State Forest and Park Service officials are warning visitors to tread carefully at many of Maryland's parks, wildlife management areas and forests because hanging limbs, uprooted trees and muddy trails pose dangers for adventurous hikers.
And although many are ready to accept guests, not all the amenities and recreation facilities are available because of damage caused by Tropical Storm Isabel and the heavy rains Tuesday.
"We have people clamoring to get into our more popular parks, which may not be prepared to accept them on a facility basis," said Rusty Ruszin, assistant supervisor for the State Forest and Park Service.
Staff members are still assessing damage at Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary's County, which was under several feet of water for a long time, Ruszin said.
"From where I sit today, I don't see it reopening in the near future," he said Thursday.
On Millers Island, North Point State Park experienced shoreline erosion. Some of the waterfront amenities are also gone, he said.
The situation was similar at Gunpowder Falls State Park in Baltimore County, Ruszin said. The Dundee Marina and boat ramp have been significantly damaged, he said.
Saturated soil and high winds caused timber to fall in many parks. Rocks State Park, which suffered wind damage, was among the first to reopen, Ruszin said.
Park staff have tried to mark paths that are completely impassable, he said. But even on trails that are clear, officials are concerned about the possibility of long-term environmental damage.
"The thrill of splashing through is a very attractive thing," Ruszin said, but he encouraged visitors to practice "leave-no-trace" ethics by avoiding walking or riding on wet or muddy trails.
"That's going to make trail conditions even more vulnerable," he said. "Some people tend to forget the erosion and compaction and trail destruction that results from that."
But merely stepping aside does not solve the problem, he said. When the water dries, "then you simply have a widened trail with a widened mud spot," he said.
Staff have been running on adrenalin since preparing for the storm and were operating in rescue mode during it, Ruszin said. Afterward, they "were really trying to reopen facilities that many people were demanding still be opened," he said.
"Many of them haven't had a day off," Ruszin added. "Some of them have been on duty ... during the course of that time."
