Canyon Lake recreation areas to close on weekends due to large crowds, littering

The United States Army Corps of Engineers announced June 23 that recreation areas will close on weekends until further notice due to concerns for public safety and the local environment.

The Guadalupe Trail parking lot will be closed on Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays. According to USACE, the parking lot that provides access to the ADA fishing pier will remain open.

"In recent weeks, large crowds have been gathering in and around Overlook Park and the Guadalupe Trail. The size of the crowds have caused concern for public safety and negative impacts to the environment," Canyon Lake Manager Javier Pérez said. "In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19, USACE urged customers to follow social distancing and other CDC guidelines as parks were reopened in May. The recent crowds at Overlook Park and the Guadalupe Trail have not been in compliance with those COVID-19 CDC guidelines."

In a Facebook post, it was reported that large crowds left sizeable amounts of garbage and debris, and vegetation was damaged due to the number of cars operated and parked outside of parking lots.

USACE also stated that the Stilling Basin fence at the Guadalupe Trail parking lot was vandalized multiple times. Details on the vandalism were not provided.

Additional closures were not ruled out if they are considered necessary to ensure the safety and health of the public and the environment, the USACE said.

The Facebook post went on to advise visitors to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to practice leave-no-trace.