SOUTH COLTON -- Higley Flow State Park is reopening a large segment of its popular cross-county ski and snowshoe trails which had been closed since the late December ice storm.

And the new Higley Lodge is opening.

Debris clearing done by over 60 community volunteers organized by the Friends of Higley Flow State Park and state Parks and Recreation Department personnel has cleared main roads in the park, the campsite roads and the Overlook Trail, and they are now open to the public. Grooming has resumed in these areas and with some fresh snow should rapidly improve.

All other park trails are still being cleaned up and remain closed.

The new Higley Lodge offers a warming building with a large gathering room and heated, fully accessible bathrooms. The lodge was a joint project between State Parks and the Friends of Higley Flow and was funded in part through the North Country Regional Economic Development Council.

Park hours will initially be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. As daylight hours lengthen, the park will be open later.

The Higley Lodge will be open seven days a week 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.