Most recently updated October 28th, 2024
Due to Hurricane Helene, numerous National and State Parks and Trails have been closed or partially closed in W North Carolina and parts of southern Virginia.
Roadways and bridges are also closed, with some detours already in place. It may take up to a year to repair some of the routes.
For your safety – as well as the safety of Park staff and emergency response workers – please don’t attempt to access roads or parks that have been closed.
I’ve listed some info below, and links to the latest info updates for your hike and travel planning.
Happy trails – LJ
NC State Park Closures
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- Chimney Rock State Park
- Crowders Mountain State Park
- Elk Knob State Park
- Gorges State Park
- Grandfather Mountain State Park
- Lake James State Park
- Lake Norman State Park
- Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
- Mount Mitchell State Park
- New River State Park
- Rendezvous Mountain
- South Mountains State Park
- Stone Mountain State Park
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In addition, the National Park Service is discouraging unnecessary travel in and to western North Carolina. Limiting travel helps prioritize making vital infrastructure repairs in the communities hit hardest by Helene. Many roads continue to be closed due to unsafe conditions.
Virginia State Park Closures
Due to Hurricane Helene, some Virginia State Parks are also closed or partially closed.
Last updated by Virginia DCR: Oct. 9, 2024. 10:00 a.m.
The park is open. The equestrian trails are expected to open Oct. 15.
Due to road closures on US-58, the only access to the park for the foreseeable future is via Rt. 600 from Chilhowie Exit 35, from Interstate 81.
Please be aware that this route includes two sections of long, straight pulls of significant grade that may be difficult for vehicles towing large campers.
The park is under a boil water notice for all water sources in the park pending additional testing.
The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area is currently under a Temporary Closure (PDF) until Oct. 1, 2025 or until terminated by an Authorized Forest Service official, whichever comes first.
With this order, access to the MRNRA for backpackers and equestrian use through Grayson Highlands is prohibited and reservations for the Overnight Backpackers Lot will be unavailable until the closure is lifted.
PARTIALLY CLOSED. Sections of the park are open. Campgrounds will be closed through Feb. 28, 2025.
View a trail guide with closures marked. (PDF)
All launch areas on the lake are closed due to excessive debris. Launching kayaks or other small watercraft from shore, as well as swimming and fishing are also not possible due to the debris along the park shoreline.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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- Balsam Mountain, Cataloochee, and Big Creek areas closed
- Foothills Parkway East closed
- Lakeview Drive closed
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Trail Advisory
Alert 4, Severity closure, Trail Advisory
Shenandoah National Park
Appalachian Trail (AT)
Current Conditions
10/11/2024, Updated 8:20 a.m.
The ATC, National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have updated guidance for A.T. hikers based on initial, limited assessments.
10/11/24 Update: The Blue Ridge Parkway and parkway lands in Virginia from Milepost 0 to 198 reopen today. This includes the A.T. on parkway lands between Black Horse Gap and Rockfish Gap.
Visitors should be aware that trail assessments have not been completed in all areas and caution should be exercised when hiking.
Additionally, they may find fewer services than normal as many parkway employees are assisting with operations in North Carolina, where the impacts of the storm were far more severe. Areas closed due to construction prior to the storm will remain closed.
State Trails
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway from milepost 0 to milepost 198 in Virginia (which closed due to impacts from Hurricane Helene) reopened at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 11.
The National Park Service hopes to reopen the remainder of the parkway in Virginia within the next two weeks.
“Due to the hard work of the Blue Ridge Parkway crews, we are able to open nearly 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia,” said Tracy Swartout, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway. “While we celebrate this achievement, we also recognize that significant and, in some areas, long-term work remains in North Carolina. We are committed to restoring all sections of the parkway to the highest standards of safety and accessibility for our visitors.”
Visitors should be aware that trail assessments have not been completed in all areas and caution should be exercised when hiking. Additionally, they may find fewer services than normal as many employees are assisting with operations in North Carolina, where the impacts of the storm were far more severe. Areas closed due to construction prior to the storm will remain closed.
The entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina remains closed as crews continue emergency stabilization and damage assessments following Hurricane Helene.
Updates will be posted on the Blue Ridge Parkway website at www.nps.gov/blri .
Mountains to Sea Trail (MST)
The following update, as of October 4, comes from the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail:
“The MST from Kuwohi (Clingman’s Dome) through Stone Mountain State Park should be considered closed and highly dangerous.”
“In the coming days and weeks, we will be surveying the trail and assessing damage, but trail restoration is a very low priority in light of the humanitarian crisis facing western North Carolina, and it is likely that sections of the trail will remain closed for a significant length of time.
Many of us are searching for ways to help. The State has created a North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund and is accepting financial donations here.
If you live outside the affected area, many places are hosting supply drop sites that you can find online or through social media.”
Please note, authorities are asking people from outside the impacted areas to not travel there and put additional strain on the limited resources available.
Click to See MST Segment Guide Updates
ROAD CLOSURES
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