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Around The Parks: Ranger-Led Bike Tours, Boardwalk Construction, Railroad Tunnels

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Published Date

July 13, 2021

There will be a walking tour of the nation's first railroad tunnel, the Staple Bend Tunnel at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site/NPS file

There's lots going on around the National Park System, from ranger-led bike tours of the monuments at Shiloh National Military Park to a tour of the country's first railroad tunnel at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site.

Shiloh Bike Tour

On Saturday, July 24, Shiloh will present the “Meaning of Monuments (Confederate)” bicycle tour of the battlefield in Tennessee. This ranger-led tour will explore the effort of those who placed monuments at Shiloh so that the soldiers who fought there would never be forgotten. The tour will also discuss the significance of location for monumentation.

The tour will be about six miles in length over moderate terrain. Participants must provide their own bicycles and anyone 16 and under must wear a helmet. Sunscreen, insect repellent, and water are also recommended.

The tour will begin at the park visitor center at 10 a.m. and last until noon. All but one of the monuments are located next to the roadway. Riders will walk their bicycles to the monument located off the paved surface.

Participants must register in advance by calling the Shiloh visitor center at 731-689-5696.

Nation's First Railroad Tunnel

Join a park ranger on a hike to the first railroad tunnel in America, the Staple Bend Tunnel, on Sunday, July 18, at 2 p.m. On this approximately 5-mile round trip hike, participants will learn about the history of the tunnel, how it was constructed, the Allegheny Portage Railroad in Pennsylvania, and much more. Several features from the days of the railroad, including stone sleepers and culverts, are visible.

Participants are encouraged to wear good walking shoes and bring water. The hike will take place rain or shine. The meeting location is at the Staple Bend Tunnel trailhead in Mineral Point, Pennsylvania. Space is limited. Reservations are required for this free hike. To make a reservation, please call the park's visitor center at 814-886-6150.

Indiana Dunes Construction

One-and-a-half miles of the Little Calumet River Hiking Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park is closed for the forseeable future so a contractor can replace about 1,000 feet of boardwalk along the trail.

During this closure, which is not expected to last more than 120 days, hikers will still have access to the adjacent Bally/Chellberg Trails along with another 48 miles of trails located throughout Indiana Dunes National Park. These trails include Dune Ridge, Miller Woods, West Beach, Heron Rookery, Tolleston, Great Marsh and the Pinhook Bog Upland Trail.

Johnson Beach Road Reopens At Gulf Islands NS

Gulf Islands National Seashore has reopened the Johnson Beach Road within the Perdido Key area of Florida after a 10-month closure for repairs.

Perdido Key includes important nesting habitats and park infrastructure that was damaged by Hurricane Sally last year. Temporary repairs to Johnson Beach Road are complete while the seashore awaits permanent repairs scheduled to begin in September.

Visitors can expect the following during their visit:

  • New "ROADSIDE PARKING ALLOWED BEYOND THIS POINT" signs to indentify parking areas on both side of road between boardwalks H,I, and J.
  • New “NO PARKING” signs and pavement markings between boardwalks A-H identifying non-parking areas.
  • Increased enforcement of prohibited roadside parking outside of designated areas.
  • Oversized vehicles, to include RVs and vehicles towing trailers, are not allowed at Perdido Key to ensure a maximum amount of available parking.

Johnson Beach Road will be managed differently than in prior years. These new parking strategies are expected to protect vegetation and allow the natural rebuilding of dunes and coastal habitats. Vehicles are required to have all four tires parked in the sand or to the right of the white road line.

Maximum parking capacity protocols will be upheld. Once parking is filled to maximum capacity, the area will be closed to entry. Additionally, vehicles will not be permitted to line up at the parking lot entrance or park alongside the entrance road from Perdido Key Drive to wait for parking to become available.

Visitors will be permitted to enter the Perdido Key Area as space becomes available. Information regarding capacity will be posted on the electronic message board at the park entrance. The current hours for Perdido Key Area/Johnson Beach are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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