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Hurricane Helene: Parks & Trail Info

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

Map of North Carolina showing state parks closures in October

All North Carolina state parks west of I-77 are closed at least through the end of October 2024.

Those parks include (click park name for specific info):

- - 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

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.

Most programs at all state parks across North Carolina have been cancelled, also through Oct. 31, 2024.

For the latest updates click here:

https://www.ncparks.gov/closures

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.

Grayson Highlands:

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.

New River Trail:

PARTIALLY CLOSED. Sections of the park are open. Campgrounds will be closed through Feb. 28, 2025.

View a trail guide with closures marked. (PDF)

Claytor Lake:

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.

To get up to date info on all Virginia State Park closures, Click here.

National Park Closures

Some of our nearby National Parks are or were closed or partially closed through an abundance of caution in the days immediately following Hurricane Helene.

Many have now partially or entirely re-opened and are encouraging visitors to come and bring their tourist dollars and other donations, as the towns need revenue from visitors more than ever to help rebuild!

Mists rise from the mountains after a summer rain.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you’re planning to visit Gatlinburg and the Smokies, the TN side of the National Park was largely unaffected (other than the Hartford area near Davenport gap on the AT), and the NPS are saying the whole Park is open, with the exception of some Alerts they’ve posted to their site (listed below).

I haven’t seen what the trail itself looks like there, but I’m still planning to hike the Park in late October, with Gatlinburg as my base. I’ll report back on conditions via the IRW Facebook page.

The community there is EXTREMELY tourism dependent, and your business will be greatly appreciated.

They say there are donation centers set up in the area if you want to help when you come. I plan to load up my car and drop it off when I get to town. The locals there will help get it where it needs to go.

Click this link to learn about up to date trail and road conditions: www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

A gravel road surrounded by bright green trees with sun shining through the canopy

Alerts as of Oct 15:

- - Balsam Mountain, Cataloochee, and Big Creek areas closed
  - Foothills Parkway East closed
  - Lakeview Drive closed

Trail Advisory

Alert 4, Severity closure, Trail Advisory

Several trails in the park are temporarily closed. Please check the “Trail and Backcountry Closures, Warnings & Cautions” section of the Current Road, Facility, Trail & Backcountry Updates page for further details.

A straight stretch of Skyline Drive bordered by trees ablaze in fall colors.

Shenandoah National Park

As of Oct 4, all trails closures in Shenandoah National Park have been lifted!

In case of any confusion, Shenandoah National Park is fully open and operating under normal conditions.

Keep updated with park closures and weather conditions by visiting their alerts and conditions page on our website.

Alerts and conditions: www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Appalachian Trail (AT)

If you are planning a section hike, day hike or thru hike on the AT, please be aware of current conditions in the area where you are planning to go.

Dangerous conditions exist with thousands of trees potentially down, increasing chance of injury exponentially. The likelihood of rescue is also far more difficult and will severely tax local rescue efforts already with their hands full.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a private nonprofit and doesn’t have the authority to close sections of the A.T. However, for the reasons above, they are urging hikers to avoid the entire A.T. from Springer Mountain to Rockfish Gap (NOBO miles 0.0 to 864.6), regardless of formal closures.

Latest Status from the ATC website:

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.

Go to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website to see detailed updated information.

State Trails

We are lucky to have a number of statewide trails in North Carolina. Some of them have been partially damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Man standing on a road with the surface partially collapsed — Road washout on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 345

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 .

Two lane road lined with trees in the fall. — Blue Ridge Parkway lined with colorful trees in the Fall.

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

The length of the MST across North Carolina.

ROAD CLOSURES

There are a lot of road closures in and around the area affected by Hurricane Helene, including some of the bigger highways.

Scenes like this are heartbreaking and also prevalent across WNC following #HeleneNC. — Scenes like this on the BRP are heartbreaking and also prevalent across WNC following #HeleneNC.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is not a NCDOT-maintained road, but it is representative of the ongoing road dangers in the area.

