ACADIA NATIONAL PARK – The recent heavy rains have caused Acadia National Park to close its famous system of carriage roads to horse, bicycle and foot traffic until the ground firms up, officials said Tuesday.

“When we have spring thawing, all the dirt carriage roads become very soft,” said Kevin Cochary, branch chief of Mount Desert Island operations at Acadia National Park. “What we’re trying to do is monitor the conditions and give them a chance to dry out a little, harden them up and then open them to local traffic.”

Park officials have closed the carriage roads in the springtime for more than five years, he said, but the heavy rains and mild temperatures this year have caused the closure to happen a month earlier than normal.

“Normally, we do this in April,” Cochary said. “We’re doing it in March this year.”

The carriage road closures generally last a week or two, unless heavy rains occur, in which case the closure will be extended, he said. The park’s hiking trails are still open.