Prescribed burns set at Kiwa Trail

RIDGEFIELD — The recently reopened Kiwa Trail at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge will be closed Wednesday and Thursday for a prescribed burn to improve habitat.

The trail reopened Saturday, and besides the upcoming closure, visitors are being asked to use the trail as a one-way, counterclockwise loop to allow for social distancing in narrow areas, according to a news release from Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

During the closure, visitors can use walking trails on the Carty Unit.

It’s possible the closure could extend to the Auto Tour Route. The route on the River S Unit is open to vehicle traffic only. Current gate times are 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Parking is limited at the Kiwa Trail, so visitors may need to do a loop around the auto tour to wait for a spot to open. Parking is prohibited along the shoulders of the auto tour.

The refuge is fee-free right now, but there is currently no public access to bathrooms, informational kiosks and the viewing blind.

Gates close automatically, so vehicles must exit the refuge before they close.

For updates on the closure, visit https://ridgefieldfriends.org. For more information about prescribed burns at the refuge, visit www.refuge2020.info/prescribed-fire.