Go to DriveNC.gov and view the entire State for up to date recommendations.

Check your route before you go, and plan for longer driving times.

As of Oct 12 the NC DOT said:

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY

TO AREAS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE

Road conditions may still be hazardous in the affected area. Ongoing response efforts remain the priority, and non-essential traffic hinders recovery.

Expect excessive traffic delays in the affected area due to emergency response activities.

Travel between western North Carolina and Tennessee is extremely limited, especially for trucks greater than 30 feet long. I-40 and I-26 are closed at the TN/NC line. The estimated repair time for I-40 is currently unknown.

Detour Information for Cars and Trucks

Status of Parks, trails and roads are changing daily.

Please check back and click on the provided links for the most up to date info before you travel!

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Hikes and Wild Ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

The Grayson Highlands Park is right on the edge of the areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

That said, the Park is open (with some restrictions) and many of the surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest Park, Trail and road repairs.

Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia is a great place to go hiking and look for wild ponies!

I was lucky enough to spend a few days there this past September.

The Park covers 4800-acres, and is adjacent to Virginia’s highest peak at an elevation of 5,729 feet, Mount Rogers.

You’ll find camping, picnicking, overnight horse stables, a visitor center, hiking trails, and access to the Appalachian Trail at Grayson Highlands.

But the ponies were the REAL attraction for me 🙂

A young pony being friendly.

The mountain balds are inhabited by a herd of ~120 ponies that run wild within the confines of the Park.

They’re not at all shy, so you get a lot of chances to see them.

These cattle were blocking the trailhead, and also adorable :) — A young pony being friendly.

The mountain balds are inhabited by a herd of ~120 ponies that run wild within the confines of the Park.

They’re not at all shy, so you get a lot of chances to see them.

Continue reading Hikes and Wild Ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park

Myrtle Beach – 5 Days of Walks and Outdoor Fun!

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a favorite Summer family vacation spot!

Located in the center of the 60-mile long stretch of beach known as “The Grand Strand”, it’s one of the major tourist destinations in the entire country, attracting over 20M visitors each year.

Myrtle Beach Spring Break

Spring Break reveler at Myrtle Beach :-) — Spring Break reveler at Myrtle Beach 🙂

Myrtle Beach is also a notorious Spring Break destination, but it’s not what you think!

The Spring Break crowd in Myrtle typically has adult supervision and isn’t the crazy College break scene like you get in Fort Lauderdale.

So Myrtle Beach is a good choice for both adult travelers and families with school-aged children on Easter break.

Winter at the Beach

I usually go to Myrtle in the off-season, because it’s both less crowded and less expensive then.

And I like the beach in the Winter, because you can walk by the water for miles without suffering heat stroke 😉

That said, more things are open in the Summer season, when more people are around.

Read on to learn about fun activities I’ve found in every season – including the beach – that work for adult travelers and families, too.

Continue reading Myrtle Beach – 5 Days of Walks and Outdoor Fun!

Hike the Great Channels on Brumley Mountain

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes

The Great Channels are right on the edge of the areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

That said, the Park is open (with some restrictions) and many of the surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest Park, Trail and road repairs.

I finally got to explore the Great Channels on Brumley Mountain, Virginia earlier this Fall after obsessing over it for nearly a year!

On the Navajo Trail in Bryce Canyon, Utah

The Great Channels sit at the summit of a mountain, and features a maze of slot canyons similar to those you might find in the parks in Utah or Arizona.

But the Great Channels formation is a surprise geologic gem hidden in southwest Virginia!

Anyway, last year, while planning a hiking trip to Grayson Highlands State Park (more on that later), I stumbled across an article about the Great Channels.

“Stumbled” is probably not the best word for a hiker to use, but you know what I mean 😉

I made some new friends at Grayson Highlands State Park.

