Nearly 55 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway reopening, some parts still closed

Logan Jennes
·2 min read
Nearly 55 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway reopening, some parts still closed

NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Nearly 55 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway have reopened as Helene relief efforts continue, park officials announced.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the National Park Service restored two sections of the park.

  • Milepost 411.8 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam, including:

    • Graveyard Fields overlook and trailheads at milepost 418.8.

    • All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).

  • Milepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, NC, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, including:

    • All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).

    • Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker.

    • Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store at milepost 451.2, which will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. until November 11, 2024.

PREVIOUSLY: Stretch of Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock reopens

“The Parkway is an important travel corridor for our surrounding communities and a treasured recreation destination,” Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout said. “Opening these additional miles of the Parkway in North Carolina is an important step forward, but much work remains.”

Officials say the section from milepost 421 to 423.2, between the two reopened sections and including Devil’s Courthouse, remains closed due to significant landslide that impacted the roadway during Helene. Other areas are still closed along the Parkway as crews continue to work and cleanup from the destruction. The NPS expects the Devil’s Courthouse closure to be in place for an extended period as plans for permanent reconstruction are developed and implemented.

“We ask that visitors stay out of the Devil’s Courthouse area and all other closed sections, even on foot, for their own safety. Any public use behind closed gates, including hiking and biking, puts workers and visitors at risk,” Swartout said.

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