends a lot on when the Division of Operations can field staff and equipment for road repairs. Many of the DEC laborers are probably not working now. Plus it how much repairs are needed and available. That takes money and the states finances aren’t great. Maybe they’ll have to do an agreement with the towns and county for road maintenance like in 2010.

And how long the snow lasts – the frost is out of the ground now but if there is snow on top of the ground – it insulates the mud meaning that the road won’t be passable without damage to the road for at least a week or so of dry weather after the snow is gone. Most of the roads are dirt or sand, they need to be relatively dry to be passable without severe rutting. The roads not only have to be hard enough to hold cars and trucks towing campers but also bulldozers, excavators and any other heavy equipment needed for repair. If the weather pattern continues and they get more snow over the thawed ground that could definitely extend the time before opening.

It would ultimately be a decision by the regional office on when they would reopen the road but usually its the week before Memorial Day Weekend. My bet with the current forecast is a partial reopening west of Lost Ponds, north of Moose River for Memorial Day. But with the forecast and everything else going on who knows.