The Channels are a series of deep crevices worn into prehistoric sandstone outcrops, where you can walk down into the maze-like network of crevices and explore.

You can also climb up on top of the Channels to get a stunning 360 view of the surrounding mountains!

Read on to learn how you can hike to the Great Channels, too.

Continue reading Hike the Great Channels on Brumley Mountain

Hike to the Flat Top Observation Tower on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 16 minutes

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through or very near areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

The North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed, along with many other NC State Parks. That said, the Virginia side of the BRP and many surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest area Park, Trail and road repairs.

I’ve been driving the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) in North Carolina and Virginia to get between places for more than 25 years.

But, I have to admit – until the last couple of years – I have completely neglected Blue Ridge Parkway hikes!

Then last year, a hiking friend introduced me to the Rock Castle Gorge trail near Rocky Knob on the BRP. Ever since then I’ve kept an eye peeled for new Parkway hikes I could try.

Tunnel beneath the BRP on a carriage road at Moses Cone Memorial Park.

And this summer… I found some! 🙂

This past season, I hiked some trails in and around Grandfather Mountain State Park (more on that later) and found myself driving the Parkway more than once to get from my lodgings in Banner Elk, NC to nearby trailheads and attractions.

One afternoon I finished a hike earlier than planned, and spotted Moses Cone Memorial Park on the way back.

It was a beautiful day, and I still had a couple of hours until sundown so I stopped to check it out.

Hike the carriage roads to the Flat Top Observation Tower.

I found beautiful grounds with 25 miles of hikes along old carriage roads, including a 5-mile RT hike to the Flat Rock Observation Tower!

Read on to learn more about the Flat Top Tower hike in Moses Cone Memorial Park and all of the other beautiful bridle and hiking trails you can experience there, too.

Continue reading Hike to the Flat Top Observation Tower on the Blue Ridge Parkway

New River Gorge National Park – 5-Day Hike Guide

Most recently updated October 19th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia is our nation’s 63rd – and newest – National Park.

Rock wall along the Rend Trail in the Thurmond area.

The park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along 53 miles of the New River from Bluestone Dam to Hawk’s Nest Lake.

In spite of it’s name, the New River is one of the oldest rivers on Earth, and has carved the deepest and longest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains – dropping 750 feet over 50 miles!

More than a million people visit the gorge each year to kayak, canoe, and fish in the river or hike, bike, and camp on the land.

For the past two years, I’ve been one of them!

Each Summer, my family has a reunion in Indiana over the July 4th holiday.

One of the smaller Falls and Sandstone Falls in the Park. — One of the smaller Falls at Sandstone Falls in the Park.

It’s a long drive, so on the return trip I’ve stopped at New River Gorge National Park to break up the drive and check it out.

The first year, I only had a day at the Park, but this time I scheduled 4 whole days! I was NOT disappointed 🙂

Read on to find out about the hikes I found there, and how you can go, too! Continue reading New River Gorge National Park – 5-Day Hike Guide

Hike Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 16 minutes

The Shenandoah National Park is right on the edge of the areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

That said, the Park is open and many of the surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest Park, Trail and road repairs.

I made the journey to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia again last Spring, specifically to (finally!) hike the iconic Old Rag summit hike.

Old Rag was my Moby Hike - the one that got away! — Until this year, Old Rag was my Moby Hike – the one that got away!

It was the hike that got away – my Moby Hike!

I’ve had plans to hike Old Rag for the past three years – but each attempt was thwarted by weather or logistics.

So I went back to try again – and I’m so glad I did!

It was a perfect-weather weekday in May before all of the families started their Summer vacations, so there were other hikers on the trail, but the place wasn’t over-run.

There’s a long rock scramble to the mountain’s summit that works better with some teamwork – especially if you’re a little bit vertically challenged, like I am 🙂

I conquered Old Rag, then I found a couple of other rock-scrambly hikes in Shenandoah that were a little less daunting to do the next day.

