Snowpack may dampen Memorial Day recreational plans

SALT LAKE CITY — The record-breaking snow Utah received the past few months is halting some Memorial Day plans.

The opening of campgrounds and trails all over the state is being delayed due to the massive snowpack.

The National Forest Service Recreation Program Specialist, Suzie Tenhagen said Utahns might have to change their Memorial Day weekend plans.

“Normally, our Alpine Scenic Byway on the Pleasant Grove Ranger District usually opens Memorial Day weekend,” Tenhagen said.  “It’s definitely not going to be accessible during that time. There’s still just too much snow, this record snowpack is going to take a long time to melt out.”

The Forest Service expects some damage from the runoff, but they already have crews attempting to clear paths and clean up campgrounds.

“There’s going to be a lot of hazards fallen limbs as the snow melts off it could carve channels down some of those trails down some of those dirt road areas and we really aren’t going to really know until it happens,” said Tenhagen.

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