There are a couple of things you can count on this Presidents Day weekend. It’s going to be unseasonably cold and the Central Oregon sno-parks will be crowded.

”Most (Bend-Fort Rock) District sno-parks will be near, at, or above parking capacity, and you can expect to meet plenty of other winter trail users on most trails,” said Deschutes National Forest trails specialist Chris Sabo. ”This heavy recreation use requires extra caution and patience when visiting the district’s many sno-parks and trails.”

Sabo advised motorists to heed parking restrictions. He also recommended motorized users slow down for pedestrians and other snowmobilers, especially in congested sno-parks. Nordic skiers should stay to the right on snowmobile trails or avoid them all together. Snowshoers should avoid walking over set ski tracks, Sabo said. There are designated snowshoe trails in the Swampy, Edison, Meissner and Dutchman sno-parks.

The Forest Service, Des-chutes County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police will have extra patrols out in the sno-parks and on the winter trails this weekend.

There’s plenty of snow, but conditions will be on the icy side until new snow falls, according to Sabo. There’s a chance of new snow in the forecast. Trail grooming is caught up all across the Des-chutes National Forest.

Dog owner alert: Leashed dogs are permitted only at Wanoga, Edison, Skyliner, Ten Mile and Six Mile sno-parks.

For additional trails information, contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest at 383-4000.