Read on to learn how you can hike Old Rag, and those other hikes too!

Continue reading Hike Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park

Explore the Rolesville Batholith at Mitchell Mill State Natural Area

Most recently updated July 23rd, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes

I’ve been exploring and hiking on trails in North Carolina for more than 20 years, but one thing I’ve neglected – partly because they don’t have many long hiking trails – are the State Natural Areas.

Though not great for hiking North Carolina State Natural Areas are good for exploring nature and different habitats in a fairly small space.

This kind of place can be an exciting outdoor adventure for small children, like your kids or grandkids.

Mitchell Mill State Natural Area in Northern Wake County is one such very unique spot to explore.

The 93-acre site is a Registered Heritage Area, and sits atop one of the largest granite domes on the east coast, called the Rolesville Batholith.

Plant life from lichens to full grown trees sit atop the Rolesville Batholith.

Mitchell Mill State Natural area protects this Paleozoic-era granite, and also houses a fragile and rare ecosystem, including native plant communities that can only grow in such a “granitic flatrock” environment.

Read more to learn how you can visit and explore this unique State Natural Area!

Continue reading Explore the Rolesville Batholith at Mitchell Mill State Natural Area

Hike the Mountains to Sea Trail at Rolling View in Falls Lake

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 11.5 minutes

The Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) runs through or very near areas of North Carolina that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

The Falls Lake section of the MST is open, along with many other NC State Parks and trails in the Eastern part of the State. That said, Parks and the MST on the Western side of the State have been damaged and may be inaccessible.

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest area Park, Trail and road repairs before you travel.

The Mountains-to-Sea-Trail (MST) is a simple hiking trail that spans almost 1200 miles across North Carolina, from the Great Smoky Mountains in the West to the Outer Banks on the East Coast.

Even though I’ve known about the MST for a good while, I didn’t really start hiking it on purpose until this past year.

Lately more and more people have been moving to my local area, and the easy-to-get-to hiking trails have become really crowded – especially on the weekends.

So I’ve had to look a little bit farther away for new trails – and that’s how I started paying more attention to the MST.

As of January 2019, 669 miles of the trail were completed, and even more have been done since then.

That’s just over half of the planned MST miles that are now completed in multiple segments across the state!

With temporary routes (for the unfinished parts of the MST) on backroads and bicycle paths, hikers can now follow the MST all the way across North Carolina.

One of the longest finished segments goes ~60 miles along the Southern shore of Falls Lake, just to the North of Raleigh near Wake Forest.

Even 60 miles (out of 1200) is an epic hike to most of us – but never fear!

You can hike smaller sections of the MST to make it an overnight backpacking trip, a day trip, or even just a few hours on the trail.

Today, I’ll tell you about the MST, and how you can hike my favorite local MST section (so far): MST Day Hike #22 at Rolling View in Falls Lake Recreation Area.

Continue reading Hike the Mountains to Sea Trail at Rolling View in Falls Lake

Hike the Rock Castle Gorge Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 16 minutes

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through or very near areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

The North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed, along with many other NC State Parks. That said, the Virginia side of the BRP and many surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest area Park, Trail and road repairs.

I’ve enjoyed driving the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) in North Carolina and Virginia for more than 25 years.

But, I have to admit – other than some quick roadside waterfall viewing – I have completely neglected Blue Ridge Parkway hikes!

But recently I found out what I’d been missing when I was invited to hike the Rock Castle Gorge Trail at Rocky Knob 🙂

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty.

Flower-lined trail at Shenandoah National Park

It’s America’s longest linear park, running 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, linking Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Combined with Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway is also a favorite twisty-windey motorcycle adventure through some beautiful scenery, especially in the Fall.

Read on to learn more about the Parkway and Rocky Knob Recreation Area hiking trails – including the famous Rock Castle Gorge Trail!

Continue reading Hike the Rock Castle Gorge Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway