The Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the national parks hardest hit by Hurricane Helene, reopened two more sections in western North Carolina last week, just in time. to see the colors of autumn.
The first one runs from mile marker 317.5, south of Linville Falls, to mile marker 324.7. The second one runs from mile marker 333.9, in Little Switzerland, to mile marker 340.2. With these, it is now possible to drive without detours from Virginia to Little Switzerland, in western North Carolina.
“October is an especially important time for tourism throughout the region. These reopenings mean visitors can enjoy more of the Parkway’s fall scenery and have greater access to the communities, businesses, and destinations along the way,” said Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout.
However, sections of the road remain closed due to damage sustained during Hurricane Helene: 11 miles between NC-80 at mile marker 344.2 and Mount Mitchell are still closed. The National Park Service (NPS) stated that it expects to reopen them before the end of 2026.
Latest repairs to the Blue Ridge Parkway
“Of the 60 landslide repairs required on the Blue Ridge Parkway after the Hurricane Helene"48 are already completed and work is progressing on the final 12," said Under Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor in the agency's statement.
“We have restored access to 458 of the Parkway’s 469 miles and are continuing to make progress on the final 11 miles. This progress returns access for visitors and supports the communities, small businesses, and local economies that depend on the Parkway,” said MacGregor.
While the construction is underway, the NPS warned that all recreational activities are prohibited in that area. The agency also said that The reopening date depends on hiring and how the works progress..
Campsites and trails still closed
For those planning to camp or hike this month, some areas along the Parkway remain closed. While Linville Falls is now accessible by car via the access road at mile marker 316.5, the campground and picnic area remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene.
The picnic area at Crabtree Falls is open, but the campground remains closed and hiking is prohibited in the area.
Near Boone and Blowing Rock, Camp Julian Price has reopened its B and D sections. Reservations can be made through October 30 at recreation.gov.
Related: Discover four campsites on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Temporary weather closures
It is important that those visiting western North Carolina this fall, and planning to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway, check weather and road conditions before embarking on their adventure. road conditions It is updated by the NPS every day.
The park also has visitor information in Spanish.
The area most affected by Helene
The two sections that have reopened, and the one that remains closed, are between Linville Falls and Mount Mitchell. According to the NPS, that area saw the worst damage from the storm.
In some sections of the route, up to 30 inches of rain fell, and sustained winds reached up to 60 miles per hour. Thousands of trees were uprooted across the road, and landslides swept away entire sections of the highway.
South of Linville Falls alone, crews repaired 21 landslides to reopen the stretch. Between Little Switzerland and Mount Mitchell, where work continues, there are more than 24 sites.
Outside of the Parkway, the recovery is not over either. Nine state highways in western North Carolina remained closed in early October.
The most visited park
In 2025, the Parkway was the most visited site in the entire national park system, even with sections closed. It received over 16.5 million visits. according to the NPS.
The NPS's most recent report on visitor spending is from 2024. That year, those who traveled the route spent more than $1,520 billion in nearby towns.
That money sustained 15,679 jobs in a region where Many businesses are still feeling the effects of Helene.
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