When winter comes, everything changes, and that goes for the wonderful Acadia National Park. With winter close at hand, the park has now closed the road up Cadillac mountain and most of the Park Loop road, except for the portion from Sand Beach to the Otter Cliff road, which stays open year round. Automobile entrance now is by way of Bar Harbor and the Schooner Head road.

Still, the trails and carriage roads remain open to hikers and, later on, skiers will leave their marks. You can hike up Cadillac and most of the other trails and carriage roads all winter.

But a ranger on duty has some serious cautionary advice. He warns that snow flurries can come up suddenly. Drifts can block some of the trails, notably the pathway alongside the open stretch of the Park Loop road. Black ice can make some trails treacherous on short notice. Watch out for the ladder trails and particularly for the Precipice trail, where shaded stretches don’t get the sun’s warmth. The park may close the gate soon at the start of that one.

The ranger recommends using common sense, especially in winter, and suggests the following:

. Start out early. It begins to get dark around 3 p.m., and sunset comes as early as 3:45.

. Leave a note on your car, so the rangers will know where you have gone and when you expect to get back.

. Wear warm clothes and good boots with ankle support. Crampons can help you walk across black ice, walking being much preferred to crawling.

. Take a backpack if necessary, to carry extra clothing in case you get soaked or sweaty and bring a small first aid kit.

In short, prepare for the unexpected.